Votorantim Cimentos starts operations at new site in Pecém

Votorantim Cimentos invested approximately R$200 million in the project, which was constructed over three years and, in line with the company’s sustainability strategy, prioritised energy efficiency and industrial automation by incorporating state-of-the-art equipment. During construction and start of operation, the unit generated more than 600 direct and indirect jobs.

"This new Votorantim Cimentos site in Pecém and the increase in its production capacity demonstrate the company’s confidence in our state. This project will help boost our economy by creating jobs and income for our people. We have been working day and night to attract new investments to Ceará and, as a result, drive the creation of new jobs for our population," said Ceará governor, Camilo Santana.

"The Pecém expansion project fills us with pride and satisfaction for its technical quality and its contribution to the state’s social, economic and environmental development. Through this investment, we are enhancing our performance and presence in the strategic and important market that is Ceará. Our new and more modern and efficient plant will enable us to increase our production and distribution capacity and the quality of our service to our customers in the region," said Marcelo Castelli, global CEO of Votorantim Cimentos.

Votorantim Cimentos’ new production line in Pecém will manufacture Poty cement. Several studies were carried out to ensure that the product, in addition to the quality that is already known in the Ceará market, would offer more protection against sea air as an added advantage.

"We are offering to our customers a product that, in addition to its recognized quality and performance, incorporates improvements to meet the needs of different types of construction projects, from foundation to finish. We are very happy to improve our processes to offer products that meet the specific needs of the Ceará market, in addition to having less environmental impact," said Hugo Armelin, director of Sales and Marketing at Votorantim Cimentos.

The new production line in Pecém includes a new cement mill that consumes less electricity. The vertical equipment reduces the kilowatt per hour consumption by 30% compared to the horizontal mill. Another sustainable technology incorporated into the new mill is a closed refrigeration circuit that reduces the production of effluents. This system reuses water to cool the equipment, providing a 90% reduction in the consumption of water resources.

State-of-the-art technologies incorporated into the plant extension in Ceará will also enable the company to produce a more sustainable product. The new cement production process in Pecém emits 60% less CO₂ per t than the previous process, benefiting the environment and the planet.

"All of our initiatives are in line with our 2030 Sustainability Commitments and with the industry’s mission to produce carbon neutral concrete by 2050. The completion of the Pecém plant also strengthens our competitiveness driver by focusing on operational excellence and offering to the market products that incorporate solutions that value quality and respect for the environment," said Edson Araújo, director of Brazil Operations at Votorantim Cimentos.

Votorantim Cimentos has two industrial sites in Ceará. The Pecém site was inaugurated in 2008 and produces cement and mortar. Before the expansion, the site’s cement grinding capacity was 200 000 tpy. The Sobral plant has been operating since 1968 and has two cement production lines under the Poty brand. After the investment in the expansion, the two units in the State of Ceará have a total production capacity of 2.2 million tpy of cement.

Votorantim Cimentos currently has a railway line that transports inputs and products between its facilities in Sobral, Pecém and the distribution centre (DC) in Mucuripe, in Fortaleza. To enhance its service in the metropolitan area of Fortaleza, the company also expanded its railway branch by 2.6 km to ship bagged products and stock the DC. This also enables the company to increase its logistical alternatives to transport inputs and supply the market with its products.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/21072021/votorantim-cimentos-starts-operations-at-new-site-in-pecm/