Heidelberg Materials reducing emissions from cement quarrying equipment
05.11.2024
Rebuilds such as Heidelberg Materials’ Volvo L350F wheeled loader support a healthy circular economy
Figure: Heidelberg Materials
By extending the life of a Volvo L350F wheeled loader, Heidelberg Materials UK and SMT are demonstrating the power of collaboration and the circular economy in reducing carbon emissions and waste.
Heidelberg Materials UK is one of the UK's largest suppliers of building materials, including cement – a product responsible for approximately 7% of all global CO2 emissions. As a result, the company is keenly aware of the environmental impact of its operations and has set ambitious goals to reduce emissions from its aggregate, asphalt, concrete and cement production by 15% from a 2019 baseline by 2030, while also reducing raw materials consumption and waste.
While the majority of Heidelberg Materials UK’s emissions stem from the production of cement, a small yet significant portion comes from the operation of its quarrying equipment. Recognising this, the company has been scrutinising its fleet of heavy mobile equipment and crushers and planning how it should evolve over the next five years.
The ideal future fleet for Heidelberg Materials UK would consist entirely of zero-emission machines powered by electricity or hydrogen generated from renewable sources. However, transitioning to these technologies requires the development of considerable supporting infrastructures. In addition, many of the company’s diesel machines are highly durable and have years of service life remaining.
To bridge the gap, Heidelberg Materials UK collaborated with Volvo dealer SMT to refurbish an older wheeled loader. This avoids the purchase of a new diesel machine that would run for many years to come, as well as the emissions and material consumption associated with its manufacture and transportation. Rebuilding older machines also offers faster delivery times and smoother operations due to the existing machine’s known history.
Find out more here: www.smt.network/gb/
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Heidelberg Materials UK
