Ready2grind compact plant for grinding cement in Costa Rica

The new Costa Rican grinding plant for Cementos Fortaleza, which was recently announced by owner Elementia S.A.B. de C.V., will feature Gebr. Pfeiffer’s new ready2grind modular system. This US $17.5 million investment will allow Elementia to achieve the project’s primary goal of directly integrating two of its divisions by self-producing cement needed for the manufacture of its Plycem fiber cement products. This new plant will also allow the company to achieve a secondary goal of becoming the fourth viable producer to compete in the Central American cement market.

Gebr. Pfeiffer’s ready2grind solution will enable the company to produce 300000 t of cement annually at the Cementos Fortaleza plant located in Salinas Esparza, Puntarenas. The ready2grind solution is known as one of the world’s first modular grinding solutions utilizing the high efficiency of vertical roller mills. The system’s compact, modular design allows it to be transported and mounted quickly and efficiently while keeping investment costs to a minimum. Key factors that influenced Elementia’s decision included the proven reliability of the MVR mills, featuring active redundancy, along with the short delivery and start-up times offered by the ready2grind system. 

When completed, Cementos Fortaleza’s grinding plant will accommodate all phases from pre-crushing and feed systems through storage silos and packing plant operations. Production is scheduled to begin in the first quarter 2018.

The broad project scope includes:

·Clinker mill feed system with four hoppers

·MVR 2500 C-4 roller clinker mill with classifier and ancillaries

·Process filters, hot gas generator and fan

·Electrical controls and drives

·Cement transport and three storage silos

·Packing plant and bulk loading systems

·Monitoring and coordination of erection as well as commissioning of the grinding plant

Elementia is a Mexican company led by business magnates Carlos Slim and Antonio del Valle Ruiz. The company consists of three division: cement, building materials, and metals. The company produces and sells building materials for the construction sector in the Americas while its cement division provides grey and white cement, mortar, and ready mix products under the Fortaleza, Keystone, Dragon, and Giant Cement brand names. Elementia’s cement division operates as Plycem Central America under the guidance of CEO, Oscar Fonseca. 

www.gebr-pfeiffer.com