Rohrdorfer Zement has awarded Fives FCB the EPC contract for the supply of a 50tpd clay calcination unit at the Rohrdorf plant in Bavaria, Germany.

The integrated clay calcination unit within the clinker line is expected to test various clay sources and qualities with the ultimate goal of reducing CO2 emissions linked to cement production, targeting net zero emissions in 2038. The pilot plant will feature Fives’ proprietary pyroprocess technologies such as three-stage FCB preheater, FCB Flash Calciner and FCB Color control system

The five-stage design enables full activation of a wide range of clays by controlling particle size distribution, temperature and residence time of the material in the circuit. The absence of material contact with the flame ensures homogeneous calcination and therefore, excellent product quality.

In addition, FCB’s patented colour control process, which reduces iron oxides in a separate decolorisation step after calcination, efficiently produces the ‘traditional’ grey colour required by cement manufacturers without generating pollutants.

“After a detailed technical review of the various existing technologies available on the market, we have decided that the flash calciner with an integrated clay calcination unit from Fives FCB was the best solution in terms of reliability, efficiency and colour control. We are confident that offered clay calcination unit will be essential to move forward on our pathway to Net Zero,” said Dr Helmut Leibinger, managing director of Net Zero Emission Labs GmbH.