Displaying items by tag: software

Germany: Beumer has enlarged its stake in logistics software provider Codept. The company’s product offers warehouse management and fulfilment throughout Europe. The start-up company was founded with the support from the Berlin-based, autonomous company builder Beam, a spin-off of Beumer Group

Managing Director Felix Ostwald said "We are happy to seal a long-term partnership with Beumer. During the past two years we have cooperated successfully and are therefore glad to intensify this cooperation."

US: Kespry says that Cemex USA is using its drone and software product for stockpile management at its operations. A Cemex representative said that it has mapped 74,500ha of land over more than 4000 drone missions using Kespry’s product. The supplier uses autonomous aerial drones to gather survey data and then uses machine learning techniques to analyse the results.

Director of aggregate resources Matt Lewis said, “Kespry plays a critical role at both our cement and aggregates sites, despite operations being significantly different. Since initially adopting Kespry, we have been able to measure 21,100 stockpiles across our aggregates sites, while also collecting massive amounts of topographic data into the Kespry Cloud across our cement sites. The amount of time and money the Kespry platform has saved us is unmatched, and we wouldn’t be able to operate at this level if it weren’t for Kespry.”

Germany: Schenck Process has launched CONiQ, a cloud-based software product designed to access data from machines. The company said that it builds the foundation for all digital services of Schenck Process, enabling data-driven maintenance and performance optimisation. Users are able to monitor equipment using CONiQ’s integrated knowledge base. The supplier said that the product will open up ‘new functionalities’ for various cement plant equipment. Its first version will focus on vibrating screens and provide dashboards and functions to improve condition monitoring.

Israel: Seebo has announced an extended Series B funding round for a total of US$24m. Vertex Ventures is leading the round, in which10D, The Phoenix and Leumi Partners participate. Seebo will use the funding for a further expansion to its global reach, as well as enhancement of its process-based artificial intelligence product.

The company says that its product enables cement producers to identify process-driven inefficiencies in their operations in order to predict and prevent production losses. It can target losses including those involving kiln throughputs, emissions, clinker quality and ammonia usage. General partner Yanai Oron claimed that Seebo is the only supplier providing a productised solution based on artificial intelligence across the full product line.

France: Fives has selected Wallix’s Wallix Inside software to improve the online security of its subsidiary Fives Cortx’s industrial data products. The supplier says that this will give cement plant users secure access to energy bills, cost optimisation, site maintenance and production line analytics.

Fives CortX chief executive officer David Zak said, “Fives provides flexible and tailored solutions to optimise industrial sites’ production and maintenance by capitalising on field data. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the core of our systems and cybersecurity at the forefront of our minds. Therefore, we ensure the security of flows and data by design. With the solution Wallix Inside, we incorporate the best technologies in our solutions to guarantee an increased level of security between connected machines and our Gateway Internet of Things (IOT), enabling our clients to fully enter Industry 4.0.”

US: Forney LP has appointed Peter Jones as Platform Sales Manager for its ForneyVault construction materials testing (CMT) software platform.

Prior to joining Forney, Jones was Senior Municipal Software Specialist/Multi-Link Division for Link Computer Corporation in Bellwood, Pennsylvania. He also worked as Commercial Account Manager/Natural Resources for W W Grainger of Pittsburgh. He also spent 12 years with Sysco Food Services in Pittsburgh, last serving as Business Development Manager. He holds a bachelor's degree in management, accounting and finance from Hiram College in Ohio.

Forney LP sells products in the materials testing industry with a focus on material testing equipment for cementitious materials like cement, mortar, grout and concrete for the construction industry, downhole cement and proppant materials for oil and gas industry, and general metals testing. It sells its products to more than 75 countries. Its corporate headquarters is located near Zelienople, Pennsylvania with manufacturing facilities and stocking warehouses in the eastern and western US.

Mexico: Cemex subsidiary Cemex Ventures has invested in excavation materials marketplace Soil Connect. The online platform says that it connects the supply and demand algorithmically based on the users' proximity and needs. It is mainly used for aggregates. In digitising the marketplace it reduces landfill while lowering transportation distances, according to the investor. It says that this results in tremendous cost savings for construction professionals. This also promotes circular economy within the sector.

Cemex Ventures’ investment head Cristina Aparicio said, "For any relevant actor with a view to the future of our ecosystem, it is a priority to offer a solution to the millions of tonnes of materials that are generated annually in demolition projects, since much of the construction materials of tomorrow come from the projects to be demolished. We are very excited about this agreement with the Soil Connect team, which has created a business that adds value, both to those who generate the waste and to those who need construction material, prioritising this tool that provides agility."

US: HarbisonWalker International (HWI) has enhanced its Mobile Refractory Tools app based on customer input to increase the ease of refractory products and services optimisation in the field. HWI customers and Contractor/Installer Network (CIN) members can use the free app to access the refractory mix calculator to compute mix ratios and times for HWI products, search safety data sheets, find HWI Global Sourcing Center (GSC) locations, and contact HWI. The company says that CIN members can also gain access to HWI's Pocket Reference Guide (PRG), which contains comprehensive product information, brick sizes, shapes and combinations, sprung arches, anchors, and area and volume data. All business portal account holders receive basic access, along with product data, including datasheets, installation guidelines, curing and dry-out schedules, and the new kiln brick calculator.

Senior vice president (SVP) Mike Werner said, “We are always listening to our customers and the latest advancements in our mobile app reflect what our contractor/installers and customers told us would help them the most on the job.” He added, “HWI app users can find and calculate what they need to know about our products and services when they need them. We're constantly innovating with technology to help our customers and the overall refractories industry, with offerings like our High Temperature Times podcast and our Mobile Refractory Tools app. On-going updates to the app are an important part of our commitment.”

Thailand: Siam City Cement has signed a new contract with US-based SAP Ariba for the further digitisation of its end-to-end procurement processes by using the latter’s software products. The producer first partnered with the company for “sourcing, contracts, catalogues, supplier information management and supplier collaboration” in 2016. Following the latest release in August 2020, SAP Ariba’s products support the Thai language, “making it easier for buyers and suppliers to communicate and transact over Ariba Network.”

Head of group procurement Benjamin Goodwin said, “From the beginning, we saw our procurement transformation as an opportunity to bring more value to the organisation and to our network of suppliers in Thailand and beyond. Our recent renewal of SAP Ariba solutions is a result of the successful partnership cultivated over the years, which set us up to achieve process efficiencies and cost savings from automation, standardization and improved collaboration with suppliers. We look forward to continuing our journey with SAP Ariba.”

Canada: Testing specialist Giatec has launched Roxi, an artificially intelligent (AI) concrete visualisation programme for builders. PR Newswire has reported that Roxi “provides insights regarding the amount of cement that is needed, including the amount that can be removed without compromising the concrete's setting time or strength development,” aiding project completion while diminishing extraneous cement demand.

The company thanked Sustainable Development Technology Canada for its US$1.83m grant towards the development of Roxi, part of the fund’s US$44.6m total contribution to “clean technology projects” so far in 2020.