Giatec announces strategic partnership with HeidelbergCement
By Adam Freill
Concrete Construction MaterialsInternational building materials firm makes investment with a view to carbon neutrality, assisted by sensors and AI technology.
PHOTO: Giatec
HeidelbergCement, an integrated manufacturer of building materials and solutions with locations throughout the world, has made a strategic minority investment in concrete testing technologies firm Giatec. The Ottawa-based construction technology company is known for its real-time data collection hardware and software offerings.
According to a press release, HeidelbergCement plans to continue to expand its digital offerings with Giatec’s technology with the aim to create a best-in-class digital experience for its customers.
Giatec’s products have received funding from research foundations such as Sustainable Development Technology Canada and the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program.
The company’s suite of proprietary smart sensors helps concrete producers and construction companies with accurate monitoring of concrete throughout its lifecycle from production and delivery to placement.
Combined with sophisticated AI algorithms that can be integrated with a wide range of existing software solutions in the concrete industry, the real-time sensor data can be used by concrete producers to optimize concrete mixes, including the ability to reduce cement usage by up to 20 per cent in certain applications.
“HeidelbergCement’s strategic investment in Giatec is inspired by the shared vision of moving the concrete industry forward, with using cutting-edge sensing technologies, expanding digitalization, and reducing the concrete carbon footprint,” stated Dennis Lentz, chief digital officer at HeidelbergCement. “Giatec’s unrivaled combination of proprietary sensor technology and AI-based software enables significant efficiency and sustainability improvements from the plant to the jobsite.”
“This strategic partnership will propel Giatec’s expansion to international markets with the HeidelbergCement global reach and on-the-ground operations in over 50 countries,” added Pouria Ghods, CEO and co-founder of Giatec. “We are excited to work with HeidelbergCement as we share the same vision and are confident that together we are going to revolutionize the concrete industry.”
