Blog EN
Our young subsidiary, Alfran USA, moves forward with a firm step to become a benchmark supplier for the maintenance of refractories in the cement industry. In this way and with our portfolio of high added value refractorycastables, TIX, HIGH GUN, CLEAN, DRYTECH, alfranjet, and alfranpump, we are extending the number of references in clients such as Cemex USA, Drake Cement, and American Cement, among others.
Thanks to our 2 logistic warehouses in Laredo (Texas) and Savanah (Georgia), where we store a minimum of 100 metric tons in each, we can supply any customer in the USA with a maximum delivery time of 48 hours.
Alfran will continue to provide resources to our American subsidiary to consolidate its growth.
In all work activities, to achieve an acceptable level of safety, it is vitally important to ensure and maintain adequate conditions of order and cleanliness. The lack of order and cleanliness in the facilities is a risk factor that deserves special attention since it is the cause of many accidents, falls due to stumbles or slips, bumps or steps on objects, and deterioration of equipment or facilities, which can lead to results other than those expected.
To achieve the goal of keeping the company “clean and tidy”, all staff must assimilate concepts such as:
1. Eliminate the unnecessary and classify the useful:
– Have the means to eliminate what is useless, prioritizing the elimination according to its usefulness.
– Classify according to utility and collect the useless in containers.
– Separate those elements that should not be in contact with others.
– In the case of flammable products, use metal drums with a fire-resistant lid.
– Machines with possible leaks must have a collection and drainage system.
– Act on the reasons why waste accumulates.
2. Store the material in appropriate places so that it can be easily located:
– Put everything in its place and eliminate what is useless.
– Collect tools on shelves that are easy to locate and identify.
– Designate the locations based on their functionality and speed of placement.
– Delimit and indicate the location of things.
– Classify waste properly.
3. Avoid dirtying and, if it gets dirty, clean immediately:
– Eliminate and control everything that can dirty.
– Cleaning is the means of controlling the state of things.
– Cleaning people must be properly trained and equipped.
– Quickly eliminate residues or substances that can contaminate and cause accidents.
– Avoid slippery floors due to oils or grease. Windows will be cleaned to allow light to enter.
– Keep changing rooms, showers, etc. clean.
– Involve staff in cleaning the environment.
– Control the critical points that generate dirt.
4. Generate work habits aimed at favoring order and cleanliness, etc:
– The characteristics of the floors, ceilings, etc. They shall be such as to allow easy cleaning.
– Standardize procedures by order and cleanliness.
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On March, April, and May, in the state of alarm, a team of Alfran collaborators carried out various refractory works related to the general shutdown of the Sarlux refinery, belonging to the SARAS group, in Sardinia (Italy), in several units, mainly at the FCC of UOP license. For the execution of the works, a team of 40 workers was foreseen, working in two shifts for 45 days approximately. However, after the closure of the borders and the confinement due to COVID-19, it was only possible to set up a team of 9 workers. This team has developed a great work, of high quality, and with “Zero Accidents Goal ”, during the shutdown, fulfilled. Our workers had an excellent attitude on site at difficult moments, providing the image of Alfran as a company committed to our Customers. Congratulations and Thanks!
At Alfran we are fully committed with the adoption of new preventive measures to stop COVID-19. In addition to personalized training, all our facilities have the necessary information and means to promote general hygiene and social distancing between employees, customers and suppliers, as well as the use of masks, frequent cleaning and disinfection of installations and equipment. Since the appearance of the COVID-19 and the declaration of a global pandemic, the priority of all Grupo Aldomer subsidiaries have been to guarantee Health & Safety, which is a VALUE for our Company. Being aware that the situation is very dynamic, we continue working, constantly, to take protective measures and to comply with each of the requirements of the Public Authorities. Due to our full commitment, we adapt our Contingency Plans and Safety Protocols to safeguard the Health & Safety for all our collaborators, customers and suppliers, where we develop our activities, both in our own and/or external centers.
Occupational health and safety is a fundamental pillar for the success and sustainability of any company. In industrial sectors such as Oil & Gas, cement, steel, and energy, working conditions are often demanding and hazardous. Ensuring a safe work environment directly impacts productivity, employee well-being, and operational continuity. At Alfran, we understand that protecting our workers is as essential as ensuring the quality and performance of our products. For this reason, safety is a core value—not merely a priority—since priorities may change, but values endure.
In this article, we will explore the key aspects of fostering an effective safety culture in the workplace. We will examine the most common occupational hazards across various industries and the preventive strategies that should be implemented to safeguard employees. Additionally, we will detail the regulations and laws governing occupational safety, as well as the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) in mitigating physical, chemical, and ergonomic risks. Ultimately, we will understand how good safety practices not only prevent accidents but also promote a productive and efficient work environment.
We will demonstrate how our philosophy integrates safety into all our operational processes, and how our approach to occupational risk prevention aligns with international standards. This enables us to offer comprehensive and safe solutions to our clients worldwide. Safety is not an isolated aspect but an integral part of how we work and interact with our collaborators, clients, and communities.
Introduction to Occupational Health and Safety
Occupational health and safety encompasses a set of measures and practices aimed at protecting workers from occupational hazards they may encounter during their duties. This field focuses on implementing protocols and creating safe working conditions to prevent accidents and occupational diseases. In industrial sectors like ours, where work involves high temperatures, heavy machinery, and chemical substances, safety is crucial to prevent injuries and ensure plant operability.
Occupational safety is not merely about legal compliance; it is a preventive approach that involves all levels of the company. Alfran, as part of Grupo Aldomer, maintains a constant commitment to the continuous improvement of occupational health and safety. We promote practices that not only protect our employees but also ensure operational continuity and the quality of our services. For us, a safe work environment is essential to maintain our clients’ trust and strengthen our position in demanding markets.
Main Occupational Hazards in Different Industries
In the energy, chemical, and metal-mechanical industries, occupational hazards can vary depending on working conditions and tasks performed. The main occupational risks include falls, exposure to high temperatures, contact with toxic chemicals, machinery-related accidents, and musculoskeletal disorders due to improper postures. These risks are common in sectors where industrial processes involve handling heavy equipment, hazardous substances, and large-scale operations, such as the plants where Alfran operates.
Identifying these occupational hazards is essential to implement appropriate preventive measures. Companies should have specific occupational safety plans that include emergency protocols, personal protection measures, and continuous training for all workers. In sectors like cement and steel, for example, workers may face extremely high temperatures and exposure to abrasive or corrosive materials, necessitating rigorous occupational risk prevention and innovative solutions to minimize dangers.
Regulations and Laws on Occupational Health and Safety
Various national and international regulations govern occupational health and safety. Internationally, organizations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) and ISO 45001 establish guidelines and standards that companies must follow to ensure workplace safety. In Saudi Arabia, where Alfran operates, local regulations must be strictly adhered to, including directives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, which advocate for the implementation of occupational health and safety programs across all industries.
Beyond international and local regulations, each industry has specific safety requirements. In sectors like O
At the beginning of this year, in the kiln located at Lafarge Holcim Jerez, Spain, we carried out a work: increase refractory lining in the stable coating area by the High Gun system with our basic castable ALFRANMAG 85 HG, to extend its life with guarantee. During this month, we have been able to carry out an inspection and the result has been very satisfactory for our client, finding the re-grown area with the same residual thickness in the brick as before our work . This data confirms the values observed through thermographic system, which have guaranteed the operation safely and without any risk , despite the changes in the quality of manufactured clinker that have been made to adapt to production needs.
Samples of residual material have been collected to make a postmortem analysis that will allow us to continue improving our materials and customer service.
In this Project we add the advantages of Health&Safety, Circular Economy and Cost Saving to our Customers.
The trust placed in our innovative solutions by our customers is a continuous drive for innovation, the growth engine for our company.
The environment is a key element in our quality of life. Its state has a direct impact on our health and, therefore, it is everyone’s task to preserve it. The proper use and exploitation of natural resources are fundamental, without forgetting that they are limited and that if we do not act from now, at some point they will run out of them. On the way to the development of new materials to reinforce the circular economy, ALFRAN offers its customers refractory solutions with a wide range of materials, made from recycled materials, coming from industrial waste, which contributes to sustainable development, without interfering in our quality standards and providing a great added value. With this gesture, we collaborate in reducing energy consumption and therefore in CO2 emissions on our planet.
As always, we are available to our customers, to offer them, as we have done for more than 100 years, our Solutions in High Industrial Temperature.
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.
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?
- Reduced number of people. This highly improves safety operating conditions.
- High quality and performance. Accurate control of mixing liquid (WET PROCESS).
- High-speed installation: Average of 30 tons / 12h-shift.
- High efficiency & Energy Savings. < 10% losses.