Meet the partners – Holcim

For a scientific breakthrough to move from the laboratory to the world’s construction sites, it must be validated by the leaders who shape the industry. As a global frontrunner in sustainable construction, Holcim brings indispensable industrial scale and expertise to CILANTRO. Their role is to ensure that our non-thermal manufacturing process is not only scientifically sound but also commercially and industrially viable.

The Role: Industrial Consultant and Strategic Benchmark

Holcim acts as the industrial consultant for the project, providing the deep technical knowledge required to evaluate a completely new way of producing cement. By sharing industrial-scale data on current decarbonisation technologies – ranging from alternative raw materials to carbon capture – Holcim is establishing the baseline against which CILANTRO’s performance will be measured.

In addition to benchmarking, Holcim is contributing its extensive practical experience in:

• Grinding Processes: Leveraging high-level knowledge of mechanical reduction to refine our reactor design.

• Mechanical Activation: Drawing on experience with materials like activated clays to support our non-thermal approach.

• Industrial Validation: Helping the consortium answer vital questions regarding scalability, profitability, and global competitiveness.

Innovation: Beyond Incremental Change

While the industry has made significant strides in low-carbon cement, the next frontier requires a disruptive leap. CILANTRO’s mechanically driven approach, which replaces intense 1,450°C heat with mechanical force and hydrogen, represents that leap. By engaging with this high-risk, high-reward technology early, Holcim is helping to future-proof the sector against tightening regulations and the accelerating demand for net-zero materials.

The Team Behind the Science

The CILANTRO initiative at Holcim is led by specialists dedicated to breakthrough R&D:

• Daniel Heitzmann: Research Engineer at the Holcim Innovation Center and the project lead for CILANTRO.

By integrating CILANTRO’s research into their long-term net-zero ambitions, the Holcim team is helping to redefine the boundaries of what is possible in the construction industry.

“CILANTRO is a very ambitious project, and we are proud to be part of it. Our knowledge of grinding processes and mechanical activation will be key in validating this transformative approach.” – Daniel Heitzmann

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.