28 April 2026 - In this episode of The Clinker Factor, Guest Host Daniel Summerbell, Co-Founder & Chief Solutions Officer at Carbon Re and WCA Member, talks to Georg Locher, Managing Director at SCHWENK Zement, about the role of oxyfuel technology in decarbonising the cement industry. Georg shares his journey in the sector and how he became closely associated with oxyfuel, offering a clear explanation of the technology and its significance for carbon capture. He outlines the two main approaches within oxyfuel—calciner-only and full-process integration—and reflects on how the technology has evolved, including the role of flue gas recirculation in improving efficiency. Georg also compares oxyfuel with other carbon capture and storage (CCS) approaches, highlighting the trade-offs in cost, complexity, and performance. Looking ahead, Georg shares his perspective on future trends and where he believes the industry should place its bets as it accelerates towards net zero.
25 March 2026 - In this episode of The Clinker Factor, Guest Host Daniel Summerbell, Co-Founder & Chief Solutions Officer at Carbon Re and WCA Member, talks to John Kline, Principal at Kline Consulting, LLC, about the forces reshaping the global cement industry. John reflects on his journey in the sector and the key differences he sees across US, European, and global markets. He shares insights into how digitisation is transforming plant operations, where AI is delivering measurable results, and where expectations still exceed reality. Looking ahead, John outlines the capabilities cement companies must build now to stay competitive in a decade defined by energy transition, regulatory pressure, and technological disruption.
9 March 2026 - In this special International Women’s Day episode of The Clinker Factor, Guest Host Natalija Jovasevic, Sustainability and Communications Officer at the WCA, talks to Buffy Price, Co-Founder of Carbon Re, about leadership, diversity, and the role government must play in supporting industrial AI and climate innovation. The conversation tackles the gender imbalance across the cement industry, exploring why so few roles are held by women and what must change to improve both gender and cultural diversity. Buffy also reflects on engaging with policymakers, including a recent visit to 10 Downing Street to discuss AI opportunities with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
5 February 2026 - In this episode of The Clinker Factor, Guest Host Daniel Summerbell, Co-Founder & Chief Solutions Officer at Carbon Re and WCA Member, talks to Thomas Petitguenin, CEO of everox, about how circular innovation is redefining the future of concrete. Thomas shares the technology behind everox’s approach, unpacking how concrete waste can be transformed into valuable resources for new construction and what this means for performance, scalability, and deployment at industrial scale. Looking ahead, they explore the role of circularity in accelerating decarbonisation across the built environment, the implications for cement and concrete value chains, and what success looks like as the industry moves toward a more resource-efficient, low-carbon future.
14 January 2026 - In our first podcast of 2026, Guest Host Daniel Summerbell, Co-Founder & Chief Solutions Officer at Carbon Re and WCA Member, talks to Ricardo Carvalho, Chief Digital Officer at Secil, about driving digital transformation in cement manufacturing. Ricardo shares his journey into the cement sector and his role leading digital initiatives across Secil’s operations in Portugal, Tunisia, Lebanon, Brazil, and Angola. They explore how digitalisation and artificial intelligence are being applied in practical, operational settings, from predictive analytics in production to empowering frontline teams with digital and AI capabilities. The discussion also focuses on bridging operational technology with enterprise systems, building digital-ready teams, and the real business value of AI when deployed at scale. Ricardo shares insights on what it takes for traditional manufacturing companies to become more efficient, resilient, and profitable through digital transformation, and what the next phase of Industry 4.0 could look like for cement.
9 December 2025 - In this episode of The Clinker Factor, Guest Host Daniel Summerbell, Co-Founder & Chief Solutions Officer at Carbon Re and WCA Member, talks to Bengt Steinbrecher, Head of Holcim MAQER Ventures, and Eric Jacobson, CCO of SaltX Technology, to explore how their partnership is driving innovation in low-carbon cement production. They delve into the strategic rationale behind the SaltX–Holcim collaboration and the technical foundations of SaltX’s plasma-based electric clinker technology. They also highlight the challenges of scaling, from supply chains and plant integration to the balance between retrofitting and new builds, and the commercial implications of cost, licensing, and deployment at scale.