Key success factors

24 Value-Driven Corporate Management
Innovation
Holcim is stepping up the pace of innovation along
the entire value chain, with research projects currently
focusing on broadening the product range, reducing
energy input and emissions and introducing new process
technologies.
Global network promoting research and development
The strong consolidated Group growth of recent years
has substantially expanded our research and development
network. The dual product strategy launched in
2006, which is based on the two resources hydraulic
binders and aggregates, has led to an increase in the
importance of the segments “Aggregates” and “Other
Construction Materials and Services” alongside the
core cement business. Research and development
activities have been restructured accordingly. While
the central corporate staff units focus on long-term
fundamental research, the local Group companies systematically
pursue demand and client-driven development.
Both tiers cooperate closely. Group-wide patent
management has become more important. In 2006,
Holcim invested a total of around CHF 25 million in
research and development.
The Group is also conducting research into fundamentally
new types of cement. These are intended as
additions to the traditional product range, enabling
Holcim to gain greater competitiveness in a dynamic
environment. Another area of research is concerned
with the complex nanostructures of concrete which
are crucial to its properties. Working in close cooperation
with technical universities in Switzerland and
abroad, Holcim is attempting to influence the complex
nanostructures with a specific view to improving
product properties.
New building materials in vogue
Holcim is committed to using new cementitious
binders, which are more competitive and sustainable
than steel, aluminum, wood or glass. A key factor is the
durability of the concrete, which is the end-product.
In late 2006, Holcim introduced CEMROC® to the
French and Belgian markets. This novel type of environmentally
efficient cement for special applications
is based mainly on blast furnace slag. In comparison
with conventional concrete, concrete made with
CEMROC® is more resistant to a range of chemicals
and is significantly more durable. The production of
CEMROC® generates around 95 percent less CO2 than
traditional Portland cement. Promising applications
include concrete elements prefabricated under industrial
conditions, as well as bridges, dams and components
for sea defenses and port facilities.
Use of self-compacting concrete is on the increase.
Holcim offers products of this type in several
countries. In Switzerland, they are already very well
established under the brand names Selfpact®
and Flextremo®.
At the GreenBuilt exhibition held at the end of 2006,
Holcim US launched an environmentally friendly
product range under the brand name Envirocore TM .
Thanks to their reduced clinker content, these highquality
composite cements are making an important
contribution to CO2 reduction.