19 - 20 May 2026, Brussels, Belgium

Venue: Pullman Brussels Centre Midi hotel, Place Victor Horta 1, 1060, Brussels, Belgium

Global Cement Magazine will organise the 1st Global CementAI Conference and exhibition on AI and automation in the cement industry, in Brussels, Belgium, on 19 - 20 May 2026.

The global cement industry faces twin crises: A retirement crisis and a recruitment crisis. In essence, experienced cement industry workers are retiring at a faster rate than their replacements can be recuited and trained, leaving critical gaps in staffing and knowledge.

At the same time, the application of artifical intelligence and automation offer an alternative way forward, one that also promises routes to operational optimisation and increased profitability.

The Global CementAI Conference will cover the latest state-of-the-art in AI for the cement industry, as well as an overview of automation solutions.

Who should attend?

• Cement producers
• Technologists
• Data engineers
• Entrepreneurs
• Equipment producers
• Maintenance engineers
• Process experts
• Laboratory managers
• AI experts (and beginners!)

Main topics

Artificial intelligence and Automation

• Pyroprocess optimisation
• Data analytics
• Predictive and preventive maintenance
• Cement performance prediction
• Mill optimisation
• Plant management
• Root-cause analysis
• Laboratory and QC
• Sensors
• Digital twinning
• Safety
• Logistics and despatch
• Customer service
• Quarry optimisation
• Homogenisation/blending
• Refractory management
• Commerce/finance
• Air Pollution Control optimisation
• Equipment supplier systems optimisation
• Automated reports and offers
• Autonomous vehicles
• HR

What do prospective attendees say about the event?

"The cement industry should have a place for exchange of ideas, industry trends and other important issues around AI and automation."

"We need the opportunity to go into more detail and showcase real technology / examples."

"AI is inevitable in today's world, so taking early steps in a hard-to-abate industry for integrating AI to all processes including technical and social must be considered."

"AI is impacting our partners, vendors and all other stakeholders, so understanding and alignment on expectations and future is necessary."

"New and modern technologies and AI participation in it is important thing, and could be generate many benefits"

"It's a new topic with broad influence in industry"

"There is no other direction possible in the decades to come!"

"AI is here to stay; we all need to learn how to utilise it and how this will impact us daily."

"An event bringing industry leaders together, focusing on finding use cases with AI, is a great way to move the industry forward, and keep up with changing times."

"No matter what views an individual may have about AI, it's here and it's here to stay, so it is better to embrace it and learn more about it to better understand how it can be best utilised."

"Such a conference would provide a valuable platform for sharing knowledge, best practices, and innovations in AI and automation in the cement industry, helping professionals, researchers, and companies stay updated and enhance operational efficiency globally.”

"AI or more general High Level RTO will be an inseparable element of all further developments in cement due to the increasing complexity and process variability (decarbonisation, raw material / fuel switch, product switch etc.)."

"As someone working on digitalisation and data-driven projects, I see this as an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to new technologies that could help improve our department’s efficiency and innovation."

"Such an event would provide valuable insights into how AI and automation can enhance various areas of the cement industry, including process control, predictive maintenance, logistics, customer service, and overall plant management, while also encouraging global collaboration and knowledge sharing."

"I firmly believe AI is essential for process industries, driving optimisation and data acquisition. Its implementation can significantly enhance processes. The cement industry, in particular, should adopt AI promptly, showcasing how traditional processes can be transformed into AI-optimised ones, setting a precedent for others to follow."

"AI will be the game-changer mainly in automation and process optimisation. Therefore, it will be helpful and fruitful to have a knowledge and experience exchange between the respective protagonists."

"I think that starting today to learn, to understand and to work on IA in the cement industry is a must right now."

"AI will become more and more part of our daily tasks. It is required to follow, it, understand it, and work with it."

"The process is complex and highly sensitive — even small human errors or missing data can cause significant delays in timely decision-making. AI, on the other hand, acts as a stable and reliable operator in the Kiln Control Room, running 24/7 without fatigue or oversight."

"Knowledge gathering, sharing etc. about AI is very important at this point of time, since it is the initiation stage."

"Cement is a low cost local commodity and AI may help in making it cost efficient. Supply Chain is a major cost component in the overall cost structure and AI solutions would be helpful in optimisation on network, cost, and overall efficiency."

"The industry focus is shifting currently from high cost carbon capture projects to more plant focused improvements. Since AI can impact all areas of the cement plant, and has a lower barrier cost to implement, this is a good path forward."

"This industry is on the cusp of a huge AI wave and we are on the wavefront and never looking back!"

"AI will add value optimising the process & maintenance for cost savings. customer service satisfaction and HR management."

"The Global CementAI real-world conference is an excellent idea because it bridges the gap between academic research, industry practice, and technological innovation."

"The gap between plants worldwide in terms of AI adoption is increasing day by day. Global progress in AI is moving extremely fast, while the cement industry, being a heavy and traditional sector, often struggles to keep pace. Not all plants and employees are fully aware or aligned with these rapid developments. Therefore, organising an AI Conference would be highly valuable — to demonstrate how powerful, effective, and beneficial AI can be for our operations, highlight the existing gaps between plants, and motivate teams to take action."

"AI is moving everything at the moment. Especially for the solid and stable bulk goods industry such an event makes sense to bring awareness for AI to this industry."

"An event of the kind could reveal opportunities of advancing AI solutions in the cement industry to the level of maximising the tangible benefits of AI. Additionally, it is a great opportunity of creation and expansion of strategic collaborations with many various stakeholders in AI ecosystem within cement industry."

"I think that this can be a great idea to improve specific strategies on the commercial side: AI could be the key tool through which find new leads and sales."

Conference costs

Super Early-Bird rate €695 until 11 January 2026

Early-Bird rate of €825 until 7 February 2026

Standard rate of €945 until 30 April 2026

Final rate of €1075 from 1 May 2026

The registration fee includes attendance at the conference and exhibition, conference programme booklet including delegate names/company/country, all available presentations in pdf format, participation in networking/speed-dating sessions, delegate name badge, special distribution magazine, coffee breaks and snacks, lunches, farewell reception. The Global CementAI Awards dinner is included in the registration fee.

Registration opens on December 1 2025. Super Early-Bird registration is €695 and ends on 11 January 2026. The Early-Bird rate of €825 will apply from 12 January 2026 until the end of 7 February 2026, followed by the Standard rate of €945 from 8 February 2026 and the Final rate of €1075 starting on 1 May 2026.

Confirmed speakers register for €595. Accredited academics (who must specifiy their academic institution when registering) register at a rate of €495. Confirmed cement-producer-speakers register free.

Until 7 February 2026, cement producers benefit from a €400 discount on these rates. From 8 February 2026, the cement producer discount reduces to €350, and from 1 May 2026 the discount reduces to €300.

Employees of cement-producing members of partner associations (including the AUCBM, GCCA and WCA) gain an additional discount of €100 per person.

Please note that fees quoted do not include any applicable local taxes. Local VAT may be applicable to some parts or all of these fees.

Important note: We will never call you about booking hotel rooms for this conference (just use the link on the 'Accomodation' page). If someone calls you offering a discount on hotel rooms, they are trying to scam you. Just put the phone down on them!