Titan America’s Pennsuco and Roanoke plants were recognized for innovative technologies and energy efficiency, respectively, by the Portland Cement Association as part of the association’s 2023 Energy & Environment Awards competition.
The Pennsuco plant in Medley, Fla., captured the Innovative Technologies award for its use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning (ML) in a variety of production applications. By utilizing sensors and signals to map a “digital twin” for normalized plant operations, and then analyzing in real-time deviations in temperature, pressure, vibration, lubrication and other parameters, the AI models provided powerful solutions to drive production outputs and equipment effectiveness to higher levels, while improving energy efficiency.
“We have ridden the power of AI and ML beyond our initial expectations,” said Zaklina Stamboliska, vice president of cement manufacturing. “Unlocking the data and the correlations between subtle findings have enhanced our managers’ abilities to run the plant in cost and energy efficient ways with higher quality output while production reached record levels.”
Titan America’s Roanoke Cement Company’s Troutville plant in Virginia earned the Energy Efficiency award. Through its energy initiatives, RCC has achieved a 12% reduction in the plant’s use of electrical energy and eased the Commonwealth of Virginia’s electric grid by shifting use demand.
Additionally, the Troutville plant has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star certification 16 years in a row. Energy Star signifies cement plants perform in the top 25% nationwide for energy efficiency and meet strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA.
