Results of the performance evaluation, Braskem Idesa. Mexico.

Download here more information: Alfran, refractory installation by pumping

At Alfran, we are proud to announce the opening of our new integrated refractory castables manufacturing plant in Perundurai, located in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. This facility will be our third integrated plant worldwide, joining our existing plants in Spain and Mexico, further strengthening our production capacity to meet growing international demand.

This strategic milestone marks a key step in our global expansion, reinforcing our commitment to innovation and proximity to our customers in the Asian market by providing high-value solutions and optimizing operational efficiency.

Boosting Efficiency and Competitiveness

With significant production capacity, this new facility will not only reduce response times and improve logistical efficiency for our regional customers but also become a key pillar in strengthening our presence in Asia and enhancing our global competitiveness.

Commitment to Sustainability and Local Development

The Perundurai plant has been designed according to strict European environmental standards. In addition, this project contributes to the economic development of the region by generating direct and indirect employment, as well as technical training of local workers by our EMEA experts.

At Alfran, we are committed to sustainable growth, innovation, and excellence in all our projects, consolidating our global leadership and strengthening our ability to deliver high-quality, innovative solutions to customers worldwide.

We would like to thank ABC de Sevilla for the interview with our Executive President, José María Domínguez, where he shares details about this important milestone.

Read the full interview on ABC de Sevilla: https://www.abc.es/sevilla/economia/grupo-aldomer-salta-india-abre-fabrica-dos-20250128072308-nts.html

Since 2007, Refractarios Alfran has been the main player in both the refractory materials supply and installation at Votorantim Cimentos plants, in southern Spain.

Alfran has been the company chosen thanks to its knowledge of the facilities, the quality of its materials and our qualified personnel, mastering all installation methods and knowing perfectly the material requirements in each area, in the different maintenance shutdowns carried out at its plants in Cordoba and Niebla (Huelva).

We must highlight that castables such as ALFRAN CLEAN 85 G, ALFRAN ABR CLEAN, or DRYTECH 70 are commonly used in these cement plants, with exceptional performances.

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.

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.

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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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.

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 CASTBREAKER 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 a

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.

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.

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.