Strategising for innovation with Aggregate Industries

Aggregate Industries has set out its priorities looking forward, as it launches its 2018 Innovation Strategy, with key focusses including robotics and artificial intelligence amongst others.

Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR), Smart Materials, Digital Engineering, Offsite Construction and Blockchain are other areas that the leading player in the construction and infrastructure industries are putting emphasis on.

François Pétry, Chief Executive Officer at Aggregate Industries, said these particular innovations were honed in upon because of the positive impact they could have on the sector.

He said smart materials could well prove to be revolutionary, particularly for construction, as they will allow companies to look into how materials can offer a whole host of added benefits.

In line with the Innovation Strategy’s launch, Aggregate Industries held its yearly Innovation Workshop, hosted by Loughborough University. Senior Managers from across the business and LafargeHolcim Group and  key stakeholders collaborated with academics to identify viable commercial opportunities in each of the key strategic areas.

François said: “To be truly innovative, we must work together to think beyond products and focus on potential applications which could bring benefits to our customers and also improvements to our own operations.

“The Innovation Workshop allowed us to do this and to learn from and engage with academics from outside the construction sector who are leading the way within the innovation areas we are committed to pursue as a forward-thinking business.

“Looking ahead, there is no doubt that our innovation journey will be underpinned by digital transformation; supported by technology and empowered by data, as we and our customers operate in an increasingly digital environment.”

Professor Jacqueline Glass of Loughborough University, who facilitated the Workshop, was pleased with the outcome, referring to the event as ‘very productive’, with those involved identifying a ‘raft of high-potential projects across a range of technology areas’ that she and her colleagues believe will lead to innovative outcomes for the company.

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