Decarbonising the cement sector hinges on cutting process emissions from limestone calcination and fuel combustion in high-temperature kilns, which together make cement one of construction’s largest embodied carbon sources. The piece centres on how robust carbon accounting frameworks, including project-level whole-life carbon assessments and product-level Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), can expose the relative impacts of clinker content, alternative fuels and SCMs such as fly ash or GGBS. For designers and contractors, consistent accounting is critical to comparing low-clinker cements, specifying lower-carbon mixes and evidencing compliance with client net zero targets.

Martin Engineering has introduced the N2 Air Cannon Intelligence (ACI) System, turning conventional air cannons in cement kilns and other high-temperature process lines into monitored, connected assets. Wireless N2 sensors mounted on each cannon feed real-time pressure, firing and cycle data to a central gateway, allowing operators to detect misfires, blocked valves and suboptimal firing sequences without manual inspection. For materials handling and process engineers, this enables tighter control of build-up removal on preheaters, riser ducts and clinker coolers, reducing unplanned shutdowns and compressed air waste.

Trelleborg has launched a new inch-size polyurethane sealing line for light-, medium- and heavy-duty hydraulic cylinders, covering piston, rod and buffer seals plus wipers for linear hydraulic applications. The Zurcon RU9 and Zurcon U-Cup RU9 profiles are engineered to retrofit directly into common American groove sizes in OEM and replacement equipment, targeting mining and other mobile hydraulics. For maintenance and design engineers, the inch-based range simplifies specifying high-performance PU seals without re-machining existing cylinder hardware.