2026 ACA Manufacturers’ Performance Award Winners
The ACA Manufacturers’ Performance Award recognizes outstanding contributions by associate members that have led to measurable improvements in cement manufacturing performance.
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2026 ACA Manufacturers’ Performance Award!
First Place: Delta Ducon
A cement facility in Texas was struggling with a Cement Kiln Dust (CKD) system plagued by leakage, inconsistent feed rates, and high maintenance costs, mainly because it relied on traditional “batch” style double dump valves that experience rapid mechanical wear and frequent plugging in continuous flow applications.
Instead of just replacing the system, Delta Ducon re-engineered the process physics by retrofitting it with proprietary PERMA/flo Extreme Rotary Valve technology. Key innovations included:
- Advanced Metallurgy: Utilizing our P-33 Alloy (550+ BHN) to withstand 800°F temperatures and extreme abrasion.
- Operational Stability: Transitioning the client from pulsing batch feeds to a continuous metered feed, stabilizing line pressures.
- Sustainable Design: Optimizing the venting system to capture and return blowback air/dust to the process, eliminating environmental housekeeping issues.
The Result: The issues were eliminated through a rugged, “Made in the USA” solution by replacing a “run-to-failure” model with a “maintain-in-place” design. This Delta Ducon team significantly extended the facility’s uptime and reduced its total cost of ownership.
Second Place: SKF
SKF partnered with a Pennsylvania cement producer to address recurring bearing failures in a high-pressure grinding roll application. The failures were caused by severe operating conditions, which had reduced bearing life to fewer than 12 months. By implementing SKF three-barrier solution, the combination of sealed spherical roller bearings, a separate housing grease fill, and advanced radial shaft seals — multiple layers of protection were created that prevent contamination ingress, maintain lubrication integrity inside the bearing, and extend service life in harsh operating conditions.
This solution extended bearing service life to multi-year intervals that align with planned shutdowns instead of unplanned downtime, avoided production losses, and reduced repair costs.