Cemex announced yesterday the winners of “INTEGRATE your ideas”, the company’s Global Sourcing Suppliers Innovation Programme. From a pool of 22 international participants, the top three ideas were selected by Cemex mainly for their innovation, potential financial contribution to the company’s operations, ease of implementation and degree of scalability in different countries.

The ideas submitted by suppliers were critically examined through a two-stage assessment. First, 53 Global Procurement executives and Procurement country heads conducted an in-depth review of the concepts presented. Second, a group of 20 experts from several areas across Cemex performed a thorough analysis of the proposed solutions.

Winning ideas

1st place – GE Industrial Solutions (USA)
Idea: “Electrical Products Bundle for Construrama Stores”, bundles for sale at Cemex distribution network, including electrical products: safety switch, load centers, and breakers. The solution is presented as a complete and integrated offer for clients in one convenient place.

2nd place – Redecam (Italy)
Idea: “Integrated Solution for CO2 Capture”, through a bag filter system with algae in saltwater that is able to treat a cement plant’s process gas when exposed to sunlight and is then transformed into ethanol, gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. This idea was developed in partnership with Algenol, a worldwide industrial biotechnology company.

3rd place – Magnesita (Brazil)
Idea: “Zebra Stripe Linings”, a refractory arrangement that combines the elasticity of a spinel-bonded system with the high thermal load capacity and coating adhesion of a direct-bonded dolomite system to improve refractory life in a kiln’s lower thermal zone region.

“As part of Cemex’s forward-looking business strategy, we continually strive to improve our processes through innovative ideas. By capturing our suppliers’ innovation, we identify better solutions for our customers, and strengthen our relationship with all of our stakeholders,” said Juan Romero, President of Cemex Mexico, Global Procurement and Global R&D.