CASE STUDY
manufacturing [and] that allowed the client to set the milestones for the construction correctly and gave a clear picture of the budget, alternatives to the plan, and risks.” Some of the largest items to be shipped were components for the mill system, supplied by German equipment manufacturer Gebr Pfeiffer. The MVR 2500 C-4 vertical mill comprised the broadest scope available within the firm’s ready2grind lineup and included pre-feeding, grinding, downstream material transport to silos as well as packing and palletizing. “These ultra-modern plants offer many advantages: from easy transportation, short installation times and fast commissioning to smooth and highly efficient grinding operations and the highest quality standard,” said Rodney Pradet, project manager at Gebr Pfeiffer Americas USA. Based in Rheinland-Pfalz in the southwest of Germany, Gebr Pfeiffer manufactures a range of grinding, separating, drying, slaking and calcining equipment and technologies. Its 2500 C-4 system can deliver a production rate of up to 50 tonnes per hour, with a mill motor installed with a power rating of 1.2 gigawatts. The system is also equipped with frequency converters to enable the mill to rapidly adapt to market requirements, adjusting parameters such as cement fineness and clinker content on demand.
BENEFITS OF MODULAR PLANT
The modular approach developed by the partners proved particularly important as the equipment was set to be manufactured in multiple locations, with deliveries required from Germany, Italy, Spain and Turkey aboard numerous different vessels. “The ready2grind systems are a proven technology with more than 15 systems installed worldwide providing the benefits of a modular plant for fast delivery and quick installation,” Pradet said, adding that the new system “provides the flexibility to produce many types of cement, enabling a changeover between products in a comparably impressive short time. [It] is the most efficient in terms of electrical power and water consumption, easily achieving common global standards for dust and noise pollution.” Occupying a site of less than 6.9 hectares, the Progreso plant is relatively compact. This meant the partners had to carefully calculate the arrival and installation of each unit to ensure there was sufficient space on site, and room to maneuver pieces into position. Local environmental regulations also added further constraints for the project managers, as requirements such as share of tree/ greenfield areas and maximum permitted building height limited some options for the build.
The project was carried out on behalf of the project developer and owner Cementos Fortaleza, a local cement producer that operates three other plants in Mexico – the Tula, El Palmar and Vito plants – all in Hidalgo state to the west. A subsidiary of Mexican industrial conglomerate Elementia, the firm is headquartered in Mexico City. Elementia group comprises some of the largest companies in the construction sectors in Mexico and Latin America. With expertise in cement, concrete, fiber cement, plastics, copper, brass and other metal alloys, the group was keen to develop its own production base in Yucatán, targeting average capacity of 50 tonnes per hour. “Through this project, Elementia aims to participate in the growth of the Yucatán Peninsula and Southern Mexico,” said Jaime Rocha Font, CEO of Elementia. “Yucatan has it all, good and hardworking people, progressive businessmen and collaborators and an excellent administration that supports development in favor of its people.”
COVID SECURE
Alongside the detailed route planning, this intercontinental project also required comprehensive machinery knowledge as well as a firm grasp of international and regional regulations. On top of this the partners www.breakbulk.com
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