France

Kerneos Erects New Briquetting Line

Kerneos, the leading producer of calcium aluminates, has announced the investment of EUR 4 million in a new briquetting line at its Dunkirk factory in Northern France. Kerneos is a major purchaser of bauxite and is facing increasing difficulties in using the qualities of bauxite available from its traditional sources, principally in China and Greece.

Changes in calcining technology used to process bauxite in China and supply frailties in Greece require Kerneos to take increasingly higher percentages of fine bauxites from both sources rather than the large block bauxite that is ideally suited to its furnace technology.

The new plant is currently under construction and will come on stream in the second quarter 2011.  
Pierre Baillagou, VP manufacturing, commented: “The reduced availability of large block material requires us to make our own blocks to guarantee our ability to meet the growing demand for our cements. Block materials are essential in maintaining high levels of energy efficiency.  We have made strenuous efforts in recent years to minimise our energy consumption and it is not acceptable to allow our energy efficiency or product quality to fall because of raw material supply difficulties. Whilst briquetting raw materials adds to our costs it was the least expensive solution to the quality and supply problems we face and by far the most acceptable from an environmental point of view. In spite of these constraints of raw materials, we confirm our commitment to improve the quality of our products and services.” For more information: www.kerneos.com (07/2010)