Industry thought leader

Herausgeber: Informationszentrum Beton

VDZ's Education and Training Programme 2022/23 ranges from the teaching of technical basics to the imparting of special technical knowledge and education courses for managers. VDZ offers individual, tailor-made seminars on the topics of clinker and cement production, maintenance, quality assurance, environmental protection and concrete technology. Almost all seminars can also be designed and implemented as inhouse seminars according to individual customer requirements. More about the training programme 2022/23 and registration at: https://vdz.info/5c78h

The aim of the research project is to investigate the suitability of previously largely unused mineral secondary raw materials from the stone and earth industry as a resource-conserving and climate-friendly main cement constituent. The use of cal-cined clays from secondary raw materials instead of conventional main cement constituents or high-quality primary clays can make an important contribution to the production of climate-friendly and resource-efficient cements.

Elemental white phosphorus (P4) is indispensable for key industries such as in the food and pharmaceutical sectors and is therefore a strategic raw material of high relevance. In the FlashPhos project, the sustainable production of white phosphorus using sewage sludge will be demonstrated on a large scale.

In this project, the systematic classification of the carbonation and chloride penetration resistance of concretes will be investigated. Based on these results, recommendations for action will be derived for production and conformity control within the framework of a performance-based durability concept.

The cement industry provides excellent job opportunities for young engineers and scientists. Training schemes introduce these new employees to cement technology, taking their different professional backgrounds into account. This online course provides a one-week in-depth training session which covers all relevant aspects of cement technology including chemistry, mineralogy and environmental aspects. Quality control as well as cement performance in mortar and concrete will also be covered.

The SIMULEX® cement plant simulator for training plant supervisors, foremen, production personnel, control room operators and young engineers was developed by KHD Humboldt Wedag AG in cooperation with VDZ. For over ten years VDZ has been using the simulator within the framework of training courses and has been continually supporting the further development of the system with practical input from the industry. As a result, the simulator provides a realistic reconstruction of a production plant with a state-of-the-art supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA).

This In-Class Training consists of two modules: "Grinding Technology and Raw Material Preparation" (Module 1) as well as "Clinker Production and Material Technology" (Module 2). Each module has a duration of one week. The course gives a deep insight into cement production technology, covering topics from quarry operation to cement grinding.

Climate protection and digitisation are key challenges for the cement industry: More than 600 representatives from the international cement industry and associated suppliers, as well as from scientific and research institutes around the world, gathered at the International VDZ Congress 2018 in Duesseldorf at the end of September. Steeped in tradition, the VDZ Congress is one of the world's most important events in the industry. The 40 talks held at this year's congress focused on particularly pressing topics such as climate protection and digitisation. The participants also discussed current technical challenges and the general situation with regard to cement production. A further highlight was an evening ceremony at which the winners of the VDZ Industrial Safety Prize 2017 received their awards.