The Portuguese cement producer CIMPOR has announced a large‑scale expansion of its private 5G network across its industrial sites. The update was reported by GlobalCement in a news release dated 7 January 2026.
Source: https://www.globalcement.com/
The project is being implemented in partnership with a local telecom operator and covers key production areas, including quarries, mills, and packaging lines. The goal is to improve efficiency, safety, and the precision of process control.
What does 5G bring to cement production?
According to GlobalCement, the introduction of a private 5G network enables:
- instant data transmission between equipment
- higher accuracy in monitoring temperature, vibration, and load levels
- optimisation of mill and kiln operations
- reduced accident risks through automated alerts
- support for autonomous machinery in quarries
For European cement producers, this is a significant step, as the industry is rapidly adopting digital technologies to reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions.
Impact on the raw materials market
Although the news focuses on digitalisation, it has a direct connection to the market for strategic materials:
- more precise process control allows more efficient use of GBFS and ACS in cement production
- mill optimisation reduces losses during grinding of slag‑based materials
- digital systems improve the quality of cements with a high share of SCM
At a time when Europe is experiencing a shortage of GBFS and ACS, such technologies become critically important.
European context
In 2026, digitalisation is becoming one of the key development directions for the EU cement industry.
Western European countries are actively implementing:
- private 5G networks
- predictive analytics systems
- automated quality‑control laboratories
CIMPOR is one of the first companies in Europe to scale 5G to the level of an entire industrial enterprise.