ANH Refractories targets Middle East with revamped cement division

Its subsidiary, ANH Refractories Europe now manufactures and distributes these products from its Bromborough UK plant to customers worldwide.

ANH Europe managing director, Peter Rooney, said driving sales in the Middle East cement manufacturing sector is a key aim for 2012 and beyond.

"Our aim is to simplify customers' product selection process and drive customer satisfaction," he said.

"This move will help to boost exports with the firm targeting cement manufacturers across the Middle East, Europe, and India, as well as the US. ANH has one the largest and most comprehensive portfolios of refractory products in the world. Our range of products for the cement manufacturing sector, in particular, has been expanded over many years. The new portfolio has been streamlined and refined to offer the best and latest in refractory technology and create a more powerful core offering of monolithic, brick and precast refractories. Products are now categorised for easier selection. Critically however, the portfolio still retains ANH's signature products. Brands such as Vesta and Versaflow, well known to ANH customers in the US, are now readily available from its new distribution hubs outside America. We hope these improvements will broaden our appeal, improve customer satisfaction and reinforce ANH as a world leader in refractories for cement kilns and further boost our reputation," he added.

ANH Refractories Europe provides solutions for the full range of cement kiln refractory applications from upper to lower transition zones to preheaters, coolers, tertiary air ducts and burner pipes.

Key products in the new revised range include both Magnel and Vesta bricks. It further includes Versaflow and Versagun castable and gunmixes such as Versaflow 70C Adtech for discharge and cooler bull nose rings. Another key product is Versaflow 45 Plus for inlet sections, cooler discharge chutes, side walls and tertiary air ducts.

Recent deals have seen ANH supplying a range of these products to the Holcim Ste. Genevieve plant, USA HiedelbergCement, Ketton UK and Lafarge, Retznei Austria.

Mr Rooney said this new focus will help ANH become a 'centre of excellence' for its customers allowing them to access a more effective product range.

"Our profile on a global scale is continuing to rise and we are striving to make improvements to further boost our reputation. One of the firm's greatest strengths is the versatility and reliability of its products. This is backed by the experience and expertise of our staff. ANH Europe has recently expanded its sales and engineering teams, including the appointment of Stephan Frank, a senior refractory engineer, hired to drive exports in emerging cement markets including Turkey, Ukraine and India," he concluded.