Cementos Artigas gives insight into a project to renew the Minas cement plant in Uruguay, enhancing efficiency and sustainability.
Cementos Artigas, a company jointly owned by Molins and Votorantim Cimentos, launched a project back in 2020 to unify its industrial activities in Uruguay. The purpose of this initiative was to merge the facilities into a single production centre, which is more efficient and sustainable. The Molcemin Project entailed relocating the cement grinding and dispatch operations from Montevideo to the Minas factory, where the quarries and the clinker manufacturing module are situated, resulting in a unified production line. Additionally, as part of this unification, a new vertical cement mill and cement silos with a capacity of 4000 t were installed at the Minas facility.
The project was designed to lead to significant improvements in competitiveness due to reduced electricity consumption and lower production costs. In terms of sustainability, the initiative is a milestone for the company, as a result of the facilities’ increased efficiency and the cessation of operations in the urban core of Montevideo.
A modern facility in Minas
Stepping into the revamped Minas plant, the scale and sophistication of the new equipment is noteworthy. The centrepiece of this renewal is the cement mill, built by FLSmidth. The new mill consumes 40% less energy than its predecessor. This significant reduction in energy usage is evidence of Cementos Artigas’ commitment to sustainability.
Federico Gutiérrez, Regional Director of Innovation and Business Development at Cementos Artigas, explains how the new vertical cement mill, combined with advanced grinding technology, enables the production of composite and ternary cements. “With the incorporation of fillers and pozzolanic components, we not only improve the quality of our cement but also reduce our reliance on clinker, which is energy-intensive to produce”, Gutiérrez explained.
Centralisation and efficiency
One of the most notable changes at Cementos Artigas is the centralisation of its operations. Previously, the company’s activities were split between a clinker plant in Minas and a cement grinding and dispatch plant in Montevideo. The integration of these functions into a single location at the Minas site has streamlined logistics and reduced carbon dioxide emissions associated with freight, leading to a 40% reduction in electricity consumption and 35% reduction in fossil fuel use.
Gutiérrez highlighted the logistical benefits: “By having everything in one place, we’ve cut down on transportation needs significantly. This not only lowers our carbon footprint but also reduces operational costs, making us more competitive.”
During the 18-month period of works, Artigas’ Molcemin Project positively impacted several of the company’s main facilities, resulting in:
- Cement grinding with a vertical mill.
- New multi-chamber silo for cements.
- Ventomatic bagging and palletising.
- Adaptation of the current clinker warehouse to contain palletised cement.
- Adhesive mortar production plant.
- Bulk bag filling plant.
- New entrance to the Minas plant with two truck scales.
