AI at work: Heidelberg Materials accelerates global rollout of autonomous heavy mobile equipment

• Heidelberg Materials continues to scale the global deployment of autonomous heavy mobile equipment in North America, Australia, and Europe 
• Automation expansion enhances safety and operational performance while bearing additional margin potential based on a scalable and cost-efficient technology 
• The rollout is part of a broader initiative to introduce more than 100 autonomous vehicles by the end of 2028 
• Driving automation and AI across geographies and businesses is a key pillar of the company’s technical excellence agenda

Heidelberg Materials is scaling the use of autonomous heavy mobile equipment across its global operations. Working closely with established technology partners, the company is advancing from a lighthouse project to a broader rollout across six sites and two vehicle types in North America, Australia, and Europe. Heidelberg Materials plans to deploy around 30 autonomous vehicles as part of the expansion phase in 2026. The ramp-up builds on the successful deployment of an autonomous haulage system (AHS) at its Lake Bridgeport quarry in Texas, USA.

In North America, Heidelberg Materials is extending its AHS programme to sites in Indiana and Texas. In Australia, the company is launching its first AHS projects at quarries in New South Wales and Western Australia. In Europe, Heidelberg Materials is premiering an autonomous wheel loader trial at a sand and gravel pit in Northern Germany.

Designed to be integrated into existing fleets, the technology used across Heidelberg Materials’ autonomous projects provides a scalable and cost‑efficient way to accelerate the modernisation of heavy mobile equipment. The systems leverage advanced sensors, cameras, and artificial intelligence to autonomously operate haul trucks and other mobile equipment in complex, dynamic environments.  

“Advancing automation and AI applications is a key pillar of our technical excellence agenda as we look to constantly raise the bar for our processes and equipment,” said Axel Conrads, Chief Technical Officer and Member of the Managing Board of Heidelberg Materials. “With a strong global autonomous deployment team working closely with best-in-class technology partners, we are now focused on scaling the technology in a disciplined, results-driven way.”

The company’s automation expansion further enhances safety and operational performance. The current rollout is part of a broader initiative to introduce more than 100 autonomous vehicles by the end of 2028.  

• About Heidelberg Materials
• Heidelberg Materials is one of the world's largest integrated manufacturers of heavy building materials and solutions with leading market positions in cement, aggregates, and ready-mixed concrete. Around 49,000 employees in almost 50 countries shape our growth path. Drawing on our global advantage, we create synergies in the areas of sustainability, digitalisation, and technical excellence. As the industry’s front runner on the path to Net Zero, we enable our customers to lead the way towards a more sustainable future through our growing offering of low-carbon and circular building materials.