The San Juan-based SME supplies white cement for the construction market and reagents for the mining and metallurgical sector.
By Panorama Minero
Norberto M. Mangin -Development Manager at Industrial Cerro Blanco S.A.-, highlights the company’s alliance with BGRIMM -Beijing General Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy-, a global leader in cutting-edge mineral processing technologies.
“Industrial Cerro Blanco S.A. is a company based in San Juan, Argentina, owned by the Mestre family and founded by José Luis Mestre in 1998. In the late 1990s, the white cement factory in the province of San Juan closed—José Luis was its Commercial Manager at the time—and as an entrepreneur, he began importing white Portland cement, initially through AALBORG Denmark, then for 23 years through CEMEX (Mexico and Spain), and currently through CIMSA Spain. Our company has gradually incorporated related products, supplying chemical additives for the ready-mix construction industry, and more recently, reagents for metallurgy in mining,” explains Norberto Mangin by way of introduction. He adds: “Previously, with the white cement produced in Argentina, we couldn't produce structural concrete. However, with these imported white cements, which offer greater strength than gray Portland cement, a key innovation has been the use of white ready-mix concrete for both structural and architectural purposes.”
In line with its white Portland cement offering, Industrial Cerro Blanco S.A. also provides chemical additive solutions for the production of dry cement-based premixes. “Aiming to improve our support to white cement users, we began introducing additives for construction—such as an expansive additive that prevents cracking in concrete, which saw major development in jointless industrial flooring under the name DRY D1. Later, we incorporated other types of chemical additives, such as cellulose thickeners, redispersible polymer powders, and high-range water reducers (superplasticizers), all designed for use with white Portland cement in adhesive compounds, plasters, grouts, precast elements, and more,” he details.
Mangin continues: “Following the introduction of these chemical additives, we also noticed growth in the mining sector here in San Juan. Given our strategic location, we began seeking partnerships with companies that manufacture chemical reagents—specifically, chemicals used in metallurgy for the extraction and concentration of minerals.”
Alliance with BGRIMM
With the goal of incorporating new products—and leveraging its base in San Juan—Industrial Cerro Blanco S.A. has established a partnership with BGRIMM -Beijing General Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy-, an organization with a presence in Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America, and strong interest in expanding its activities in Argentina.
“Currently, it is China’s leading Research and Development Institute in Mining and Metallurgy, with three main areas of focus: Technical and engineering services for the utilization of mineral resources; Technologies and products related to advanced materials, and Recycling of mineral resources and environmental protection.
As an example of new technologies, they are introducing ‘green’ or environmentally friendly reagents, replacing traditional ones. They are also focused on the recovery and processing of mining waste,” explains Mangin. He adds: “Initially, we began working with BGRIMM in the area of reagents, where there are new product lines—for example, in gold leaching, they offer partial or complete replacements for sodium cyanide using new polymers that can be used with the same efficiency. These are more modern technologies that could be implemented.”
“In recent years, companies from Australia and China have introduced alternatives to sodium cyanide for use in leaching, particularly polymers that become active when dissolved in water and applied to the ore. These polymers incorporate the cyanide ion into their molecular structure and can even be handled like conventional reagents.” He continues: “The same applies to flotation reagents—for example, xanthates, which release hydrogen sulfide and produce a very strong odor. The new reagents replace xanthates—which are over 50 years old—while eliminating unpleasant odors, reducing scaling, and creating a safer and more worker-friendly environment.”
Industrial Cerro Blanco S.A. and Other Partnerships
“In addition to BGRIMM, we have partnerships that include CIMSA Cementos. For many years, we worked with CEMEX, importing white cement from their plants in Mexico and Valencia, Spain. The Valencia plant was sold three years ago to CIMSA, a Turkish white cement company, so we simply changed the brand of white cement,” explains Mangin. “In the field of chemical reagents, we represent Chimica Edile Argentina S.A., an Italian company whose main manufacturing facility is located in Mendoza, right next to our own plant in the province. Their core business is the production of non-explosive demolition products such as FRACT AG, and also the DRY D1 expansive additive, which we use in jointless industrial concrete flooring or to prevent cracking in concrete. We also have a partnership in Argentina with MIZUDA HOPE, a manufacturer of construction chemical additives, with whom we are working on a line of cellulose thickeners, polymers, and high-range water reducers (superplasticizers). These are used in the production of dry premixed building materials,” reports the representative of Industrial Cerro Blanco S.A.
As a conclusion, Mangin notes: “Industrial Cerro Blanco S.A. is an SME that started by importing white cement to Argentina, and is connected to equivalent importers in Paraguay and Uruguay. We have a very close collaboration with JLM Industria S.A., through whom we export several of the products we manufacture at our San Juan plant, with Chile as a key nearby market for construction.”
“We see great potential in San Juan’s mining sector. Through BGRIMM, we now have new opportunities in areas such as plant and process design, environmentally friendly chemical reagents, and the supply of equipment for industrial and mining installations. This group signs many agreements with institutions from other countries to move forward with the adoption of these new reagents and technologies. It's also important to mention that we rely heavily on the services of the Mining Research Institute of the National University of San Juan,” concludes Norberto Mangin.
For more information:
• INDUSTRIAL CERRO BLANCO S.A. www.cerroblanco.com.ar
• JLM INDUSTRIA S.A. www.jlmindustria.com
• BGRIMM www.bgrimm.com (http://english.bgrimm.com/)
• MIZUDA HOPE http://www.mizudahope.com/english/
• CIMSA https://cimsa.com.tr/en/
• CHIMICA EDILE S.A. https://chimicaedile.com.ar/
