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.
This summer, we told you in a post about theoretical-practical workshops that had been held in Colombia.
In line with our commitment to ongoing training for clients, another series of sessions have been organized during the month of September. On this occasion, the sessions were held in Spain, with participants from different countries.
There were four days in which there was both theoretical and practical training. It began with a guided tour of the factory, to know the manufacturing equipment and sacking of materials. Additionally, the participants learnt about the manufacturing process for precast shapes.
After visiting the factory, the participants were also able to visit our laboratory, where they were explained some of the quality tests and the characterization of concretes, which we carried out in Alfran.
Following the dynamics of previous workshops, the participants had the opportunity to mix, vibrate, shoot and project via shotcrete, with their own hands, the different materials on a test panel.
Some of the subjetcs covered during these four days were the following:
Of the training sessions, it is worth noting the commitment of the different collaborators. Multinational teamwork, Alfran Mode.
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:
From Alfran, we want to thank the entire Association for the organization of these courses.
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.
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.
ALFRAN commits to integrating the basic principles of health promotion at work. The Luxembourg Declaration, promoted by the European Network for Workplace Health Promotion (ENWHP), establishes the main principles of action and the reference frame for good management for workers’ health. With this certificate, ALFRAN reinforces its strong commitment to the health of all company collaborators.
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.
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.
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.
The refractory material is transported and installed in the facilities of our customers. For the installation, a specialized refractory company is required.
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.
