RMC: cementing a reputation for innovation

Environmental and technical challenges have forced RMC, the UK’s largest aggregates group, to come up with a range of interesting and innovative solutions for different strands of its business.
A new manufacturing process at the group’s cement plant in Rugby has secured RMC a European Award for the Environment for its work in reducing sulphur dioxide emissions.

Bob Millard, manager at the plant, which is part of RMC’s Rugby Cement division, says concern about emissions prompted a decision to rebuild the plant. This led RMC to experiment with the design of cement kilns with interesting results.  With the new technique, sulphur dioxide emissions are now 50mg per cu metre of gas, compared with 200mg for the previously most efficient kilns.

Unsurprisingly, the process has generated interest from other cement companies in Europe, and not only for its emission reduction but because of other benefits as well, Mr Millard says.