ABB reported Feb. 8 that global cement producer Votorantim Cimentos is achieving multi-site digitalization by adopting its industry-specific solutions, such as ABB Ability Expert Optimizer software and ABB Ability Knowledge Manager software to help it adopt Industry 4.0 in cement production to simultaneously optimize production and decarbonize operations.
The company explains its four divisions, Votorantim Cimentos Europe, Asia and Africa Region (VCEAA), have a worldwide capacity of 55.7 million tons of cement per year, so they’re ramping up their efforts to ensure lower emissions as governments and international organizations push for net-zero emissions by 2030. As a result, ABB’s software was installed at Votarantim’s plants in Spain, Turkey, Tunisia and Morocco, where it enhanced productivity, streamlined processes, reduced maintenance and saved energy.
Expert Optimizer has helped optimize Votorantim’s operations since the 1990s, as well as reduce emissions, while Knowledge Manager standardizes and ensures consistency in collecting and analyzing laboratory data. Now, Expert Optimizer will also minimize energy costs, while maximizing the use of alternative fuels, and maintain and improve the end-product quality. ABB is also implementing its Expert Optimizer RMP module to the cement manufacturer’s raw mix process to enhance the quality of raw material going to its kilns.
“Votorantim Cimentos has committed to a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030,” says Juan Antonio Gimenez Soriano, maintenance and sustaining capex manager at VCEA. “We’re increasing our efforts to drive energy efficiency to meet our emissions targets. With the recent ABB installations showing better than expected results, our other plants are also pushing for the implementation of the ABB solutions.”
