ZEISS Spectroscopy supports cement industry in Jena, Germany; enables real-time kiln fuel data to stabilize combustion.

ZEISS Spectroscopy supports cement industry in reducing fossil fuel use

Jena, Germany | 13 August 2026 | ZEISS Group

ZEISS SPARC continuously determines the calorific value, moisture content and chlorine content of RDF (refuse-derived fuel) and SRF (solid recovered fuel) directly in the ongoing material flow. This provides the basis for data-driven fuel management.

Cement production facility featuring a large rotary kiln for the cement manufacturing process.

Process stability is key to using alternative fuels

As cement manufacturers increase the share of alternative fuels, they need to keep the combustion process in the rotary kiln stable despite fluctuating fuel quality. Variations in composition, moisture content or energy content can make combustion control more challenging. ZEISS SPARC provides real-time quality information for RDF and SRF. This enables faster process adjustments and can help stabilize the burning process.

“For cement plants, reliable insight into the quality of alternative fuels is essential for stable combustion control. With ZEISS SPARC, we bring near-infrared spectroscopy directly into the running process and provide relevant quality parameters such as calorific value, moisture content and chlorine content in real time. This transparency enables operators to respond more quickly to fluctuations and to further increase the use of alternative fuels within their process and plant conditions. In this way, ZEISS SPARC can help reduce the use of fossil fuels and support the decarbonization of a resource-intensive industry,” says Ria Sachse, Product Manager ZEISS SPARC at ZEISS Spectroscopy.

Background: the cement industry’s significant carbon footprint

The cement industry accounts for approximately eight percent of global CO₂ emissions. Producing clinker, an essential component of cement, requires very high and consistent temperatures as well as a stable flame. This is typically generated by burning fossil fuels, which causes substantial CO₂ emissions.

To reduce emissions, cement manufacturers are increasingly using alternative fuels. This makes combustion control more demanding because the quality and composition of these fuels can vary significantly.

Innovation from the ZEISS Green Business Challenge

The idea for ZEISS SPARC originated in the ZEISS Group’s Green Business Challenge, an internal initiative to develop new, sustainable business models. Several ZEISS units, including ZEISS Ventures, Corporate Research and ZEISS Spectroscopy, worked together on the development. ZEISS Spectroscopy turned the original concept into a market-ready solution for the cement industry. To achieve this, the proven Corona ® process and Corona ® extreme systems were precisely tailored to the requirements of the cement industry and the use of RDF and SRF.

Market launch and trade show presence

ZEISS Spectroscopy is presenting ZEISS SPARC at key industry events in Europe. On September 23 and 24, 2026, cement manufacturers and other interested visitors can see a live demonstration of ZEISS SPARC at CemFuels in Geneva, learn more about inline process control for RDF and SRF, and discuss specific application areas for the solution.

ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. In the previous fiscal year, the ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling almost 12 billion euros in its four segments Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, and Consumer Markets (September 30, 2025).

For its customers, ZEISS develops, produces, and distributes highly innovative solutions for industrial metrology and quality assurance, microscopy solutions for the life sciences and materials research, and medical technology solutions for diagnostics and treatment in ophthalmology and microsurgery. The name ZEISS is also synonymous with the world’s leading lithography optics, which are used by the chip industry to manufacture semiconductor components. There is global demand for trendsetting ZEISS brand products such as eyeglass lenses, camera lenses, and binoculars.

With a portfolio aligned with future growth areas like digitalization, healthcare, and Smart Production and a strong brand, ZEISS is shaping the future of technology and constantly advancing the world of optics and related fields with its solutions. The company’s significant, sustainable investments in research and development lay the foundation for the success and continued expansion of ZEISS’ technology and market leadership. ZEISS invests 14 percent of its revenue in research and development – this high level of expenditure has a long tradition at ZEISS and is also an investment in the future.

With over 47,400 employees, ZEISS is active globally in around 50 countries with more than 60 sales and service locations, around 40 research and development facilities, and 30 production facilities worldwide (March 31, 2026). Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. The Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of the largest foundations in Germany committed to the promotion of science, is the sole owner of the holding company, Carl Zeiss AG.

About ZEISS Spectroscopy Based in Jena, ZEISS Spectroscopy is part of the ZEISS Photonics & Optics strategic business unit and stands for high-quality spectroscopic solutions for industrial applications. For more than 150 years, spectroscopic instruments from ZEISS have set standards in the industry. The company develops and manufactures optical gratings, spectrometer modules, spectrometer systems and customized solutions for challenging measurement tasks.

With a broad application portfolio spanning agriculture, the food industry, environmental monitoring, the semiconductor industry and Thin Film Metrology, ZEISS Spectroscopy helps customers implement quality and process control efficiently and reliably.

More about ZEISS Spectroscopy Learn more

International recognition for ZEISS Planetariums Show

ZEISS invests in SeeTrue Technologies to advance eye-tracking solutions

High-tech innovation made in Baden-Württemberg: State Premier Özdemir visits ZEISS

Receive all press releases from the ZEISS Group Business Division here

ZEISS Spectroscopy has launched ZEISS SPARC (Spectroscopic Process Analysis & RDF

SRF Control), an innovative inline solution for quality control of alternative fuels in the cement industry. The system will be presented at the Global CemFuels Conference 2026 in Geneva on September 23 and 24, 2026.

Annual Report of the ZEISS Group

Frequently Used Sustainability at ZEISS Innovation at ZEISS History at a glance Carl Zeiss Foundation

About ZEISS About Career Newsroom Compliance Accessibility statement

Social Media Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube X

Digital Solutions & Software Development

Select language Global website (English)

The content of this page was created with help of Generative AI

Legal Contact Publisher Legal Notice Privacy Notice Cookie Notice Cookie Preferences