Digitalisation to help Vietnam’s cement plant to operate efficiently and profitably

The Vietnamese cement industry has risen to the top of Southeast Asia's tables in terms of production capacity, ranking fifth in the world. Cement production technology has gradually shifted in a modern and advanced direction. How has ABB Vietnam supported the sector?

Nguyen Hoang Giang, director, Industrial Automation-Process Industry, ABB Vietnam

ABB’s specialist cement team has been active in Vietnam since 1993, sharing our knowledge with cement producers and providing our reliable solutions to power and automate their production processes.

We are proud that currently in Vietnam, there are 27 production lines in 20 cement plants which are controlled by and benefitting from ABB Automation Systems.

When put together, these lines have a total annual capacity of 42.9 million tonnes and we are consistently developing digital tools to help these businesses improve operational efficiency.

For example, intelligent optimisation software helps plants reduce production costs and improve yields while dashboards give business owners access to real-time information, allowing them to make better-informed decisions.

The coronavirus pandemic has significantly changed the way we live and work, but besides its effects, there could be opportunities in boosting technology. Could you share your viewpoint and what technology can contribute?

The development of technology has always been an enabler for greater industry process knowledge and opportunities to work smarter. Reduced resources usage and lower emissions are examples of the long-term impacts of digitalisation and automation. Technological solutions become even more relevant when times are challenging and we anticipate an increased demand for augmented reality and remote solutions for workforces.

Across various process industries, we have also helped customers monitor their plant equipment and predict maintenance needs. This reduces costly unplanned downtime and travel costs. Our ABB Ability Collaborative Operations solution does that by offering 24/7 access to our engineering experts to ensure continuous operations with minimal disruption.

Will these advanced technologies and solutions be introduced to Vietnam’s market as well?

Vietnam is already responsible for approximately 100 million tonnes of cement production per year, putting it amongst the world’s top producers. We have been involved for many years and we will continue to work with our customers and suppliers to develop new solutions, enabling safe and productive operations. Together, we will improve and ultimately increase operational excellence.