Research and development

Our innovation performance is based on intensive research and development activities. For this reason, we significantly upgraded our Research and Development department in 2010 and created the new Global Heidelberg Technology Center. The centre, which is also known as Global HTC, consolidates our Group-wide research and development activities for cement and concrete. The projects that Global HTC manages are defined and implemented in close cooperation with our operating companies.

Our research and development activities are closely coordinated with our markets and our customers, with a strong focus on the development and improvement of binders and concrete with optimised properties and innovative functionality. We also work to continually improve our production processes and cost structures. This includes the cost-effective substitution of alternatives for fossil fuels and natural resources, as well as measures that reduce energy consumption.

A third pillar of our R&D activities is the development of types of cement and concrete that display better CO2 balances. The most important lever we employ here involves the reduction of clinker content. To this end, we are refining our composite cements and have lowered their clinker content through the use of other components such as blast furnace slag and fly ash. This not only reduces energy consumption but also conserves natural resources. In general, we now employ new product life cycle analyses during the development phase in order to assess and reduce the environmental impact of our products throughout their entire life cycle. Finally, we are conducting research into completely new binder systems that require no clinker whatsoever. Such alternative products are in the early stages of research, and it will therefore take several years before they are ready for the market and for mass applications.