Holcim Optimizes Operations through Digitalization, Moves Closer to Plants of Tomorrow Ambition

A drone hovers inside a 31-foot silo of Holcim Philippines’ plant in Bacnotan, La Union to inspect it as part of the site’s regular maintenance activities. The drone’s operator takes notes of the maintenance actions to be taken. The activity is done in a few minutes.

Using drones for this task has eliminated health and safety risks from having people conduct visual inspections in remote spaces. The drone also allows for higher frequency of checks and reduces equipment downtimes required for such inspections.

The use of drones is one of several digitalization initiatives that leading building solutions provider Holcim Philippines has undertaken. The company has accelerated these efforts as part of its innovation drive to raise business, safety and environmental performance to further improve efficiency and safety of manufacturing operations.

In 2022, Holcim Philippines implemented over 70 projects to raise manufacturing performance through automation technologies under the Holcim Group’s Plants of Tomorrow program. Focused on automating production processes and predictive maintenance, the Philippine projects are designed to generate optimization gains and savings.

Holcim Philippines President and CEO Horia Adrian: “Digitalization is a key part of our innovation and sustainability direction to further make operations safer, more efficient and respectful of the environment. We have already realized a number of gains from these initiatives and excited to accelerate our transition to digitalizing our plants to better serve customers and ultimately deliver excellent business results.”

A key Plants of Tomorrow initiative is the use of artificial intelligence for data-driven decision-making in operations. Already, sensors have been installed in key equipment to provide operators real-time data to guide them in keeping these running within parameters. Stable operations in turn improves plant production and ability to utilize low-carbon alternative while also reducing equipment wear and tear.

Holcim Philippines is also following the same approach in maintaining facilities with a software that projects the state of equipment for 90-day periods based on data provided by sensors. The information is critical in helping the company plan maintenance activities and conduct early intervention to prevent operational disruptions.

Furthermore, the company is deploying predictive tools in ensuring product quality with a software that projects the strength development of its cement for different time periods. This enables the company to make adjustments on its products faster instead of waiting for several days to implement tweaks.

Holcim Philippines is even using digitalization to simplify daily meetings with a software that consolidates information from different areas of operations. This removes the need to open numerous applications and preparation of reports allowing plant personnel to focus on implementing actions.

Holcim Philippines Senior Vice President for Cement Industrial Performance Eung Rae Kim: “We are very proud of our people for quickly adopting to of our digitalization direction. Upon seeing the benefits for the plants and the simplification of their job, our people immediately embraced this shift and are actively looking for ways to apply digitalization in other areas.”

The company also uses its drones for material surveying of storage facilities instead of having people conduct more costly and time-consuming physical audits. The quick adoption of digital tools in other areas of operations shows the company’s growing ease with its digitalization transition. Already, Holcim Philippines is exploring the of use predictive technologies to improve reliability and efficiency of operations and consumption of resources. While the company is still at the early stages of its digitalization journey, it is confidently moving towards making its plants ready to face the challenges of tomorrow.

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About Holcim Philippines

Holcim Philippines, Inc. (Philippine Stock Exchange: HLCM) is one of the leading building solution companies in the country. The Company has a deep portfolio of innovative solutions fostered by a full range of products from structuring to finishing applications that can help local builders execute with high performance and efficiency a wide range of projects from massive infrastructure to simple home repairs.

With cement manufacturing facilities in La Union, Bulacan, Batangas, Misamis Oriental and Davao, as well as aggregates and dry mix business and technical support facilities for building solutions, Holcim Philippines is a reliable partner of builders in the country.

Holcim highlights reliability, partnership in digital campaign for flagship brand Excel

Holcim Philippines has started a social media campaign highlighting its flagship general purpose cement brand Excel, which has established itself as a preferred choice among local contractors for reliability in building quality structures in its nearly two decades in the country.

Leading cement manufacturer Holcim Philippines, Inc. has rolled out a new digital campaign for its flagship general purpose cement brand Excel that highlights the product’s reliability in building durable and quality structures that supports user’s aspiration for progress.

The company has started a series of posts on Facebook and Instagram focused on how its Excel brand is trusted by contractors having established itself as among the preferred cement brands in the market for building important structures from homes to infrastructures. The campaign features Filipino words “kasangga” at “pag-angat” in reference to the attributes Excel is associated with as well as images of builders and homeowners.

Holcim Philippines Vice President for Marketing and Innovation Ram Maganti said the campaign is a celebration of how Excel has helped contractors build a number of structures that have made people’s lives better all over the country since its launch in 2001.

“Holcim Philippines has sold over a billion bags of Excel in the brand’s nearly two decades in the country. This reflects the trust in Excel of local contractors who in turn have used this to build many of the things that benefit us today. This campaign is a reminder that Excel will continue to be reliable partner in building a better Philippines moving forward,” he added.

Aside from the product posts, Maganti said the company will be sharing stories of its partners and employees whose lives have become better with Excel.

“We are thankful to our partners and people who have enabled us make Excel a success in the Philippines. We’d like to share their story as part of this campaign to provide positive and inspiring stories during this time. Our Excel experience shows that things do get better and there are companies and brands that you can count on to support you in your progress,” Maganti said.


Holcim Philippines, Inc. (Philippine Stock Exchange: HLCM) is one of the leading building solution companies in the country. The Company has a deep portfolio of innovative solutions fostered by a full range of products from structuring to finishing applications that can help local builders execute with high performance and efficiency a wide range of projects from massive infrastructure to simple home repairs.

With cement manufacturing facilities in La Union, Bulacan, Batangas, Misamis Oriental and Davao, as well as aggregates and dry mix business and technical support facilities for building solutions, Holcim Philippines is a reliable partner of builders in the country.

Holcim Philippines is also committed to the highest standards of sustainable operations and manufacturing excellence with its plants certified under ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental Management System), ISO 9001:2008 (Quality Management System) and OHSAS 18001:2007 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System).

Holcim Philippines is a member of the LafargeHolcim Group, the world leader in the building materials industry present in 80 countries with over 75,000 employees.

Holcim Partners with Digital Platform for Construction Sector to Reach Industry Professionals

Leading cement manufacturer Holcim Philippines, Inc. has partnered with an emerging digital platform for the construction sector to better reach industry professionals on how the company’s various solutions and offerings can support them in their projects.

Holcim Philippines has tied up with Pinoy Builders, a website focused on providing relevant and helpful content for construction professionals in the Philippines including industry trends, project management tips and building material use updates. Specialists and experts from Holcim Philippines serve as resource persons on topics such as cement, concrete and health and safety.

Holcim Philippines Senior Vice President for Marketing and Innovation Ram Maganti said the partnership is helpful in the company’s efforts to reach the country’s construction professionals who are steadily using online platforms for industry news and professional development.

"The Philippines is a very digitally savvy country and majority of professionals in the Philippines' construction industry are millennials who are 'digital natives'. With its steadily growing number of subscribers and followers, Pinoy Builders is helpful in our efforts in engaging and positively influencing the construction industry. We are excited in continuing to contribute to this platform to let Filipino building professionals know how our offerings and solutions can help them in their projects,” he said.

Pinoy Builders has also recently branched out to provide webinars in collaboration with building industry groups such as the United Architects of the Philippines and Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers. The first webinar on cement basic and cement types featured members of Holcim Philippines’ technical services team.

Launched in April 2019, Pinoy Builders attracts about 150,000 visitors per month making it a powerful platform to communicate and engage with members of the building industry.

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Holcim Philippines, Inc. (Philippine Stock Exchange: HLCM) is one of the leading building solution companies in the country. The Company has a deep portfolio of innovative solutions fostered by a full range of products from structuring to finishing applications that can help local builders execute with high performance and efficiency a wide range of projects from massive infrastructure to simple home repairs.

With cement manufacturing facilities in La Union, Bulacan, Batangas, Misamis Oriental and Davao, as well as aggregates and dry mix business and technical support facilities for building solutions, Holcim Philippines is a reliable partner of builders in the country.

Holcim Philippines is also committed to the highest standards of sustainable operations and manufacturing excellence with its plants certified under ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental Management System), ISO 9001:2008 (Quality Management System) and OHSAS 18001:2007 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System).

Holcim Philippines is a member of the LafargeHolcim Group, the world leader in the building materials industry present in 80 countries with over 75,000 employees.