San Diego, CA – Thermo Electron Corporation, an industry leading producer of analytical and process instrumentation, announced the company has entered into a three-year agreement with Holcim, one of the world’s leading suppliers of cement, aggregates and downstream activities, to streamline procurement of its online Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis (PGNAA) analyzers. The agreement outlines the scope, terms, guarantees and pricing governing all future purchases made by Holcim over the next three years, specifically focusing on Thermo Electron’s market leading Gamma-Metrics CrossBelt Xpert (CBX) analyzer, which provides real-time analysis of raw materials.

Since introducing its first online analyzer in 1984, Thermo Electron has sold more than 225 units to the cement industry, including 36 to Holcim for use in its plants worldwide. Most recently, Holcim purchased Thermo Electron analyzers for use in the company’s Kandos facility in Australia.

Used for two primary purposes – quarry and stockpile management and automatic raw mix proportioning – Thermo Electron’s PGNAA analyzers have delivered unmatched performance to the industry for more than 20 years. The analyzers not only reduce variations in kiln feed chemistry, leading to greater throughput and reduced energy consumption per clicker ton, but also extend quarry life, maximizing the use of lower cost and lower quality materials and avoiding kiln upsets.

In 2005, Thermo Electron sold a record 31 online analyzers with ten each in the Americas and Asia, six in Europe, five in the Middle East, and two in Africa. Thermo manufactures its online PGNAA analyzers in Adelaide, Australia.