Votorantim opts for ABB Industry 4.0 technology

Votorantim Cimentos Group is installing Industry 4.0 in cement to optimise production and decarbonise operations. ABB has delivered advanced automation and digital technologies to the Brazilian cement producer. 

Votorantim Cimentos Europe, Asia and Africa Region (VCEAA), which has the worldwide capacity to produce 55.7Mta of cement, are ramping up efforts to ensure lower emissions as governments and international organisations push for net-zero emissions by 2030.

Digital solutions ABB Ability™ Expert Optimizer and ABB Ability™ Knowledge Manager have recently been installed in the customer’s plants in Spain, Turkey, Tunisia and Morocco with proven impacts for enhanced productivity, streamlined processes, reduced maintenance and energy savings. Expert Optimizer, deployed in Votorantim plants since the 1990s, ensures optimisation of the complete process and reduces emissions significantly while Knowledge Manager helps in standardising and ensuring consistency in collecting and analysing laboratory data across the plants.

Expert Optimizer will minimise energy costs while maximising the use of alternative fuels and at the same time maintaining and improving the quality of the product. Working closely with Votorantim in engineering and project management, ABB has also provided the Expert Optimizer RMP module to the raw mix to enhance the quality of raw material products going to the kiln. Regarding cement, discrete lab data is combined with continuous process data to optimise production while maintaining cement quality. 

“Votorantim Cimentos has committed to a substantial reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2030,” said Juan Antonio Gimenez Soriano, VCEAA maintenance and capex manager. “We are 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.”