Displaying items by tag: software

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.

Bangladesh: Metrocem Cement says that it has contracted with US-based software specialist NURTech to “develop a unique AOS and IOS-based integrated software for Metrocem Cement. This will ensure smooth operation and alleviate complications, which in turn will benefit employee as well as customers.” Managing director Khandakar Rifat said that he looked forward to the fruits of this expansion of Metrocem Cement’s existing relationship with the supplier.

Germany: Currax and Siemens have announced their collaboration on a mill operations digitisation pilot project involving the Simotics Connect 400 motor data collector and transmitter. They hope that analysis of data processed via the Simotics 400 will better enable the remote operating of mills ‘to increase efficiency and component life’ and speeding the shift towards automation and production that is resilient to crises such as the coronavirus outbreak.

China: Cemex’s corporate venture capital subsidiary Cemex Ventures is preparing to enter the Chinese market offering innovations for the construction industry. It wants to build relationships with startups in order to do this and it has signed deals with local companies Glodon, a digital platform service provider in construction industry based in Beijing, and Interdream Ventures, a venture capital firm that focuses on the digitalisation of construction and decoration industry.

"This type of alliance between two segments that fit together, is key to finding new successful business models, and operate in the Chinese market. Glodon and Interdream Ventures also have a complete vision of the entire value chain and are good partners to drive the construction revolution,” said Juan Nieto, a representative of Cemex Ventures Asia.

Cemex Ventures is the corporate venture capital wing of Cemex that was launched in 2017. It invests in startups with potential in the construction industry and works with entrepreneurs, universities and other stakeholders.

UK: Quinn Industrial Holding’s Building Products division has launched two software upgrades aimed at improving customer experience. Its new Quinn Delivery Hub digitises mixed load delivery logistics coordination, facilitating collection and drop off of cement and other bulk materials from various locations with a centralised real-time management system. Customers can enjoy first-hand benefits of the new system with the new Genius by Quinn app, giving full visibility of every load from despatch to delivery.

Germany: After five years’ transport planning and dispatch management, Heidelberg’s Inform software has received an update. The new version features an improved user interface and decision-making engine with upgraded algorithms to increase truck fleet productivity. HeidelbergCement’s Head of Logistics Germany Silvio Günther said “On-time delivery and flexibility are vital to our cement customers. Inform’s software allows our cement customer service centre to react quickly.”

Switzerland: Minerals process control innovator ABB has unveiled new visual control graphics for its Ability System 800xA, which is installed at 450 cement and mining sites worldwide. The platform, called 800xA 6.1, is compatible with other existing ABB and external vendor subsystems.

“As the main interface between humans and the production site, visualisation is critical,” said Michael Marending, lead engineer at ABB. The upgrade allows for extensive customisation for tailored presentation including navigation shortcuts, and features a specially designed alarm system.

Thailand: Siam Cement Group (SCG) is promoting a blockchain electronic accounting method for procurement and payment with its suppliers and partners to improve efficiency. Its Procure to Pay platform was started in 2018 and it has 240 suppliers using it at present, according to the Bangkok Post newspaper. The company aims to reach 2400 suppliers by 2020.

Thammasak Sethaudom, vice-president for finance and investment at SCG, said that the system had helped suppliers reduce processing times by 50% from 70 minutes to 35 minutes per purchase order. The platform speeds up the time required to issue invoices. The system also helps SCG’s partners to track transactions in real time.

Procure to Pay was developed with Digital Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Siam Commercial Bank. SCG has invested over US$0.3m on the project so far. Expansion to SCG’s subsidiaries in Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam is being considered.