By Petre Barac

Copyright thediplomat

Schneider Electric Romania is accelerating the digitalization of the cement industry by expanding its partnership with Holcim at the Aleșd plant, where it is implementing an advanced predictive maintenance program for electric motors, powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms.

This initiative marks a new chapter in the collaboration between the two companies, which began in 2021, and reflects their joint commitment to sustainability, operational efficiency, and technological innovation.

“Electric motors are the heart of any industrial facility, and at Holcim Aleșd, they support a production flow essential to the local economy. Through this project, we have not only prevented critical failures but also redefined how maintenance is carried out in the industry,” said Lucian Enaru, General Manager of Schneider Electric Romania, Moldova, and Armenia. “AI and Machine Learning technologies enable us to act before problems occur, safeguarding operational continuity and customer performance.”

Schneider Electric is currently monitoring nine medium- and low-voltage electric motors at the Holcim Aleșd plant, using Motor Current Signature Analysis (MCSA) technology. This method captures data directly from the power supply panel without extended downtime of the equipment. The data is processed in Microsoft Azure’s cloud and analyzed by Schneider Electric experts from the Novi Sad regional hub.

“Collaboration with the Holcim team and with our specialists has been essential to the success of this project. A 90% validation rate of the alerts issued confirms the effectiveness of the solution and its tangible impact on the client’s operations,” added Lucian Enaru.

The partnership with Holcim, launched in Romania under an international agreement, has grown into a strong relationship built on expertise, trust, and ongoing communication between the two local subsidiaries. Holcim now benefits from the latest version of the EcoStruxure Asset Advisor ED platform, which delivers a high level of predictability and control over electric motor performance. The success of the Aleșd project paves the way for expanding the collaboration to other critical equipment and production facilities across Romania.