Investment in a new, eco-friendly ceramic coatings production line at Cemacon

Project facts

Project promoter:
Cemacon SA(RO)
Project Number:
RO-INNOVATION-0018
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€1,900,000
Final project cost:
€2,659,790
Donor Project Partners:
International Development Norway AS(NO)

Description

The main products produced by Cemacon are bricks, lintels, ventilation products. They operate 3 production facilities, two for bricks and one for lintels. The current project represents further investment at the lintel factory to reduce the environmental impact of producing lintels and to increase market competitiveness.

The objective of the project is to obtain a sustainable long-term development of their lintel production facility by establishing a ceramic coatings manufacturing line. The new line will supply the factory with ceramic components needed for production of prefabricated ceramic lintels, at the same quality levels, with lower cost, and with quicker availability. By producing the lintels faster and fully in their own factory, they can build up a stock quicker than previously. Currently, the ceramic components are imported from Italy so this project would eliminate that import which reduces the environmental footprint of the lintel production process. The project will also strengthen the company’s brand image as a company supporting environmental protection by decreasing its CO2 emissions, fuel consumption and packaging waste related to import from Italy.

This strategy aligns with SME’s Growth Romania’s general objective of increasing value creation and sustainable growth in Romanian business sector. The benefits gained by Cemacon will result in growth in income and net operational profits as well as contribute towards innovative green technologies.

Cemacon established a partnership with experts from International Development Norway. The goal of the partnership is to develop a sustainable concept to make the production and operational processes greener and transform its activities along the principle of lean production. Lean is a systematic manufacturing method used for eliminating waste within the manufacture. The partner will perform audits on all factories, organize workshops and give feedback on what can be optimized in the production flow.

Summary of project results

The project aimed to ensure sustainable long-term development of Cemacon’s lintel production facility by establishing a ceramic coatings manufacturing line. The new line supplies the lintel production factory with the ceramic components necessary to produce prefabricated ceramic lintels, at the same quality levels, but improved costs, while also guaranteeing speedy availability of stock in the necessary volumes. The investment will eliminate the need to import the ceramic components from Italy, thus reducing the environmental footprint of producing lintels.

The rationale behind the project was to obtain sustainable business development and offer high quality products at competitive prices and with minimum environmental impact. 

The following equipment has been acquired:

- 1 Dosing and mixing line
- 1 Extrusion and cutting line
- 1 Drying line
- 1 Firing line
- 1 Movement and storage line
- 1 Acquisition of Palletizing line (including 2 Electric fork-lifts).

Summary of bilateral results

Activities implemented by the Applicant and Partner- Lean audit performed on all the Cemacon factories (Brick Factory, Lintel Factory, and the new Ceramic Coating Factory). - workshop organised by the Partner for Applicant''s team where the Norwegian partners will present the findings regarding what can be done better in order to optimize the production flow – thus reducing energy consumption, material consumption etc.). The workshop will also have sessions where Norwegian production specialists will transfer knowledge and recommendations regarding the methodology for optimization of the production flow.

Information on the projects funded by the EEA and Norway Grants is provided by the Programme and Fund Operators in the Beneficiary States, who are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of this information.