EQS News: Wienerberger AG / Keyword(s): ESG/Sustainability wienerberger offers innovative, future-oriented solutions for water and energy management 12/13/2023 / 09:00 CET/CEST The issuer/publisher is responsible for the content of the announcement. ════════════════════════════════════════ ══════════ ════════════════════════ wienerberger offers innovative, future-oriented solutions for water and energy management • Innovative solutions in response to the consequences of climate change • Largest digital twin in Europe planned together with Brabant Water NV in the Netherlands • Focus on intelligent solutions that benefit the environment while increasing the efficiency and lifespan of products. Vienna, December 13, 2023 – In times of climate change, extreme weather events such as droughts, floods and heat waves are increasingly occurring all over the world. At the same time, resources such as water and energy are becoming scarce and more and more ground is being sealed, which on the one hand prevents the natural infiltration of rainwater and negatively affects the water supply, and on the other hand floods are becoming more and more frequent. All of these developments require urgent measures to effectively combat the effects of climate change, promote the sustainable use of valuable resources and protect the environment. As a leading international provider of innovative and ecological solutions for the entire building envelope in the new construction and renovation segments as well as for infrastructure in the area of water and energy management, wienerberger provides solutions for each of these task areas. By developing sustainable building materials and technologies, wienerberger contributes to reducing resource consumption and minimizing environmental impacts. As time is short and there is an urgent need to respond to the rapidly increasing consequences of climate change, the company is increasing its efforts by developing innovative and intelligent solutions in the areas of water and energy management. “At wienerberger we develop innovative solutions for new construction, renovation and infrastructure that are not only efficient and affordable, but also make a valuable contribution to sustainability, especially in the areas of water and energy. By using highly developed technologies and state-of-the-art building materials, we ensure that our solutions meet the highest quality and environmental standards. This is how we shape a better world for future generations,” emphasizes Heimo Scheuch, CEO of Wienerberger AG. Efficient water management is an absolute necessity Due to long periods of drought, heat waves and floods, combined with inadequate systems to deal with heavy rain events, it is not only Europe that is confronted with falling groundwater levels, water pollution and avoidable follow-up costs. wienerberger is aware of the problem and therefore offers systems for the collection, storage and infiltration or reuse of rainwater. The collected water can be used either for sanitation purposes or for irrigation. With these innovative water management solutions, wienerberger makes a valuable contribution to the efficient use of rainwater and to the stabilization of the groundwater table. Efficient water management is important not only for the groundwater table, but also for agriculture, as it is particularly hard hit by the effects of the climate crisis. Here too, the company has recognized the signs of the times and developed efficient, water-saving irrigation solutions. A concrete example are drip irrigation systems, which keep water consumption as low as possible. After the harvest, the irrigation system is dismantled, cleaned and reused in the spirit of a sustainable circular economy. Largest digital twin in Europe Faced with the challenges of increasingly frequent heatwaves, aging infrastructure and increasing pollution, water utilities and technology providers across Europe are seeking solutions to these problems. This also applies to Brabant Water NV, one of the largest water suppliers in the Netherlands, which is working together with Pipelife, a solution brand from wienerberger, on the development and implementation of an innovative digital twin solution. A digital twin is a virtual model of a process, product or service. To create a digital twin, real-time data collected from sensors in the Internet of Things (IoT) is processed using artificial intelligence and software analysis. The benefits Brabant Water NV derives from implementing a digital twin include a deeper understanding of systems, optimized operational processes, more efficient maintenance, reduced costs and increased customer satisfaction. At the same time, sustainable and resilient water management achieves a higher level of quality. Brabant Water NV has recognized that a digital representation of its systems plays a crucial role in addressing the problem of water loss from leaky pipes. While a burst pipe is discovered immediately during excavation work, small cracks in aging pipes can go unnoticed for a long time. By constantly monitoring the water pressure in the network, it is possible to narrow down the areas affected by water loss and identify those sections that need repair or replacement. This proactive approach enables rapid intervention and increases the efficiency of water distribution. With the help of the digital twin, the exact time at which the water temperature in the network threatens to rise to over 25°C due to climate-related heat waves is also displayed on the screen, meaning that compliance with drinking water hygiene standards would no longer be guaranteed and an immediate response with targeted measures , such as rinsing with cold water, is required. Successful integration of Wideco Sweden AB bears fruit The need for an effective and efficient energy system is becoming more and more important. The increasing demand for energy, not least due to the growth of the world population, calls for innovative solutions. wienerberger is therefore actively involved in the development and implementation of sustainable energy technologies and offers a comprehensive portfolio of solutions to meet the needs of its customers. By taking over Wideco Sweden in 2023, wienerberger was able to successfully expand its range of smart solutions in the area of innovative energy applications and thus strengthen its position in the water industry. Water solutions from wienerberger and the corresponding know-how are also in high demand in Scandinavia. In the area of district heating, Sweden is a successful model with one of the highest connection rates to district heating networks in the world. A large part of the Swedish population, especially in urban areas, uses district heating. Major companies such as EON/Navirum are taking ambitious steps to modernize their district heating networks to make them fit for the future, with Wideco, as wienerberger’s solution brand, at the forefront of this transformation: The unique IoT platform WISION^© for sensors in Smart buildings, industrial plants and entire cities are based on powerful serverless technology and are equipped with the most suitable communication protocols such as 4G, LoRaWAN and NB-IoT. With its self-developed hardware and software as well as its platform, the company monitors and protects over 40,000 km of pipelines in the district heating and cooling networks, including 6,000 underground manholes. Wideco’s efficient solutions help to future-proof the Swedish district heating sector. These innovative technologies serve the purpose of optimizing the energy consumption of district heating networks and increasing their efficiency. wienerberger wienerberger is a leading provider of innovative, ecological solutions for the entire building envelope in the areas of new construction and renovation as well as for infrastructure in water and energy management. With more than 19,000 employees worldwide, wienerberger’s solutions enable energy-efficient, healthy, climate-friendly and affordable living. wienerberger is the largest brick producer in the world and market leader for clay roof tiles in Europe and for concrete paving in Eastern Europe. The company is one of the leading providers in Europe for pipe systems (stoneware and plastic pipes). With the acquisition of Meridian Brick, wienerberger has further expanded its position as a leading provider of facade products in North America. With more than 200 production locations across the group, wienerberger generated sales of around €5.0 billion and EBITDA of €1 billion in 2022. Inquiry note Claudia Hajdinyak, Head of Corporate Communications Wienerberger AG t +43 664 828 31 83 | claudia.hajdinyak@wienerberger.com ═════════════════════════════════════ ═════════ ═══════════════════════════ 12/13/2023 CET/CEST Publication of a corporate news/financial announcement, transmitted by EQS Group AG. www.eqs.com
════════════════════════════════════════ ══════════ ════════════════════════ Language: German Company: Wienerberger AG Wienerbergerplatz 1 1100 Vienna Austria Telephone: +43 1 60 192-0 Fax: +43 1 60 192-10159 Email: investor@wienerberger.com
Internet: www.wienerberger.com
ISIN: AT0000831706 Stock exchanges: Vienna Stock Exchange (official trading) EQS News ID: 1795217 End of announcement EQS News Service 1795217 December 13th, 2023 CET/CEST