Ecocem Benelux takes new 5,000-ton export silo into service in Moerdijk

On June 13, 2019, Ecocem Benelux will officially inaugurate its new export silo, as well as focus on doubling its storage capacity and the new possibility for direct ship loading.

The production site in Moerdijk was the first opened by the Ecocem Group in 2002. Since then, the production facility for ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) has been expanded, modernized and production capacity increased to about 650kT per year.

Ecocem Benelux is part of Ireland's Ecocem Materials, Europe's largest independent producer of cement with a low carbon footprint.

Ecocem Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) is a binder with low CO2 impact, and is made from a by-product of the steel industry. Ecocem GGBS has a carbon footprint which is approximately 90% lower than traditional cement.

Ecocem Benelux supplies GGBS in bulk to the Benelux market - both mortar and precast - putting their customers in a position to use Ecocem GGBS as a replacement for traditional cement (replacement up to 80%). The plant also exports to the Swedish market; the opening of the new export silo, as well as the increase in capacity, strengthens the Ecocem Group's efforts in this region.

As part of this event, Ecocem Benelux is also paying attention to the doubling of its production capacity, further expansion of the storage area for raw material and the commissioning of the facility directly to load ships.

The new silo in Moerdijk was built directly on the water and rests on 65 concrete piles that extend to a depth of 50 meters. The system operates from the center of the bulk silo, via a screw system and a bucket conveyor the material is transported into the 150 m3 day silo.

Both trucks and ships can both be loaded directly from the silo: trucks via the weighbridge under the day silo and ships via a pneumatic line with a maximum capacity of 250 tons per hour.

Ecocem Benelux has contributed to the construction of some prestigious building projects in the Netherlands; such as the new NHow RAI hotel in Amsterdam, (largest new construction hotel in the Benelux), the Maastoren in Rotterdam, (tallest office building in the Benelux). References also include the Montevideo office complex in Rotterdam and the Deurgang lock in Antwerp (the world's largest lock).