Tarmac, a prominent CRH company and a frontrunner in sustainable construction materials provision in the UK, is unveiling an innovative offering for its customers: access to cutting-edge AI-enhanced digital sensors designed to optimize concrete mixes, decrease carbon emissions, and streamline on-site construction processes.
Teaming up with Converge, a UK-based expert in construction technology, Tarmac is extending widespread access to this groundbreaking technology, which integrates advanced wireless sensors with predictive artificial intelligence (AI). These sensors collect real-time data, which, when analyzed with AI modeling, can accurately forecast concrete strength, thereby accelerating construction projects and curbing carbon footprints.
This initiative enables all of Tarmac’s clientele to incorporate this new technology, simplifying and democratizing access to innovation, which was previously primarily accessible to teams engaged in major projects.
The adoption of this technology follows a thorough evaluation process by CRH Ventures, the venture capital division of CRH, leading to a 12-month trial period conducted by Tarmac to gauge the efficacy and commercial viability of the solution.
This tech breakthrough is now available to all of Tarmac’s concrete customers under the umbrella of their new CEVO brand, aimed at empowering procurement teams to make informed decisions and select concrete mixes and solutions with lower carbon footprints. The sensors, which are approximately 3 – 4 cm long, are user-friendly and can be easily affixed to the steel reinforcements around which ready-mixed concrete is poured.
Andrew Campling, head of ready-mix concrete performance at Tarmac, emphasized the significance of offering broad access to innovative digital technology in the pursuit of decarbonizing the construction industry. He noted that this partnership with Converge enables Tarmac to offer a broader array of innovations to customers as part of their lower carbon CEVO concrete brand. Alongside other solutions like their new online carbon calculator and the user-friendly CEVO rating system, these tools empower customers to reduce carbon emissions in construction projects.
Concrete’s strength development in large structures can fluctuate due to various factors such as heat generated by the higher volume of materials and the influence of weather conditions on-site. The predictive AI of the new technology allows for accurate specification of lower carbon concrete mixes to accommodate these variables, reducing reliance on traditional concrete cube testing methods. Consequently, this can minimize the time intervals between concrete pours, ultimately shortening construction timelines.
Raphael Scheps, CEO at Converge, expressed enthusiasm about the alignment of CEVO with Converge’s sensors and AI technology in advancing concrete decarbonization. By combining their technology with Tarmac’s low embodied carbon mixes, contractors can construct sustainably with confidence, assured of achieving optimal performance. This collaboration aims to provide leading AI solutions to the construction industry.
Tarmac’s new CEVO brand has harmonized the company’s extensive range of proven and trusted concretes with the industry-standard ratings set forth by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Green Construction Board Low Carbon Concrete Routemap.
Reducing carbon emissions from its products constitutes a pivotal component of Tarmac’s net-zero strategy, which aligns with the commitment of parent company CRH to reduce absolute CO2 emissions across the business by 30% by 2030 (from a 2021 baseline) and achieve net zero by 2050.
