How Schneider Electric AI Extends Equipment Life for Holcim
Holcim Romania has partnered with Schneider Electric to reduce equipment breakdowns, extend machinery life, and improve sustainability using AI-driven predictive technology. This partnership moves away from reactive repairs to a proactive maintenance strategy.
At the core of industrial operations are motors—when they fail, production halts. Holcim Romania now employs Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Service Plan for Rotating Equipment, which uses connected sensors and AI to continuously monitor key machinery performance. Sensors installed on power lines collect real-time data, feeding AI algorithms that detect potential issues before failures occur.
This proactive approach helps Holcim avoid unplanned downtime, reduce mechanical wear, and extend component lifespan. The result is improved operational uptime, increased reliability, and reduced waste and energy consumption, contributing to a more efficient and sustainable operation.
Embedding Technology in Sustainability
Sustainability is integral to Holcim’s strategy, with global targets to reach net zero emissions by 2030 and 2050, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Holcim Romania supports these goals through several focused actions:
- Increasing low-carbon building materials, targeting 50% of net sales from ECOPlanet cement and ECOPact ready-mix concrete by 2030
- Advancing circular construction by using 20 million tonnes of recycled materials via the ECOCycle platform
- Reducing emissions to below 400 kg of CO₂ per tonne of cementitious material
- Cutting freshwater consumption by a third compared to 2020 levels to protect natural ecosystems
Digital tools like EcoStruxure support these efforts by optimizing energy use and minimizing resource waste. As Holcim’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Nollaig Forrest, states in the 2024 Climate Report, “With our sustainable building solutions, Holcim is committed to building cities that work for all.”
Holcim is also advancing carbon capture with seven large-scale projects in Europe, aiming to produce eight million tons of net zero cement annually by 2030. This progress makes scalable net zero cement and concrete a tangible reality this decade.
Supporting Low-Emission Urban Infrastructure
Holcim Romania has provided materials and expertise for infrastructure projects like Bucharest Metro’s M5 line expansion. This 7km extension serves the heavily populated Drumul Taberei district, expected to transport around 50,000 passengers daily, easing traffic congestion and lowering urban emissions.
The company supplied both standard and specialist concretes, along with large quantities of cement for soil stabilization. Construction occurred in busy areas with strict delivery schedules, often operating 24/7. Holcim also offered technical advice, on-site support, and laboratory testing throughout the project to ensure quality and compliance.
EcoStruxure Automation Expert: The Future of Industrial Automation
Schneider Electric’s digital energy solutions deliver measurable sustainability benefits. About 80% of its revenues come from products and services aligned with sustainability goals. These solutions have helped customers avoid or reduce 800 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions to date.
The EcoStruxure platform is central to this impact. It enables operators in construction and manufacturing to monitor energy consumption closely, extend equipment life, and cut carbon emissions. These outcomes support global initiatives such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals and programs like EP100 (energy productivity), RE100 (renewable electricity), and EV100 (electric vehicles).
Beyond technology, Schneider Electric promotes energy transition by offering renewable energy certificates, on-site generation solutions, green tariffs, and long-term power purchase agreements, complementing Holcim’s sustainability efforts in Bucharest and beyond.
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