Germany: Schneider Electric has announced a strategic collaboration with microchip designer NVIDIA and software developer HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprise) to apply artificial intelligence in the real world in so-called ‘Physical AI.’ The companies want to bring AI closer to industrial operations by embedding the algorithms directly within the physical environments they will be deployed within. They have launched the ‘Industrial AI Agents at the Edge’ range of products as part of this process.

This includes the HPE Private Cloud AI software product that is a collaboration between HPE and NVIDIA. The companies say they are using this product with Schneider Electric’s operational technology expertise to enable organisations to securely deploy and scale AI applications in industry. They aim to allow companies to bring real-time data closer to operations while being mindful of data sovereignty, cybersecurity and AI consumption costs. Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Industrial Insights apps can also allow customers to deploy, manage and govern multiple Industrial AI Agents through a single environment, simplifying lifecycle management, security oversight and control of operations and infrastructure. CMPC Chile has been using Schneider Electric’s OTMS over the past three years to monitor the health and availability of control systems across its continuous pulp and paper operations.

Gwenaelle Huet, Executive Vice President, Industrial Automation, Schneider Electric said “The next generation of industrial innovation will be driven by intelligence embedded directly into industrial operations." She continued, "Together with NVIDIA and HPE, we are bringing together expertise in automation, AI and edge computing to help customers transform operational data into action, improving resilience, efficiency, cybersecurity and sustainability while laying the foundation for more autonomous industrial operations."

Switzerland: The government has submitted a bill for a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) for imports of cement into Switzerland. It recommends that any eventual CBAM incorporate a trigger mechanism to apply only when cement imports rise ‘strongly’ from a given country.

Türkiye: The Turkish Competition Board has conditionally cleared conglomerate Arsem Madencilik Enerji to acquire Kars Çimento, following a Phase II review of the deal opened on 25 September 2025. Kars Çimento, a subsidiary of Italy-based Cementir, operates the 0.6Mt/yr plant near Kars in Northeastern Türkiye. Cementir completed its sale of Kars Çimento to a subsidiary of Arsem Madencilik Enerji in late 2025.

The board reported that the companies’ combined market shares exceed 85% in certain districts. Arsem Madencilik Enerji has committed to limit price rises, increase employment at the Kars plant by 10% and maintain the plant’s capacity utilisation at no less than 90%.

© Cosimo Maffione

Switzerland: Holcim has opened a new, 9000m² headquarters and showroom in Zug. The producer described the showroom as a 3D-printed concrete maze made of EcoPact reduced-CO₂ concrete featuring EcoPlanet reduced-CO₂ cement. The materials also include EcoCycle technology, which guarantees construction demolition materials (CDM) content of over 10%. Cross-section mockups show thermal envelope assemblies of Alkern concrete blocks filled with Airium insulating foam, PRB thermal render systems and Ytong autoclaved aerated concrete blocks. The showroom also displays Artevia light-reflecting decorative concrete for urban heat island mitigation and Hydromedia permeable concrete for groundwater recharge, alongside features produced using Holcim’s shotcrete and woodcrete concrete products.