Cement news highlights: 1 – 5 September

Conservation

The Conference for Nature was held in London this week, bringing together industry representatives, politicians and wildlife groups in a bid to help halt wildlife declines. The UK’s minerals sector was also involved in the event, with Cemex Sustainability Director, Andy Spencer, and Nigel Jackson, Chief Executive of the Mineral Products Association, speaking alongside renowned wildlife expert Sir David Attenborough and the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg.

“As a business Cemex appreciates the framework and structure that key legislation such as the Birds and Habitats directives bring, and that enable an equitable and fair way to ensure all businesses implement minimum standards. However, at Cemex we aim to do much more; for example, working in partnership with the RSPB in 2010 we launched our 10 year Biodiversity Strategy setting ourselves challenging targets,” explained Andy Spencer.

“Supporting biodiversity is a key aim for us: it is a key part of our license to operate,” said Nigel Jackson. “It also makes good business sense to restore sites to high quality and help deliver national and local environmental priorities and biodiversity targets. We can demonstrate the overall gains in environmental quality as result of our operations, and community support of, and use of, our sites.”

Materials handling

• Sytze Brouwers, Chief Application Engineer, Fenner Dunlop BV (Dunlop Conveyor Belting), The Netherlands, provides a guide to fire retardant conveyor belts.
• Kingfisher Industrial Ltd explains how protection from abrasive solid recovered fuels can increase production uptime and enhance life expectancy.
• An infographic on cement and bulk materials from World Cement’s 2014 Bulk Materials Handling Review.

News from North America

• Tim Kuebler (Titan America), Jacqueline Clark (Ash Grove Cement) and Corey Zollinger (Cemex USA) have been presented with the 2014 John P. Gleason Jr., Leadership Award by the PCA.
• The Portland Cement Association has announced the finalists for the 2014 John P. Gleason Jr., Leadership Award.
• US construction spending reaches highest level since 2008.
• Lafarge Presque Isle Quarry celebrates 60^th anniversary with charity race.

This week’s not to be missed articles…

• 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.

Written by Louise Fordham

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/05092014/cement-news-highlights-2-5-september-428/