Industry memory

What the industry learned—and what it must not forget.

A chronological record of incidents, field studies, improvements, and compliance milestones. Individuals are omitted; systems and decisions remain visible.

1981–2026documented history

Source-backed chronology

Public plant experience across decades

Historical event facts remain part of the record. Old legal limits or procedures do not become current guidance. Records without a stated event date appear after dated accounts.

reported 2021
Reliability and maintenanceImplementation milestone

Continuous gearbox monitoring at Radotín

Plant and supplier report earlier detection, less damage exposure, plannable repairs, and a long-term support contract; no quantified availability delta.

Ceskomoravsky Cement · Radotin cement plant, Czech Republic
2021
Reliability and maintenanceOrganization-reported

Clinker-crusher replacement at Oro Grande

The supplier describes an early large-clinker event passing through the replacement successfully.

CalPortland · Oro Grande, California, USA
2021
Alternative fuels and circular inputsOrganization-reported

Hydrogen and byproduct-fuel trial at Ribblesdale

The operator reports successful operation with the trial fuel mix.

Hanson / Heidelberg Materials · Ribblesdale, Lancashire, United Kingdom
2021–2023
Alternative fuels and circular inputsOrganization-reported

Fuel-feed flexibility at Mannok

The supplier reports more than 1 t/hour additional coal displacement from optimized SRF feeders and the Feedflex upgrade, beyond the pyrolyzer alone.

Mannok Cement · Mannok cement works, Ireland
2020
Process, quality, and energy optimizationOrganization-reported

Roller-press raw grinding replaced two ball-mill circuits

Supplier reports 350 t/h at 13.36 kWh/t, more than 8 kWh/t lower, nearly 40% energy saving, and about EUR1.5 million lower annual energy cost.

Siam City Cement Public Company · Factory 1, Saraburi, Thailand
2020 data; 2023 publication
Process, quality, and energy optimizationPeer-reviewed / validated

Advanced control on a kiln and grate cooler

About 4.6% cumulative kiln fuel saving, 15% lower mean NOx, 32% lower NOx standard deviation, about 10% mean cooler electricity saving, and service factor above 94% after more than two years.

Industrial cement producer · Site confidential, Italy
2019
Regulatory and compliance historyRegulator / government

Lehigh multi-plant Clean Air Act settlement

EPA estimated about 4500 t/y NOx and nearly 1000 t/y SO2 reductions.

Lehigh Cement and Lehigh White Cement · 14 kilns at 11 facilities, USA
2019
Energy and environmental performanceOrganization-reported

Primary-air blower replacement at Huixian

The company reports 24.15% power savings for the replaced blower in 2019.

Huixian Shanshui Cement · Huixian, Henan, China
2019 report
Alternative fuels and circular inputsOrganization-reported

Fuel-feeder turndown at Mergelstetten

After ten months, the supplier reports stable dosing over a 1:50 range and 25% lower conveying-air volume.

Schwenk Zement · Mergelstetten, Germany
2017
Safety and occupational healthRegulator / government

Falling material inside a downcomer duct

Falling material struck the technician inside the duct.

Argos USA LLC · Roberta Cement Plant, Alabama, USA
2016
Regulatory and compliance historyRegulator / government

CEMEX five-plant Clean Air Act settlement

EPA described more than 4000 tons of NOx reduction as settlement impact.

CEMEX Inc. · Knoxville; Demopolis; Louisville; New Braunfels; Odessa, USA
2016
Material handling and quarry operationsImplementation milestone

Quarry wetland assessment at Degerhamn

The producer documents a completed assessment and recommendations recognized by an award.

Cementa / HeidelbergCement · Degerhamn limestone quarry, Sweden
2015–2017 fiscal years
Energy and environmental performanceOrganization-reported

Coordinated energy improvements at Mangrol

Company submission reports total electricity intensity 71.7→65.7 kWh/t cement; grinding 30.6→27.5; thermal intensity 703→682 kcal/kg clinker.

JK Cement · Mangrol, India
After 2013; comparison dates not stated
Grinding and millingOrganization-reported

Cement-mill control at Rio Branco do Sul

A plant manager reports cement-mill electricity consumption lower by 1.15 kWh/t.

Votorantim Cimentos · Rio Branco do Sul, Brazil
After 2011 start-up
Material handling and quarry operationsOrganization-reported

Material-flow tuning during Drake commissioning

Martin Engineering reports about 100 short tons/hour and no manual-cleanout shutdowns after the first year of operation. The end date of that observation is not stated.

Drake Cement · Paulden, Arizona, USA