Hanson UK completes GBP24m investment programme

Hanson UK (HeidelbergCement group) has completed the GBP24m investment programme at its Padeswood plant, near Mold, Flintshire, Wales. The project for additional grinding capacity and efficient energy use included the installation of a nearly-new vertical roller mill (VRM).

The Loesche VRM, housed in a 34m-high building, started its life at a grinding plant in Bilbao. It had only 7000 operational hours on the clock. After dismantling it piece by piece, specialist contractors moved it to the UK where it was reassembled on site at Padeswood. The VRM has a capacity to grind 650,000tpa of cement and it will replace one of the existing ball mills at the plant. Hanson UK said that this helps match the grinding capacity of the plant with the kiln capacity.

"Removing the discrepancy between grinding and kiln capacity at the plant means that thousands of tonnes of raw material will no longer need to be transported to other sites for grinding into cement," Hanson UK said in a statement.  "Plus, the cutting-edge facility, shipped to the UK from Spain, reduces energy consumption for this part of the production process by around 30 per cent due to the efficiency of its electric motors."

Jim Claydon, Hanson UK cement managing director, said: "The investment is one of the biggest in our UK business, securing the long-term future of Padeswood and the consistent supply of cement to the plant’s customers."

As part of the site improvements, three new rail cement silos have been installed alongside the existing railhead. This will allow up to three trains a week to be loaded for deliveries to Hanson depots in London, Bristol or Glasgow. The new silos will significantly reduce the transportation of cement produced at Padeswood to customers by road, the company said.