Votorantim Cimentos buys particle size analysers

Malvern Instruments has secured a multi-year contract with Brazilian company Votorantim Cimentos to supply on-line particle size analyzers for at least 30 of their cement production lines

Malvern Instruments has secured a multi-year contract with Brazilian company Votorantim Cimentos to supply Insitec on-line particle size analyzers for at least 30 of their cement production lines throughout North and South America.

The contract is one of the largest in Malvern's history and a clear sign of the strength of the company, especially in the rapidly developing market for on-line particle sizing systems.

Votorantim is the largest cement producer in Brazil and a significant player in the cement industry throughout the Americas.

Its decision to adopt the Insitec system as a company-wide standard follows a highly successful initial trial during which rapid commissioning, exceptionally high instrument availability times, and significant economic gains combined to demonstrate the potential of the Insitec to deliver real competitive advantage.

In response to the signing of the contract, Malvern's managing director Paul Walker said: "Malvern is delighted to have been awarded this contract with Votorantim and we look forward to working closely with them over the next two years and beyond.

The sale is a testament to the design, operability and industrial relevance of the Insitec system, and to the breadth and quality of the technical support that we provide.

It also represents a significant milestone in the growth of Malvern's process business.

By 2007, more than 500 Insitec analyzers will be operational in powder processing plants worldwide, delivering true on-line analysis.

More than 100 of these will be installed in cement finish mills." "This agreement follows Votorantim's principle of developing long-term and mutually beneficial relationships with its suppliers.

We are sure these systems will help us to improve performance and quality of our products", said Julio Cesar M.

Rocha, North America Procurement Director for St Marys Cement/Votorantim Cimentos.

Votorantim made the decision to install Insitec systems company-wide following an initial trial at its site at St Marys, Ontario, Canada in October 2003.

The installation of a new cement manufacturing line presented the opportunity to gauge the impact that real-time fineness control could deliver, so the Insitec was installed to investigate this potential.

By replacing conventional off-line analytical techniques with on-line particle size analysis, and developing appropriate control strategies using the resulting information, Votorantim has made significant process efficiency and product quality gains, justifying their further investment in the technology.

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