UK: Switzerland-based LafargeHolcim subsidiary Aggregate Industries has launched a Euro15.1m project to increase its use of alternative fuels at its Cauldon cement plant in Staffordshire. The company plans to install a 100,000t/yr pre-processing unit and a new chlorine bypass at the site. The new pre-processing unit, including a haulage and feeding platform, will be built across the road from the main plant and connected via an enclosed conveyor. The company intends to complete the work in early 2022. It says that it will result in a 30,000t/yr CO₂ emission reduction.

Chief executive officer Dragan Maksimovic said, “It is great to see us continuing to recognise the importance of sustainability and investing in Cauldon cement plant to ensure that we further reduce carbon emissions and remain sustainable for the long term, both as a local employer and contributor to the local economy, as well as a UK-wide supplier of high quality products and services.”

UK: Bunting has officially opened its Redditch magnetic separators plant following a production and storage capacity expansion. The upgrade increases floor space by 50%. It also adds a new office floor and a Customer Experience Centre, where mining, processing and recycling companies can send samples to a laboratory for controlled tests.

Europe regional managing director Simon Ayling said, “Despite delays and challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we now have a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, which is already providing the additional space needed to fulfil the growth in orders.”

Denmark: Norway-based Geminor has established a solid recovered fuel (SRF) production line with a capacity over 40,000t/yr at its Hub waste processing plant in Aalborg. The line will shred and mix municipal solid waste from the region. Geminor will supply 120,000t of SRF to Aalborg Portland Cement over a three year period starting from January 2021. The line includes a chain feeding conveyor supplied by Westeria, a Metso 4000-8 pre-shredder, a Steinert magnetic sorter and a Metso 3550 fine shredder. Aalborg Portland Cement is targeting a 75% SRF substitution rate at its Aalborg cement plant over the period.

Portugal: Cimpor Cement plans to upgrade the kiln line of its Souselas cement plant in order to enable 60% refuse-derived fuel (RDF) substitution in its fuel mix. The producer has contracted Denmark-based FLSmidth to install chlorine bypass technology in order to prevent chlorine build-up in the plant’s flue gas. Work is scheduled to begin in mid-2021, and production will stop until its completion and the commissioning of the installation in early 2022.

Cimpor Cement project manager Paulo Evangelista said, “Investing in the chlorine bypass is a key step on our journey towards reducing our environmental footprint. On top of the obvious incentives to increase our fuel substitution, like lower CO₂ emissions and financial savings, we are experiencing better waste handling infrastructure in the local area. All this has made it an easy choice to make. FLSmidth knows our Souselas site and has been key in delivering a solution that will enable this next phase on our sustainability journey.”