Refractory Maintenance Is Unavoidable, But An Experienced Crew With The Right Equipment Can Minimize Scheduled Downtime And Virtually Eliminate Installation Mistakes That Could Lead To Emergency Maintenance. By Heather Harding Time is money. No place is this adage more appropriate than the manufacturing industry. When even one piece of the system is down, whether for routine maintenance or an unexpected…
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Though It’s Important To Inspect Silos Frequently, In-House Silo Inspections Carry Too Many Limitations And Safety Concerns To Warrant Skipping A Professional Assessment. By Dennis Blauser In the summer of 2022, a grain silo in Iowa had a catastrophic failure. Two workers were unloading grain into a holding shed onsite at the time of the silo failure. Though one worker…
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The Availability Of High-Quality Alternative Fuels Is A Key Barrier To The Widespread Adoption Of Alternative Fuels In The Cement Industry. However, There Are Now A Number Of Solutions On The Market That Allow The Use Of Coarse And Low-Quality Materials, Without The Traditional Preparation Requirements. by Jonathan Rowland The use of alternative fuels (AF) is widely promoted within the…
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By Mauro Nogarin The cement industry in the main Latin American countries has stabilized, reaching in most cases the production levels of 2019. However, in Brazil and Mexico the unfavorable economic situation has led to an increase in the prices of construction has materials to such an extent that it has slowed down domestic demand. Unlike the situation in Peru,…
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As The Use Of Alternative Fuels Grows, So Too The Challenges They Pose To Equipment And Process. by Jonathan Rowland Fossil fuels are often maligned for their carbon emissions. Yet they are not the world’s most successful energy source without reason. Fossil fuels pack a punch when it comes to calorific value and offer consistent chemical composition, moisture content and…
Read MoreTo Accommodate Expansion Movement Within Anchoring Systems, Vital Allowances Must Be Incorporated. Edited by Mark S. Kuhar Research shows that more than 40% of monolithic refractory failures are the result of improper anchor design and installation. Failures commonly attributed to the refractory component are instead often caused by shortcomings in the actual anchoring system. Like any material, refractories will expand…
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Heidelberg Materials’ Edmonton, Canada, Plant Works To Implement CCUS Technology. By Kristin Dispenza The concept of carbon capture has been around for decades. While it has been implemented more widely in other sectors, such as coal-fired power generation, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) has not historically been applied to a cement kiln. There are significant differences and complexities between…
Read More• The Conference will take place at the Dallas-Hilton Anatole, April 23-27. • To register, go to www.cementconference.org. The 2023 IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Conference will feature 750 attendees, 400 companies, 15 training modules and 30 sponsors. Brian Shul will be the keynote speaker. He is a Vietnam-era attack pilot and retired major in the United States Air Force. Shul completed a…
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To Promote The Development Of Southern Mexico By Mauro Nogarin According to the United States Chamber of Commerce, Yucatán is the best state in Mexico to invest, because legal certainty, energy sustainability, security and investment in infrastructure are the key points to attracting foreign investors. The national GDP of Mexico at the end of 2021 registered a recovery of 4.6%,…
Read MoreNew Electric Technology Hitting The Market Is Designed To Address The Sustainability Revolution In The Construction Materials Industry. By Mark S. Kuhar Cement producers seeking to develop the safe, productive, smart and clean workplaces of the future are looking hard at innovations in electric technology. There is no lack of innovations coming to market. For instance, Holcim US entered into…
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