EQS-News: Wienerberger AG / Key word(s): ESG/Sustainability
wienerberger provides innovative forward-looking solutions in the area of
water and energy management
13.12.2023 / 09:00 CET/CEST
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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wienerberger provides innovative forward-looking solutions in the area of
water and energy management
• Innovative solutions in response to the impact of climate change
• Largest digital twin in Europe to be implemented in cooperation with
Brabant Water N.V in the Netherlands
• Focus on smart solutions that protect the environment while also
enhancing product efficiency and longevity
Vienna, December 13, 2023 – In times of climate change, weather extremes
like dry periods, floods and heat waves are increasing around the world.
At the same time, resources like water and energy are tightening and more
and more natural land is being sealed with impermeable surfaces, which on
the one hand prevents the natural infiltration of rainwater and thus has a
negative impact on water supply and on the other hand leads to flooding.
All these developments call for urgent action to effectively counter the
effects of climate change, such as drought and flooding, and to
sustainably use valuable resources and protect the environment.
As a leading international supplier of innovative and ecological solutions
for the entire building envelope in new construction and renovation, as
well as for infrastructure in water and energy management, wienerberger
offers solutions in each of these areas. With its development of
sustainable building materials and technologies, wienerberger contributes
to reducing the consumption of resources and minimizing environmental
impact. As time is particularly pressing for answers to the rapidly
increasing effects of climate change, the company is raising its efforts
and continuing to drive further expansion in the areas of water and energy
management with the development of innovative and intelligent solutions.
“At wienerberger, we offer innovative solutions for construction,
renovation and infrastructure that are not only efficient and affordable,
but also make a valuable contribution to sustainability, including water
and energy solutions in particular. In doing so, we ensure that our
solutions meet the highest quality and environmental standards by using
state-of-the-art technologies and materials. In this way, we are shaping a
better world for the generation of tomorrow,” says Heimo Scheuch,
wienerberger CEO.
Efficient water management as a necessity
Due to long dry periods, heat waves and floods combined with inadequate
stormwater management systems, not only Europe is confronted with
declining groundwater levels, water pollution and avoidable follow-up
costs. wienerberger is aware of these issues and therefore offers
stormwater management systems that allow rainwater to be collected, stored
and infiltrated or reused. Consequently, the water can be used for
sanitary purposes or irrigation. With this innovative water management
solution, wienerberger is making a valuable contribution to the efficient
use of rainwater and the stabilization of the groundwater table.
The importance of efficient water management is not only evident regarding
the groundwater table, but also in the agricultural sector – agriculture
in particular is strongly affected by the impact of the climate crisis.
Here, too, the company has picked up on this development and is driving
forward efficient irrigation with water saving solutions. A concrete
example of this is the drip irrigation pipe – thanks to this, as little
water as possible is used, and after the harvest the irrigation system is
removed, cleaned, recycled and reused in the interests of a sustainable
circular economy.
Largest digital twin in Europe
Faced with challenges such as increasingly frequent heatwaves, aging
infrastructure, and rising pollution, water utilities and technology
providers across Europe as for example Brabant Water N.V., one of the
largest water suppliers in the Netherlands, have joined forces with
Pipelife, a wienerberger company, to find and implement an innovative
digital twin solution. A digital twin is a virtual model of a process,
product, or service. To create it, real-time data collected with sensors
is processed on the Internet of Things (IoT) using artificial intelligence
and software analysis.
A deeper understanding of systems, optimized operations and streamlined
maintenance, reduced costs, and an increase in customer satisfaction, are
some of the benefits of implementing a Digital Twin for Brabant Water N.V.
while taking sustainable and resilient water management to the next level.
Brabant Water N.V. recognized the pivotal role a digital representation of
its systems plays in addressing possible water losses from pipe leakages.
While significant pipe ruptures resulting from activities like excavation
are promptly detected, small cracks in aging pipes can go unnoticed for
extended periods. Through continuous monitoring of water pressure across
the network, the company would be able to narrow down areas of water loss
to identify sections that require replacement or repair. This proactive
approach enables timely interventions and enhances the efficiency of water
distribution.
The digital twin solution also makes it possible to detect on screen the
exact moment when the water temperature in the network, due to
climate-related heat waves, threatens to rise above 25°C, which would mean
that hygienic drinking water standards are no longer guaranteed, and
respond promptly with targeted measures such as water flushing.
Successful integration of Wideco Sweden AB bears fruit
Looking to the future, the need for an effective and efficient energy
system is increasingly coming to the fore. The increasing demand for
energy, also due to the growth of the world’s population, requires
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. The acquisition of Wideco Sweden 2023 enabled wienerberger to
successfully expand its Smart Solutions business in the area of innovative
energy applications and strengthened its position in the water industry.
wienerberger’s know-how in water solutions is also in high demand in
Scandinavia. In the area of district heating, Sweden is a successful model
with one of the highest penetrations of district heating networks in the
world. A large part of the Swedish population, especially in urban areas,
relies on these networks. Major companies such as EON/Navirum are taking
ambitious steps to modernize their district heating networks and make them
future-proof, with wienerberger subsidiary Wideco at the forefront of this
transformative journey: The company’s unique IoT platform WISION^© for
sensors in smart buildings, industries and cities is based on
high-performance, serverless technology and is equipped with the most
suitable communication protocols such as 4G, LoRaWAN and NB-IoT. With
their in-house developed hardware, software and platform, the company
monitors and protects over 40,000 km of district heating/cooling pipe
networks including 6,000 underground manholes. In this way, Wideco is
providing support with efficient solutions to make the Swedish district
heating sector fit for the future. Innovative technologies help to
optimize energy consumption in district heating networks and increase
efficiency.
wienerberger
wienerberger is a leading international provider of innovative, ecological
solutions for the entire building envelope, in the fields of new buildings
and renovations, as well as 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 world’s largest producer of bricks and the market
leader in clay roof tiles in Europe as well as concrete pavers in Eastern
Europe. In pipe systems (ceramic and plastic pipes), the company is one of
the leading suppliers in Europe. By acquiring Meridian Brick, wienerberger
further strengthened its position as a leading supplier of facade products
in North America. With its more than 200 production sites, wienerberger
generated revenues of approx. € 5.0 billion and EBITDA of € 1 billion in
2022.
For further information, please contact:
Claudia Hajdinyak, Head of Corporate Communications Wienerberger AG
t +43 664 828 31 83 | claudia.hajdinyak@wienerberger.com
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13.12.2023 CET/CEST This Corporate News was distributed by EQS Group AG.
www.eqs.com
════════════════════════════════════════ ══════════ ════════════════════════ Language: English Company: Wienerberger AG Wienerbergerplatz 1 1100 Vienna Austria Phone: +43 1 60 192-0 Fax: +43 1 60 192-10159 Email: investor@wienerberger.com
Internet: www.wienerberger.com
ISIN: AT0000831706
Listed: Vienna Stock Exchange (Official Market)
EQS News ID: 1795217
End of News EQS News Service
1795217 13.12.2023 CET/CEST