In recent years, thyssenkrupp has evolved from being a stand-alone cement equipment supplier as Polysius to becoming fully integrated within the thyssenkrupp group of diversified industrial companies. As part of this larger structure, the company has further pursued and developed its strategy towards delivering complete cement plants on an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis. ICR caught up with Frank Ruoss, CEO of Business Unit Cement at thyssenkrup Industrial Solutions and an industry veteran with over 25 years experience in the sector, to talk about the challenges and successes of serving the global cement industry.
For over 150 years, thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions has supplied state-of-the art equipment to the cement industry. Over the last six decades the company has delivered more than 900 kiln systems globally and its technology remains a benchmark for the sector.
ICR: How would you describe the cement sector in 2016 from the perspective of an equipment supplier?
Frank Ruoss (FR): In general, we do not just see ourselves as just a supplier of cement manufacturing equipment, but also as a long-term reliable partner to our customers throughout the life cycle of their plants and projects. We support cement manufacturers around the world with an extensive portfolio of products and services, from single machines to complete turnkey plants. In terms of our cement business, the past fiscal year was characterised by a challenging market environment. In that light we are satisfied with the results. We won our biggest-ever single cement contract, which at the same time is one of the largest cement projects in the world today: a 20,000tpd turnkey cement plant to be built in Saudi Arabia. In the 2H16 we also secured a major contract with an Algerian cement producer.
