Special reports

Jim Vingerhoets, Fike, explores the conditions that cause dust explosions in coal mills, setting out the safety measures that operators can implement to ensure safe and proper handling of combustible coal dust.

Yan Huerre, Fives, and Luc Papillon, Ciment Québec, answer questions on the importance of an efficient and effective classification process in the cement industry, both in terms of carbon intensity and cost reduction.

Mathis Menzel, Menzel Elektromotoren, advises on good practices and potential pitfalls for brush-lifting mechanisms on slip ring motors.

Lori Tiefenthaler, Heidelberg Materials NA, shines a spotlight on slag production and its applications in the cement industry in Florida and the Southeastern US.

Burak Kasimoglu, SKF, explains how applying circular economy principles to equipment maintenance can help heavy industries reduce the environmental impact of their operations.

Silvia Vieira, Votorantim Cimentos, discusses the unconventional pozzolans that are helping to reduce the carbon footprint of the Cuiabá plant and beyond.

Rosy Wang, World Cement Association, Wang Zhigang, and Shi Yaohui, Zanhuang BBMG, discuss dust control in the Chinese cement industry, exploring the standards, design, operation, maintenance, and monitoring of filtration systems by domestic producers.

Giorgio Radaelli, RD42 Engineering, focuses on the functional performance improvements for bag filters that could help operators avoid high emissions and equipment degradation.

Martin Provencher, AVEVA, explains how the use of predictive analytics has transformed modern cement production, including maintenance processes.

Todd Loudin, Valmet, walks through the details be to considered when selecting a pump for the metering and dosing of grinding agents and other abrasive chemicals.

Breanna Moll, Noria Corporation, describes the importance of lubrication as a pillar of quality asset performance, but warns that when contaminants invade, they can ensure a machine’s downfall.

Nikolay Kolev, Relo-B, reports on the performance of various shapes of grinding media used in tumbling mills, comparing conventional spherical designs with a more novel approach.

Dr. Michiel Eijpe, Dunlop Conveyor Belting, details how heat-resistant rubber is created and explains why not all heat-resistant conveyor belts are equal.

Bjarke Ove Andersen, FLSmidth, shows how an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) can outperform fabric filters (FF) in clinker cooler applications in terms of cost-effectiveness and environmental impact.

Klaus Baernthaler, ANDRITZ, outlines the development of the European cement industry’s first pilot CCUS plant.