Yemisi Izuora
FLSmidth has entered an agreement with Dangote group for the provision of hot kiln alignment services to 16 Dangote kilns located in Africa.
The 6-year agreement will see FLSmidth providing hot kiln alignment services to Dangote kilns in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia, Congo, South Africa, and Nigeria.
Nigeria is the largest market covered in the agreement, with three locations comprised of 10 lines. The Hot Kiln Alignment Service agreement is based on an equal partnership highlighting cost transparency.
“We have been associated with FLSmidth since the inception of our Dangote Cement business,” says Arvind Pathak, the Deputy Group Managing Director of Dangote PLC.
“The equipment health audits, services, and support extended by FLSmidth have helped us maintain our pyro process equipment with good reliability. Uninterrupted cement production and dispatch around the clock is important for us.”
Arvind Pathak calls hot kiln alignment “a key maintenance activity” that helps access and correct many critical parameters of the kiln, and that these alignments are Dangote’s “main objective when entering into a frame agreement with FLSmdith for all of our plants in Africa.”
The rollout will begin in Nigeria and then gradually be expanded to the other markets.
“Hot kiln alignment is an excellent preventative maintenance strategy,” says Rajesh Erudhayadhas, the FLSmidth General Manager for Services in the area. “Timely hot kiln alignments keep kilns operating at maximum efficiency throughout their service life. They also help avoid unforeseen breakdowns and maintain full kiln availability and productivity.”
Most of the kilns covered by the agreement were made in China. “This shows FLSmidth’s ability to maintain equipment we have not manufactured ourselves,” Rajesh points out.
In addition, FLSmidth has made the decision to place the tools necessary for the hot kiln alignments in Nigeria and South Africa, allowing for site visits at short notice.
“With our tools placed locally, we won’t be delayed by tax or customs issues,” says Flemming Palludan Strand, Area Sales Manager for FLSmidth.
“It also means we can deliver our services at more competitive prices, as well as offer our services to other cement producers in the region.”
FLSmidth has previously provided service offerings to Dangote on an ad-hoc basis.
The Copenhagen-based company performs more than 250 Hot Kiln Alignments around the world every year. Hot Kiln alignments include a complete performance analysis of the kiln, which often results in ancillary business.