Titan America achieves state-of-the-art end-to-end cement plants' digitalisation

Concrete Plants, Equipment & Applications / October 14, 2022
By Guy Woodford
A Titan America concrete mixer truck Pic: Titan America

Titan America has successfully implemented digitalisation applications based on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning at its two cement plants, resulting in enhanced equipment throughput and reliability, reduced energy consumption, and improved product consistency and quality.

Titan America has deployed autonomous AI real-time optimisation algorithms that dynamically process vast amounts of data from plant sensors and continuously adjust variables, bringing the equipment to optimum operational performance. With each iteration, the AI algorithms rapidly maximise throughput and decrease energy consumption in all the main assets of the plants.

Further elevating the reliability of its cement plant operations, Titan has implemented plant-wide failure prediction systems that continuously receive and analyse signals from thousands of sensors to detect process and equipment operation abnormalities significantly earlier than could be otherwise detectable. The alerts generated are reviewed and evaluated by dedicated teams in remote service centres staffed by deep domain experts. Titan's monitoring experts analyse each event to determine potential root causes, identify corresponding corrective actions and collaborate with plant operators to troubleshoot issues at the earliest stages, allowing intervention well before breakdowns occur.

Finally, AI- based predictive quality applications, supported by sophisticated quality control equipment, are being implemented to predict cement performance at the time of production, enabling plant operators to improve the grinding process, lower clinker consumption, and ensure consistent product quality and performance resulting in less carbon footprint.

Bill Zarkalis, President & CEO, said: "I'm incredibly proud to mark the end-to-end digital transformation of our cement plants. A systematic process of test and learn that started several years ago has reached an important milestone. Titan America is today at the forefront within our industry. But we know this race is a marathon, a continuous process of reimagining and redesigning the way we produce and offer our products and solutions to meet the fast-changing market and community needs. As we continue to build digital capabilities within our manufacturing, logistics and customer-care processes, we remain focused on our mission to offer innovative construction materials and solutions that improve life on our planet."

These novel digital applications have resulted in significant operational improvements, cost efficiencies, and solid performance governance of Titan's manufacturing operations.

Capitalising on the gains realised from the digitalisation of its manufacturing process, Titan America is now moving to boost the overall customer experience by deploying similar digital and predictive application solutions to optimise its logistics and distribution systems. These enhancements will result in a more resilient, efficient, and predictable supply chain with improved bottom-line results.

 

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