Special reports

Rate improvements arrived as forecast, but uncertainty mounts for 2015 demand, says BIMCO’s Chief Shipping Analyst Peter Sand.

Siemens integrated drive system reduces energy consumption and carbon footprint.

Peter Sand reports that shipping demand remains subdued by slow global economic activity in this extract from the latest BIMCO Shipping Market Overview and Outlook Report.

This report from the CECE Congress 2014 details the industry’s vision for the future and calls on EU policy makers to play their part to ensure competitive industrial production in Europe.

The use of pozzolanic and/or latent hydraulic cement constituents instead of Portland cement clinker represents a key leverage factor for the environmentally important reduction of CO2 emissions within the cement industry.

In the second part of this abridged article, CLARCOR Industrial Air’s Anthony Johnson explains how viewing the dust collector as a component of a larger system can improve efficiency and streamline the production process.

Anthony Johnson, CLARCOR Industrial Air, USA, describes dust collection principles and the importance of interlocking operating systems.

The UK aggregates and metals manufacturing sector is making tangible progress in managing its energy consumption, with 76% reporting a beneficial impact on the bottom line as a result of their efforts, according to a new report from Siemens Industry.

Kingfisher Industrial Ltd explains how protection from abrasive solid recovered fuels can increase production uptime and enhance life expectancy.

MPA The Concrete Centre explains how, because of concrete’s inherent material properties, it can be used to minimise fire risk for the lowest initial cost while requiring the least in terms of ongoing maintenance.

In the second part of this article, Dr Adrian Vaida, Independent Sustainability Researcher, considers sustainability in the cement industry, and what still needs to be done.

Dr Adrian Vaida, Independent Sustainability Researcher, considers the financial factors impacting sustainability and asks how the cement industry can strengthen the relationship between sustainability and business value.

The International Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers has given its suggestions as the EU targets greater energy efficiency in energy intensive industries.

Edward George, Head of Soft Commodity Research at Ecobank, reports on the tremendous growth of the cement industry in Middle Africa (abridged).

Robin Harpe, Cemcon International, Inc., USA, talks through some of the key steps for designing a succession plan to ensure that an organisation has access to the talent required for continued success.