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Initiative

Innovation strategy and innovative products development aiming to support sustainable construction

Innovation strategy and innovative products development aiming to support sustainable construction
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HERACLES GROUP

Heracles Group is Greece's largest cement producer and has been serving the market for more than 100 years. The Group is operating in the industry of cement production and marketing, aggregates and concrete in Greece and in more than 20 countries. 

 

Read more:  www.lafarge.gr


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Objective Action

Innovation is a main part of AGET Heracles as part of LafargeHolcim Group. Having developed the largest building materials laboratory globally, the Lafarge Research Center in Lyon, Lafarge leads the way in R&D and innovation. It develops materials that meet the needs of its customers and offers innovative solutions to the construction industry and the general public, bringing greater safety, comfort and quality to their daily environment.

Innovation and research are major levers for developing materials and solutions able to respond to the challenges of the construction industry and ensure that construction is ever more efficient and sustainable. We analyze the market needs to design new solutions and respond to these specific needs, creating value for our customers and growth for our business. 

We have been the pioneers in the differentiation of cement products in the Greek market, with a diversified product range of cements, addressing the different needs that our customers have in different applications. 

 

Target Audience

Customers of the company, consumers, contractors, construction companies and everyone who is interested in innovative added value products with unique properties which support sustainability in construction. At the same time supporting sustainability in construction has very significant, permanent and wide benefits for the society globally, the environment and economy.

 

Duration

The implementation of the innovation strategy as well as the research activities of the Research Centers in France and Greece are continuous and will continue also at the future offering innovative solutions and supporting the sustainability of the Group and of the society as a whole.


Description

LafargeHolcim is led by innovation and develops products, services and solutions with enhanced environmental and social performance compared to current standards. We are a thought leader in the sector and drive transformation along the construction value chain. We identify, promote and reward the most progressive concepts in the construction industry via the LafargeHolcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction.

Our planet’s new challenges (climate change, resource scarcity, urbanization, etc.) requires a new kind of response from the construction industry. Our sector must transform the way it operates to become more innovative, more mindful of the use of resources and the impact on nature. To achieve this, we need to come up with innovative solutions, from materials manufacturing processes and product development to building design and construction methods.

Therefore, LafargeHolcim is committed to use its ideas, influence and research capabilities to build a portfolio of innovative, sustainable solutions that will benefit the environment and society, as well as our business.

We will continue using our ideas, influence and research capabilities to build a portfolio of innovative, sustainable solutions that will benefit the environment and society as well as our business.

LafargeHolcim target for 2030 is to generate 1/3 of its revenue from products and services with enhanced sustainability performance.

LafargeHolcim remains the company investing the most in research and development activities among international cement groups.

LafargeHolcim has the world’s leading R&D center in its sector, located in Lyon (France) with satellites in various regions.

Innovation is at the heart of our action, supported by our research and development facility, the Country Development Lab. Long established in Greece (under the name EKET) as a research facility, the Country Development Lab is dedicated to fundamental and applied research, bringing together researchers and experienced scientific staff from various disciplines. With state of the art laboratory equipment, it is organized around three fields: Concrete and Aggregates, Analytical chemical lab and Materials Microstructure, while it is among the most advanced European laboratories in cement testing.


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Impact on Society

The results from the implementation of the innovation strategy and the support of solutions with enhanced sustainability performance are very important for LafargeHolcim but mainly for the wider society globally.

Having developed the largest building materials laboratory globally, the Lafarge Research Center in Lyon, Lafarge leads the way in R&D and innovation. It develops materials that meet the needs of its customers and offers innovative solutions to the construction industry and the general public, bringing greater safety, comfort and quality to their daily environment.

The Customer Support and Product Development Lab was established in Greece as Heracles research laboratory (EKET).  Dedicated to applied research, it brings together researchers and experienced scientific staff from various disciplines. With state of the art laboratory equipment, it is among the most advanced European laboratories in cement testing and development organized for cement, concrete and aggregates in the fields of physical/mechanical testing, chemical analysis and materials microstructure.

The lab offers its services to Heracles and to more than 600 local private and public organizations as well as to all Lafarge plants in Middle East and Africa.

The Country Development Lab had a pivotal role in championing, developing and testing with our customers innovative new processes in cement manufacturing that resulted in our HeraclesTM and BasisTM cement products with enhanced performance characteristics.



Initiative Location

Lafarge Research Center is based in Lyon (France) while The Country Development Lab is based in Attica (Greece).


Working with Organization

For the development of the business strategy of the Group, the strategy for the innovation and sustainable development, as well as the continuous research and development of innovative products and services LafargeHolcim cooperates widely with various stakeholder groups like academia and research organizations while in parallel it uses the feedback that arrives from customers as well as end users and local communities. 

The Customer Support and Product Development Lab was established in Greece as Heracles research laboratory (EKET). It is currently part of a worldwide network of technology transfer institutes, universities and research organizations in the field of building materials, helping the industry develop innovative solutions both in products and services. Its Research and Development activities are focused on the design of innovative building products as well as the improvement and technological competitiveness of the cement, concrete and building industry.


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Workers Participation

For the implementation of the business strategy of the Group, the strategy for the innovation and sustainable development, as well as the continuous research and development of innovative products and services, are carried out with the participation and the continuous efforts of the Group staff.


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Benefits for Οrganization

Innovation and research are major levers for developing materials and solutions able to respond to the challenges of the construction industry and ensure that construction is ever more efficient and sustainable. We analyze the market needs to design new solutions and respond to these specific needs, creating value for our customers and growth for our business.   

The Country Development Lab had a pivotal role in championing, developing and testing with our customers innovative new processes in cement manufacturing that resulted in our HeraclesTM and BasisTM cement products with enhanced performance characteristics.

The development of those innovative products has significant benefits for AGET Heracles for the sales volume, as well as for its brand name, market leadership regarding innovation and sustainable construction.




Connection with Global Goals







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Enrichment of operation with new data and emission measurements

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Industrial symbiosis: Reduction of water footprint

LafargeHolcim Human Rights management system

Offering breath of life and hope to Mati and N. Voutzas

Protecting biodiversity through the implementation of the biodiversity monitoring tool - BIRS

Support of special education structures of Euboea R.U. and the special school of Agria in Magnesia.

Support of the Union's project "Together for the Child"

Sustainable solutions for road infrastructure projects

Transparency about our environmental footprint

Use of alternatives fuels and biomass

Voluntary road sign cleaning action



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