By the end of 2011, when it completes 75 years, Votorantim Cimentos will have six new plants in operation in Brazil, increasing the production of cement by 5.6 million tons. In 2012, four new units are to be inaugurated and in 2013, another five. To implement its expansion plans, Votorantim Cimentos has a partnership with WEG who will supply high voltage turnkey substations and medium and low voltage motors.

This time, the equipment is for the plants in São Luís, in the state of Maranhão, scheduled to be inaugurated later this year; Cuiabá, in Mato Grosso, scheduled for 2012; a new furnace for the Rio Branco Unit, state of Paraná, and also Edealina in Goiás, Primavera in Pará, Ituaçu in Bahia and Marabá also in Pará, all scheduled for 2013. By then, upon completion of the so-called third wave of investments, Votorantim Cimentos will have 35 plants with total production capacity of 42 million tons per year.

According to the coordinator of the Electrical Project of the new plants, engineer Athos Parente de Almeida, WEG has always given priority to the company and has shown a differential in relation to other suppliers. "Our partnership is positive and WEG products, such as motors and drives, for example, fully meet the technical requirements of Votorantim and have good performance at the new plants," he says.

Another advantage, continues Athos de Almeida, is the assistance WEG provides especially for medium voltage motors. "There was a very good evolution also in the MCCs and, after a cooperative effort between the technical teams of both companies, the results were quite satisfactory," he commemorates.

The WEG equipment responsible for providing energy and driving the machines of the seven new units will all be delivered considering how projects and construction progress at Votorantim. Engineer Hilário Honnicke Junior, WEG representative in Curitiba, emphasizes the importance of the long partnership between the two companies. "Votorantim is a very important customer and we are proud of this supply to the new plants," he says.

In Athos de Almeida’s evaluation, the advantage of the relationship is in the speed in taking decisions and carrying out projects. To engineer Rafael Fabro de Almeida, WEG specialist in medium voltage motors for the cement segment, proximity to the customer allowed an analysis of interchangeability between the medium voltage motors proposed for the new units and those in operation.

"This analysis resulted in reducing the amount of spare motors required to meet the demand and also ensures reliability of continuous operation in the production of cement, even in face of adversity," explained Rafael Almeida, who also said that the study allowed a reduction of more than R$ 3 million in investments in spare parts originally intended by the customer.

About Votorantim

Votorantim Cimentos is present in more than 20 countries, manufactures over 40 different brands and currently employs 11,000 employees. By 2013, with the expansion of production capacity, another 7,000 direct and indirect jobs will be created.

Summary of supply scope of Votorantim’s new businesses:

São Luís (MA)
- 01 high voltage substation with 01 transformer 12.5 / 15 MVA 69 / 6.6 kV
- 02 medium voltage motors (01 slip ring motor to drive mill and 01 squirrel cage motor to drive fan)
- 03 Wmining IPW-66 low voltage motors (powers from 75 to 300hp).

Marabá (Pará)
- 01 high voltage substation with 01 transformer 12.5 / 15 MVA 138 / 6.6 kV

Primavera (PA)
- 01 high voltage substation with 01 transformer 20/25 MVA 138 / 6.6 kV
- 07 medium voltage motors (03 slip ring motors to drive mill and 04 squirrel cage motors to drive large fans)
- 01 low voltage motor for furnace (610hp)
- 18 low voltage Premium motors for several applications (powers 550 to 100hp)
- 3 low voltage Premium motors for bucket conveyors (powers 100 to 200hp)

Ituaçu (BA)
- 01 high voltage substation with 01 transformer 20/25 MVA 138 / 6.6 kV
- 07 medium voltage motors (03 slip ring motors to drive mill and 04 squirrel cage motors to drive large fans)
- 01 low voltage motor for furnace (610hp)
- 18 low voltage Premium motors for several applications (powers 100 to 550hp)
- 3 low voltage Premium motors for bucket conveyors (powers 100 – 200hp)

Cuiabá (MT)
- 01 high voltage substation with 01 transformer 20/25 MVA 138 / 6.6 kV
- 07 medium voltage motors (03 slip ring motors to drive mill and 04 squirrel cage motors to drive large fans)
- 01 low voltage motor for furnace (610hp)
- 18 low voltage Premium motors for several applications (powers 100 – 550hp )
- 3 low voltage motors with premium income, the bucket conveyors (powers 100 – 200hp)

Edealina (GO)
- 01 high voltage substation with 02 transformers 20/25 MVA 138 / 6.6 kV
- 10 medium voltage motors (04 slip ring motors to drive mill and 06 squirrel cage motors to drive large fans)
- 24 low voltage Premium motors for several applications (powers 75 – 500hp )
- 7 low voltage Premium motors with premium income for bucket conveyors (powers 100 – 200hp)

Rio Branco (PR)
- 01 high voltage substation with 02 transformers 20/25 MVA 138 / 6.6 kV
- 10 medium voltage motors (04 slip ring motors to drive mill and 06 squirrel cage motors to drive large fans).
- 24 low voltage Premium motors for several applications (powers 75 – 500hp)
- 7 low voltage Premium motors for bucket conveyors (powers 100 – 200hp)
- 13 low and medium voltage motors to replace existing units, if required