Special reports

Imran Akram, IA Cement, considers the state of the global cement market and outlines the prospects for what may be a difficult year ahead.

Zachary Shadoan and Connor Shelton, IGS, discuss the importance of quality when it comes to air cannon nozzles.

Carl Swisher, 4B Components, introduces a new material used in the design of elevator buckets that offers a lightweight, durable, and non-stick alternative to carbon steel.

Carina Scheer & Nathan Schindler, Evonik, explain how oxygen enrichment can help enhance production capacity while also driving energy consumption down.

Mary Beth Kramer, CemAI, explains how artificial intelligence and machine learning are now essential tools for cement producers to stay competitive in an industry embracing process optimisation and automation.

Jose Lopez, FLSmidth, relays how Cemento PANAM has achieved success and reduced its carbon footprint and fossil fuel bill by implementing a 350 m waste heat bypass system.

Marco Rovetta, CTP Team, offers an analysis of how much heat can be recovered from a cement line and the impact that waste heat recovery (WHR) can have on the sustainability of the cement industry.

Neville Roberts, N+P Group, explains how energy costs, government policy, and supply chain stresses have combined to create the ‘perfect storm’ for alternative fuels, driving widespread adoption in the cement sector and elsewhere.

Paul Fletcher, CEMEX, outlines how the ‘Future In Action’ ESG strategy is working hard to reduce packaging waste across the supply chain.

Three more companies from around the world have become members of leading industry body, the Global Cement and Concrete Association, demonstrating their commitment to reaching net zero by 2050, in line with the GCCA Industry Roadmap for Net Zero Concrete.

David Perkins, Lehigh Hanson, provides a case study exploring the processes behind the construction of a modern cement plant in Mitchell, Indiana.

When comparing imported conveyor belts with those manufactured by major European brands the price discrepancy is large, yet conveyor specialist Leslie David explains why this may be justified when considering the ‘whole life’ cost.

AUMUND Group gives the story behind how an inventor and engineer’s office became an international conveying and storage technology brand, supplying cement producers world-wide.

Dr. Jose Casaban, MOF Technologies, presents a new system for carbon capture and explains why it represents a step-change for the production of low-carbon cement.

Heather Harding, Bricking Solutions, reviews a range of products that cement manufacturers can use to bolster worker safety and efficiency during refractory installations.