FLSmidth was awarded a contract for process and quality optimization of 17 cement plants recently acquired by Dublin-based CRH Group, using FLSmidth’s ECS/ProcessExpert and QCX/BlendExpert products.
FLSmidth’s ECS/ProcessExpert system stabilizes the process of the plant, optimizes the production, manages and corrects process disruptions and minimizes wear on plant equipment – all to ensure optimum plant performance. By improving equipment availability and utilization, the system helps reduce operational and maintenance costs. FLSmidth’s QCX/BlendExpert system controls the proportioning of raw material feed to raw mills to obtain the desired chemical product quality with respect to chemical constraints, process constraints and material costs.
The order is the largest advanced process optimization project awarded to FLSmidth and includes process optimization of 12 kilns and 40 grinding mills, as well as quality optimization of 14 raw mills. In addition, the order includes a service agreement, covering all 66 applications, where FLSmidth will provide 24/7 support and ongoing remote monitoring and optimization by its process specialists.
CRH is the third largest building materials supplier in the world and has more than doubled its cement production volume due to the recent acquisition of 34 plants (including grinding stations), divested as part of the Lafarge/Holcim merger last year. Many of the plants are already using optimization systems, but CRH chose to standardize on FLSmidth’s ECS/ProcessExpert and QCX/BlendExpert solutions.
CRH chose FLSmidth’s solution due to FLSmidth’s process knowledge and technologically superior solutions, as well as the company’s ability to deliver the large number of systems within 14 months.
