CIMPOR, a cement and industrial materials producer, has successfully activated a Mobile Private Network (MPN) across its Portuguese sites. The initiative, powered by Ericsson Private 5G and facilitated by Vodafone Portugal, integrates the company's Alhandra, Loulé, and Souselas plants onto a robust platform designed to meet challenging industrial demands.
The deployment delivers comprehensive private 5G coverage, offering under 10-millisecond latency and high reliability. Such specifications are necessary for supporting advanced industrial applications, including IoT sensors, automated vehicles, and other connected systems. These features enable precise asset monitoring, heightened operational efficiency, and improved safety even amidst dust and large metal structures.
Responsibilities of Vodafone Portugal encompassed the installation and configuration of all radio equipment, defining crucial core parameters, and conducting validation services. This collaborative approach aims to ensure seamless integration with CIMPOR's industrial applications in use across the network.
Key applications of the private 5G solution include:
- Drones for efficient, safe inspections of difficult-to-reach areas
- Smart glasses offering remote maintenance assistance and training
- VR glasses for immersive simulation and training sessions
- Sensors leveraging predictive maintenance capabilities
- Video cameras for comprehensive safety monitoring
- Worker tablets for improved, paperless data handling
- AI-driven functionalities enhancing various facets of technology use
CIMPOR's first site success streamlined subsequent deployments, setting a replicable model for future expansions. This adaptive foundation is set to allow for greater integration, coupled with the potential to embrace future technologies such as IoT, AI, and digital twins.
Predictive maintenance facilitated by these networks is projected to save up to USD 1 million annually per plant. Additionally, a reported 1% increase in efficiency resulted in up to USD 10-15 million in economic impact yearly, alongside reducing CO₂ emissions by approximately 140,000 tons.
Henrique Fonseca of Vodafone Portugal highlights how such networks enhance economic competitiveness by enabling faster, scalable processes. Meanwhile, Manish Tiwari from Ericsson emphasises the transformative power of their private 5G solutions across industrial operations.
This partnership represents a change in CIMPOR’s technological strategy, supporting more efficient and sustainable industrial operations.
