To combat the risks of accidents and damage to health, the application of technical and organizational measures is a priority. These measures are designed to eliminate risks at source or to protect workers through collective protection provisions.

When these measures are not enough, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is imposed. The PPE act fundamentally reducing the consequences derived from the materialization of the risk. The protective efficacy will depend on the adequacy of the individual protection equipment at the pre-existing levels of risk.

The correct selection and use of the appropriate PPE will minimize the consequences and damages should the risk materialize. Therefore, the mandatory use of them is of vital importance.

Awareness campaigns in Alfran

With the aim of raising awareness among all employees towards active behavior in the prevention of occupational hazards and advancing their integration at all levels, different Awareness Campaigns will be carried out during 2019.

For this, maximum involvement and collaboration is necessary, highlighting the members of the Health and Safety Committee, Delegates and Prevention Technicians, Intermediate Managers and Project Managers.

The Management and Prevention Department request the involvement of all to achieve the proposed objectives.

Alfran is a specialist in designing, supplying and installing refractories for aluminum melting furnaces.

We have a wide range of refractory castables, such as Tix-80 NW, Drytech 85 AL, Tix 55AL or Cast-60AL, among others, specially designed for the aluminium industry, as well as our insulating castables, Lite 10/14 and Lite 106. We carry out new construction or maintenance projects. On the other hand, another company of Grupo Aldomer, Intec-Heat is specialized in the drying of refractories, in this type of furnaces.

We are available to our customers in the aluminum industry, to offer them, as we have done for more than 100 years, our Solutions in High Industrial Temperature.

Within the power generation industry, Alfran offers detailed engineering solutions for refractory materials supply, installation and drying for biomass boilers.

From Alfran´s Technical, Operations and Sales Departments and with the support of another company of the Group, Intec-Heat, for the drying of the refractory, we provide turnkey solutions.

Our dense refractory castables, such as Tix 35 SiC or Cast 35 SiC, as well as the insulating refractory castable, Alfran Lite 10/14, are ideal for these biomass boilers.

We are available to our customers to offer, as we have done for over 100 years, our Industrial High Temperature Solutions.

The WRA (World Refractory Association) has uploaded a video explaining the importance of refractory materials in our day to day. It is a very illustrative video for those people who do not know the strategic aspects of this sector.

Did you know that our day to day life would be unimaginable if refractory products did not exist?

And, what are reafractory products?

Let’s take the example of a car: it is made with steel, copper, glass, aluminum and plastics, among others. These materials are manufactured at very high temperatures. For example, iron is melted in an oven and transformed into steel by processes that reach 2,000 °C. In order that the walls of the furnace are not affected by these temperatures, they have a coating of refractory material. In the same way, these coatings are also used for the manufacture of glass, copper, aluminum and plastics.

And how do you get refractory materials to withstand such high temperatures? What are they made of? And how are they manufactured?

It starts from diverse raw materials of alumina or magnesia base that are baked in special ovens up to 1,800ºC, and this process makes the refractory properties appear. The refractory material can be supplied as non-conformed or shaped.

How are these refractory materials used?

The refractory material is transported and installed in the facilities of our customers. For the installation, a specialized refractory company is required.

And, how long can these installed refractory materials withstand such high temperatures?

The life time of the coatings usually depends on the industry, since they work at different temperatures. In the steel industry, the material usually lasts from a few hours to a few weeks, while in the glass industry it can last up to 10 years.

Once the coating has worn out, it is removed and recycled when possible.

The refractory industry covers the entire cycle, from the extraction of raw materials, to recycling.

Visit the WRA website (World Refractory Association) by clicking here.

Braskem Idesa awards Alfran with a performance result of 100% in the third quarter of 2020. One more time, we are recognized for our performance in the works related to refractories and thermal insulation, that we have been installing in the petrochemical installation, located in southeast Mexico.

Download here more information: Alfran, refractory installation by pumping

The National Association of Manufacturers of Refractory Products, Materials an Related Services (ANFRE) held in Seville, between March 11 and 14, the II Edition of Refractories Engineering Course.

It is a course taught by and for members of ANFRE that aims to train new generations of employees.

The course combines theoretical and practical training to obtain a global vision of the sector. In addition, the participants had the opportunity to visit both Siderúrgica Sevillana and our Alfran plant in Seville.

The following topics are found in the content of this course:

• Refractory materials
• Introduction to the design of coatings
• Refractory application
• Drying, heating and cooling
• Safety and Quality Control

From Alfran, we want to thank the entire Association for the organization of these courses.

In the dynamic and demanding industrial world, the need for safe and efficient solutions has never been more critical. Robotic demolition has become an essential tool for the modernization and maintenance of infrastructure across industrial sectors. These advanced technologies not only enhance the precision and safety of operations but also reduce execution times, manpower requirements, and associated costs.

Alfran, a leader in the supply and installation of refractory materials with innovative solutions for the industry, has embraced and refined robotic refractory demolition as part of its service offering. This commitment to innovation enables our company to tackle complex challenges and deliver optimal results to our clients. In this article, we take a closer look at what robotic demolition of refractories entails, its benefits, and some of Alfran’s notable success stories in this field.

WHAT IS ROBOTIC DEMOLITION?

Robotic demolition is an advanced method that uses remotely controlled robots to dismantle structures and materials. These robots are equipped with specialized tools such as hydraulic hammers, enabling them to carry out demolition tasks with unmatched precision and efficiency.

Unlike traditional demolition methods, which can be dangerous and less accurate, robotic demolition offers a range of significant advantages. Robots can operate in confined and hard-to-reach areas within industrial furnaces, where it would be risky for human workers. Moreover, their ability to handle heavy tools and perform repetitive tasks without fatigue leads to increased productivity and enhanced workplace safety when removing refractory materials.

BENEFITS OF ROBOTIC DEMOLITION

SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY

Safety is a key aspect. Robotic demolition significantly reduces the risk of injury by eliminating the need for workers to be in hazardous zones, particularly close to refractory linings. Robots are operated remotely from a safe location, allowing operators to supervise the process without exposure to danger—especially during hot refractory demolitions.

One of the greatest advantages of robotic demolition is efficiency. Robots can work continuously without breaks, significantly accelerating the demolition process. Their high precision also minimizes the risk of collateral damage to surrounding structures, which is critical in densely packed industrial environments.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Robotic demolition also offers environmental benefits. These systems generate far less dust than traditional methods, contributing to a cleaner and safer work environment. Additionally, the precision of robotic demolition facilitates better recovery and recycling of refractory materials, supporting more sustainable practices.

ALFRAN’S SUCCESS STORIES IN ROBOTIC DEMOLITION

At Alfran, we have completed numerous successful projects using robotic demolition. These include work in preheater towers, furnaces, coolers, and other equipment in cement plants, as well as reverberatory furnace demolitions in the aluminum industry—all marked by a significant reduction in safety incidents and accidents.

In the steel sector, rolling mill furnace demolitions are common. Our robots accessed confined spaces and performed demolitions with a level of accuracy impossible to achieve using traditional methods. This not only led to faster completion times but also increased safety and reduced costs for our clients.

THE FUTURE OF ROBOTIC DEMOLITION AT ALFRAN

At Alfran, we are committed to the continuous innovation of our robotic demolition techniques. Our investment in research and development keeps us at the forefront of technology, ensuring we can offer our clients the most advanced and efficient solutions available. In addition to conventional robotic demolition equipment, we have developed our own CASTPECKER system—a breakthrough solution for vertical equipment demolition that eliminates the need for scaffolding and uses only hoisting.

Furthermore, the ongoing training and development of our personnel ensure our operators and technicians are

The new global crisis originated by the Covid-19 has changed the world as we knew it. Now, the priority is to reduce the number of people involved in the installation process, to have enough distance between them, and to reduce the working time, to avoid risks of spreading the disease.

In this sense, Alfran recommends the best solution to install dense refractory castables: Alfranjet Shotcrete Technology. Alfran is #1 with Shotcrete Technology through its patented Alfranjet®, with more than 25 years of experience and worldwide references in Cement, Steel and Energy industries among others.

Why Alfranjet® Shotcrete?

1. Reduced number of people. This highly improves safety operating conditions.
2. High quality and performance. Accurate control of mixing liquid (WET PROCESS).
3. High-speed installation: Average of 30 tons / 12h-shift.
4. High efficiency & Energy Savings. < 10% losses.

Alfran offers specialized refractory solutions for the maintenance in lime furnaces, vertical cylinder or Maerz type. Our services include opening and closing inspection doors, scaffolding, demolition and cleaning, supply and installation of refractory materials.

We have a range of refractory castables, specially designed for lime furnaces, which can be installed by vibrocasting, such as ABR Clean + or by gunning, such as CAST 80 GL, in addition to our wide range of insulating castables.

We are available to our customers in the lime sector, to offer them, as we have done for more than 100 years, our Solutions in High Industrial Temperature.