The Sicement product family includes modularly structured, industry-specific solutions for power generation and distribution, drive technology, process control and instrumentation, data management, plant infrastructure and maintenance.
Albrecht Neumann, who is responsible for the cement industry at Siemens Industry Solutions, said, "From these modules, we can create the optimal, overall concept for every plant operator, whether for a new construction or for the expansion, modernization or operation of an existing cement works. The results are efficient plant operation, a high degree of reliability, and security of investment." According to Siemens, Sicement is based on products, systems and services that have already been used successfully in a large number of cement works. Integrating these solutions into a complete package opens up additional possibilities for optimising plant operation.
Neumann added, "We take the entire life cycle of a plant into account, and help operators save money and increase their competitiveness."
The services offered under Sicement are broken down into power, drives, control and instrumentation and IT.
"Cement works are energy intensive, and their power generation and distribution systems are sometimes exposed to extreme conditions," explain Neumann. "While at the same time the loads require an extremely wide range of power supplies. On the basis of standardised medium and low-voltage systems, which have proven themselves in the industrial environment, Sicement Power offers individual approaches to providing a reliable, efficient power supply. A decentralized distribution layout increases the availability of system components which, in turn, helps to avoid production outages.
"Sicement Drives covers drive solutions for kilns, mills, crushers, coolers and fans. Constant-speed, variable-speed and twin drives are available for use as and where required. A complete conversion to variable-speed drive systems can bring even older systems right up to the state-of-the-art. That results in higher productivity and plant availability, according to Neumann.
"Sicement Cemat is based on the Simatic PCS7 process control system, and contains standardized hardware and software. All relevant plant and process data flow together in the Cemat control system in near real-time. That enables the plant operator to control all processes efficiently, detect any faults at an early stage, and so minimize downtimes. Archived production and process data provide pointers toward modernization measures that could increase efficiency.
"Production-specific data for the production, planning or management level are provided with the aid of Sicement IT. This solution is based on Simatic IT and supplies real-time information about products, quality and process parameters. All interacting components and processes are linked, which contributes toward improving the plant output.
"Sicement Instrumentation offers a complete portfolio of field devices for the cement industry, including process analysis and instrumentation systems. All devices are fieldbus compatible, and ensure standardised, uniform data communication even between different control systems. The Simatic NET communications network supplies data from the production plant, the production process and the company control centre.
"Sicement BoP (Balance of Plant) includes modules for the plant infrastructure, such as telephone, paging, time recording and camera systems for plant monitoring, as well as access control and fire alarm systems. Cables and cable systems are adapted to suit the conditions in industrial cement works. Materials and production processes are continually being improved and further developed. Energy-efficient solutions for building and exterior lighting, emergency and safety lighting are other important components of Sicement BoP.
"The product family is rounded off by Sicement Services. These maintenance services are oriented toward the plant operator's business processes, and are designed to improve energy efficiency and optimize maintenance processes."
