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November 2018
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World Cement
WORLDNEWS
USA
CalPortland’s Rillito and Oro Grande plants receive ENERGY STAR certifications
Both CalPortand’s Rillito plant in Arizona
and its Oro Grande plant in California have
earned ENERGY STAR certifications from the US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The
certifications are awarded to cement plants in the top
25% of US facilities for energy efficiency.
Winning plants must meet the strict performance
levels for energy efficiency, as set by the EPA. This
year’s award marks a seventh consecutive award for
CalPortland’s Rillito plant and a second consecutive
year for its Oro Grande plant. This is reflective of
CalPortland’s aim to achieve a legacy of energy
savings and efficiency.
“CalPortland is pleased to accept EPA’s
ENERGY STAR certifications for Rillito and Oro
Grande in recognition of our energy efforts,”
said Allen Hamblen, President and CEO of CalPortland.
“Through the hard work of our employee teams at
both Rillito and Oro Grande and our corporate energy
efficiency culture, we continue to demonstrate our
commitment to environmental stewardship, while also
reducing our energy costs.”
The receipt of these ENERGY STAR awards comes
as CalPortland has made efforts to improve its energy
performance, particularly by managing energy
strategically across its organisation and by making
cost-effective improvements to its plants.
“Improving the energy efficiency of our
nation’s industrial facilities is critical to protecting
our environment,” said Jean Lupinacci, Chief of
the ENERGY STAR Commercial and Industrial
branch. “From the plant floor to the board room,
organisations are leading the way by making their
facilities more efficient and earning EPA’s ENERGY
STAR certification.”
In addition to these awards, earlier this year
CalPortland received the 2018 EPA ENERGY STAR
PARTNER OF THE YEAR award for Sustained
Excellence. This award has been received by
the company for fourteen consecutive years, an
achievement unmatched by any other US industrial
company.
Corporate energy efficiency culture has been
established at CalPortland and the company
is continuing to lead the cement industry in
environmental stewardship. This is particularly being
done through the company’s investment in renewable
energy, fuels, and efficient industrial production
technology.
CalPortland is a major producer of cement,
ready-mixed concrete, aggregates, concrete products,
and asphalt in western US and Canada.
USA
B&W and Dürr Group complete MEGTEC and Universal transaction
Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises (B&W) has closed its
sale of the MEGTEC and Universal businesses to
Dürr Group for US$130 million/
E
110 million, subject
to adjustment. Proceeds from the sale will be used
by B&W to reduce outstanding balances under its
bank credit facilities, as well as to improve its balance
sheet and financial flexibility.
The MEGTEC and Universal businesses will be fully
consolidated within the Dürr Group from 5 October,
the German company said. The two businesses are
becoming part of Dürr’s environmental technology
business, known as Clean Technology Systems.
“The acquisition of MEGTEC/Universal will create
an effective global market leader in industrial
exhaust-air purification technology, capable of
delivering first-class products and services to
customers all around the world,” said Ralf W. Dieter,
CEO of Dürr AG.
“Following the takeover, the Clean Technology
Systems division will reach a critical size, with sales of
around
E
400 million, to operate successfully in the
world market in the long term. We then plan to use
this as a basis for further expansion.”
“What is important for us now is to implement
the integration quickly and successfully with uniform
processes and a clear organisational structure,” said
Dr Jochen Weyrauch, who is responsible for the Clean
Technology Systems division on the Dürr AG Board of
Management. “We are thoroughly prepared for this.
We will then leverage any growth potential.”
MEGTEC, the larger of the two acquired segments,
offers not only exhaust-air purification systems, but
also dryers and coating systems for the production
of electrodes for lithium-ion batteries. Universal is a
leading supplier of acoustic solutions, specialising in
noise and emission filtration systems.