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Dispatching Solution

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Cement manufacturers face a new challenge in their business: While plants have optimum production capability the product does not get dispatched as desired. The biggest plants have the capability to dispatch over one thousand trucks per day, but how can they do it efficiently and take the most out of their production unit? Given here is a case study featuring SLV Cement’s RFID-based dispatching solution that was installed at the Jaypee Rewa Plant.
Cachapuz Bilanciai Group entered the Indian Market through the Jaiprakash Associates Limited (Jaypee Group). In 2010 Cachapuz Bilanciai Group, in partnership with String Automation Private Limited, received a new order to implement SLV Cement in Jaypee Rewa Plant, the flagship cement plant of the Indian Jaypee Group. The implementation of the solution was completed in the beginning of 2011 and it was a great success to all the companies participating in the project.
The plant had optimum production capability, but the product was not being dispatched as desired. Jaiprakash Associates Limited (Jaypee Group) has faced and to solve it they contacted Cachapuz/String to overcome the following challenges: introduce well defined rules and organization for the truck movement, reduce human intervention and errors in the processes and reduce the time to complete the loading and unloading operations – in a nutshell, improve the dispatching and logistic processes in their plants.
Jaypee Rewa Plant, the main production unit of Jaiprakash Associates Limited, is located in the Madhya Pradesh state and had a production capacity of 3.0 MTPA (Million Tons Per Annum). Cachapuz Bilanciai Group in partnership with String Automation Private Limited, the exclusive Cachapuz partner for the Indian Market, received this new order to implement SLV Cement in 2010.

The solution

To address Jaypee’s challenge, Cachapuz/String introduced their world class dispatching and logistics solution – SLV Cement. Based on its modular and adaptable features, SLV Cement was customized to meet the needs of Rewa plant, providing the necessary tools and equipments for the complete automation of its functional areas (RFID identification and access control, dispatching, weighing, parking, entry/exit gates and raw materials unloading), the tools for process management and business analysis and the integration with SAP ERP. All the process operators required in the process use SLV Cement software frontends, which were tailored and tuned up to assure that the software modules are simple and well focalized on the business processes.

With SLV Cement, the truck driver performs the loading/unloading process in self-service mode, interacting with the system components: he identifies himself in the parking kiosk using and RFID tag (associated to the loading or unloading operation and which will be used for identification and validation purposes in every SLV Cement kiosk during the operation), which validates the permission to load/unload from SAP, and waits for the system or the operators to call him; when called in the information panel, the driver goes to one of the entry weighbridges, identifies himself and the system registers the first weigh after checking with positioning sensors that the truck is in the correct position on the weighbridge; when the traffic lights inform him to proceed, he goes to the indicated loading/unloading area, where he performs the operation assisted by SLV Cement unloading kiosks (in case of raw materials unloading processes); then he goes to the exit weighbridge, he identifies himself in the kiosk, the system registers the second weight and prints the necessary documentation at this stage. All the information is automatically synchronized with SAP to ensure that the data is consolidated in the two systems. To conclude the process, the driver goes to the dispatch zone to collect the legal documents, which are prepared in SAP using the data registered by SLV Cement.

The SLV Cement solution composed of:

  • SLV Cement software framework with SAP ERP integration
  • 1 Parking zone with 2 large Information Panel with full visibility at 150 meters, 1 SLV Cement parking Kiosk and 1 Digital Signage information unit;
  • 7 Weighbridges with 7 SLV Cement Check-in/Check-out self-service kiosks (with color touch screens, proximity RFID tag readers, RFID tag collectors sand thermal kiosk printers), 14 positioning sensors to control the weighing operation and 14 traffic lights
  • 3 Raw materials unloading zones with 3 SLV Cement Raw Materials kiosks (with RFID tag readers and embedded traffic lights)

Key Advantages

  • RFID Access control and identification
  • Automated raw materials reception and cement dispatching processes
  • Unmanned/unattended weighing operations
  • Self-service operations 24/7
  • Increased organization of truck movement
  • Reduced Turn Around Time to complete the loading/unloading operations
  • Increased productivity
  • Reduction of manpower and human errors
  • Improved safety and security on the plant
  • Well oriented and business focalized software frontends
  • Integrated with SAP ERP
  • Remote support to the system

Satisfaction and Recognition

The success of the SLV Cement implementation in Jaypee Rewa Plant was possible with the hard work, commitment and team spirit of all the teams of Cachapuz, String and both Jaypee SAP IT and Maintenance teams. According to Sunny Gaur, Managing Director of Jaiprakash Associates, "The SLV Cement solution is efficient, is running very well and we are very happy with it".

Testimony of Mr. C. S. Jain, Senior President (Commercial), Jaypee Rewa Plant

"On 22nd January, 2011, Jaypee Group’s flagship cement plant "Jaypee Rewa Plant" implemented SLV Cement process integrated with SAP for systematic approach to traffic management of movement of trucks. SLV Cement process developed by Cachapuz Bilanciai Group, Portugal. The software was customized as per requirements of Jaypee Rewa Plant. Customized SLV Cement integrated with the existing SAP Processes.

Both SLV Cement and SAP processes are running concurrently. The Web services interface created for both SAP and SLV Cement processes to communicate each other, the functions/subroutines developed by SAP Consultants of JIL-Information Technology (an IT arm of Jaypee Group) to capture/validate the values entered through SLV Cement. The SAP Processes started with Check-in, Loading Memo generation, Gate-in, Weigh-in, Weigh-out, DC/Invoice preparation, Gate-out and Check-out. SLV Cement having own Front-end screen for Check-in, LM generation and Gate-in through a Kiosk installed at Parking area. Weigh-in, Weigh-out and weigh slip through Kiosk installed at Weigh Bridges and finally Gate-out and Check-out through Front-end Screen.

The above processes through SLV Cement takes 30 seconds that save 15 minutes at respective Weigh Bridges, reduced the manual interventions, chances of errors drastically minimized and also create non-chaos and disciplined movement of trucks inside the Plant area.

Safe and disciplined movements of trucks inside the cement plant was a requirement of British Safety Council after minute observations of British Safety Auditors. Jaypee Rewa Plant was first Indian Cement plant received the prestigious award of "BSC FIVE STAR" as well as "SWORD OF HONOUR" from British Safety Council, United Kingdom after successful implementation of SLV Cement.

After analyzing satisfactory performance of successful implementation of SLV Cement, the order has been placed to Cachapuz Solutions, Portugal for implementing the solution in other Cement Plants of Jaypee Group."

Insight of Bikramjit Singh, Director, String Automation Pvt. Ltd.

String Automation Pvt. Ltd. took the lead after sensing the pulse of Indian Industrialist. We identified the need and the problems being faced by production units in logistic control and despatch management. After thorough procurement, we shook hand with Cachapuz Bilanciai Group, world leader in "Automation of Logistics and Despatch solutions". They had already tried and tested their product in 20th century only. We not only market their product in local market, but also helped in "Indianising" their solution as per our local needs and Driver culture.

We got overwhelming response, wherever we have introduced our product SLV Cement in Indian cement Industry. We not only got repetitive orders from Jaypee Group (Cement Division) but many more leading groups are in the stage of finalisation of order during current financial year."

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Economy & Market

Precision in Motion

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A deep dive into Power Build’s core gear series products – M, C, F, K

At the heart of every high-performance industrial system lies the need for robust, reliable and efficient power transmission. Power Build answers this need with its flagship geared motor series: M, C, F and K. Each series is meticulously engineered to serve specific operational demands while maintaining the universal promise of durability, efficiency
and performance.

Series M – Helical Inline Geared Motors
Compact and powerful, the Series M delivers exceptional drive solutions for a broad range of applications. With power handling up to 160kW and torque capacity reaching 20,000 Nm, it is the trusted solution for industries requiring quiet operation, high efficiency, and space-saving design. Series M is available with multiple mounting and motor options, making it a versatile choice for manufacturers and OEMs globally.

Series C – Right Angled Heli-Worm Geared Motors
Combining the benefits of helical and worm gearing, the Series C is designed for right-angled power transmission. With gear ratios of up to 16,000:1 and torque capacities of up to 10,000 Nm, this series is optimal for applications demanding precision in compact spaces. Industries looking for a smooth, low-noise operation with maximum torque efficiency rely on Series C for dependable performance.

Series F – Parallel Shaft Mounted Geared Motors
Built for endurance in the most demanding environments, Series F is widely adopted in steel plants, hoists, cranes and heavy-duty conveyors. Offering torque up to 10,000 Nm and high gear ratios up to 20,000:1, this product features an integral torque arm and diverse output configurations to meet industry-specific challenges head-on.

Series K – Right Angle Helical Bevel Geared Motors
For industries seeking high efficiency and torque-heavy performance, Series K is the answer. This right-angled geared motor series delivers torque up to 50,000 Nm, making it a preferred choice in core infrastructure sectors such as cement, power, mining, and material handling. Its flexibility in mounting and broad motor options offer engineers freedom in design and reliability in execution.
Together, these four series reflect Power Build’s commitment to excellence in mechanical power transmission. From compact inline designs to robust right-angle drives, each geared motor is a result of decades of engineering innovation, customer-focused design and field-tested reliability. Whether the requirement is speed control, torque multiplication, or space efficiency, Radicon’s Series M, C, F and K stand as trusted powerhouses for global industries.

https://www.powerbuild.in
Call: +919727719344

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Economy & Market

TSR Will Define Which Cement Companies Win India’s Net-Zero Race

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Jignesh Kundaria, Director and CEO, Fornnax Technology

India is simultaneously grappling with two crises: a mounting waste emergency and an urgent need to decarbonise its most carbon-intensive industries. The cement sector, the second-largest in the world and the backbone of the nation’s infrastructure ambitions, sits at the centre of both. It consumes enormous quantities of fossil fuel, and it has the technical capacity to consume something else entirely: the waste our cities cannot get rid of.

According to CPCB and NITI Aayog projections, India generates approximately 62.4 million tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, with that figure expected to reach 165 million tonnes by 2030. Much of this waste is energy-rich and non-recyclable. At the same time, cement kilns operate at material temperatures of approximately 1,450 degrees Celsius, with gas temperatures reaching 2,000 degrees. This high-temperature environment is ideal for co-processing, ensuring the complete thermal destruction of organic compounds without generating toxic residues. The physics are in our favour. The infrastructure is not.

Pre-processing is not the support act for co-processing. It is the main event. Get the particle size wrong, get the moisture wrong, get the calorific value wrong and your kiln thermal stability will suffer the consequences.

The Regulatory Push Is Real

The Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules 2026 mandate that cement plants progressively replace solid fossil fuels with Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF), starting at a 5 per cent baseline and scaling to 15 per cent within six years. NITI Aayog’s 2026 Roadmap for Cement Sector Decarbonisation targets 20 to 25 per cent Thermal Substitution Rate (TSR) by 2030. Beyond compliance, every tonne of coal replaced by RDF generates measurable carbon reductions which is monetisable under India’s emerging Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS). TSR is no longer a sustainability metric. It is a financial lever.

Yet our own field assessments across multiple Indian cement plants reveal a sobering reality: the primary barrier to scaling AFR adoption is not waste availability. It is the fragmented and under-engineered pre-processing ecosystem that sits between the waste and the kiln.

Why Indian Waste Is a Different Engineering Problem

Indian municipal solid waste is not the material that imported shredding equipment was designed for. Our waste streams frequently exceed 40 per cent to 50 per cent moisture content, particularly during monsoon cycles, saturated with abrasive inerts including sand, glass, and stone. Plants relying on imported OEM equipment face months of downtime awaiting proprietary spare parts. Machines built for segregated, low-moisture waste fail quickly and disrupt the entire pre-processing operation in Indian conditions.

The two most common failures we observe are what I call the biting teeth problem and the chewing teeth problem. Plants relying solely on a primary shredder reduce bulk waste to large fractions, but the output remains too coarse for stable kiln combustion. Others attempt to use a secondary shredder as a standalone unit without a primary stage to pre-size the feed, leading to catastrophic mechanical failure. When both stages are present but mismatched in throughput capacity, the system becomes a bottleneck. Achieving the 40 to 70 tonnes per hour required for meaningful coal displacement demands a precisely coordinated two-stage process.

Engineering a Made-in-India Answer

At Fornnax, our response to these challenges is grounded in one principle: Indian waste demands Indian engineering. Our systems are built around feedstock homogeneity, the holy grail of kiln stability. Consistent particle size and predictable calorific value are the foundation of stable kiln combustion. Without them, no TSR target is achievable at scale.

Our SR-MAX2500 Dual Shaft Primary Shredder (Hydraulic Drive) processes raw, baled, or loosely mixed MSW, C&I waste, bulky waste, and plastics, reducing them to approximately 150 mm fractions at throughputs of up to 40 tonnes per hour. The R-MAX 3300 Single Shaft Secondary Shredder (Hydraulic Drive), introduced in 2025, takes that primary output and produces RDF fractions in the 30 to 80 mm range at up to 30 tonnes per hour, specifically optimised for consistent kiln feeding. We have also introduced electric drive configurations under the SR-100 HD series, with capacities between 5 and 40 tonnes per hour, already operational at a leading Indian waste-processing facility.

Looking ahead, Fornnax is expanding its portfolio with the upcoming SR-MAX3600 Hydraulic Drive primary shredder at up to 70 tonnes per hour and the R-MAX2100 Hydraulic drive secondary shredder at up to 20 tonnes per hour, designed specifically for the large-scale throughput that higher TSR ambitions require.

The Investment Case Is Now

The 2070 Net-Zero target is not a distant goal for India’s cement sector. It starts today, with decisions being made on the plant floor.

The SWM Rules 2026 are already in effect, requiring cement plants to replace coal with RDF. Carbon credit markets are opening up, and coal prices are not going to get cheaper. Every tonne of coal a cement plant replaces with waste-derived fuel saves money on one side and generates carbon credit revenue on the other. Pre-processing infrastructure is no longer just a compliance requirement. It is a business investment with a measurable return.

The good news is that nothing is missing. The technology works. The waste is available in every Indian city. The government has provided the policy direction. The only thing standing between where the industry is today and where it needs to be is the commitment to build the right infrastructure.

The cement companies that move now will not just meet the regulations. They will be ahead of every competitor that waits.

About The Author

Jignesh Kundaria is the Director and CEO of Fornnax Technology. Over an experience spanning more than two decades in the recycling industry, he has established himself as one of India’s foremost voices on waste-to-fuel technology and alternative fuel infrastructure.

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Concrete

Reimagining Logistics: Spatial AI and Digital Twins

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Digital twins and spatial AI are transforming cement logistics by enabling real-time visibility, predictive decision-making, and smarter multi-modal operations across the supply chain. Dijam Panigrahi highlights how immersive AR/VR training is bridging workforce skill gaps, helping companies build faster, more efficient, and future-ready logistics systems.

As India accelerates infrastructure investment under flagship programs such as PM GatiShakti and the National Infrastructure Pipeline, the pressure on cement manufacturers to deliver reliably, efficiently, and cost-effectively has never been greater. Yet for all the modernisation that has taken place on the production side, the end-to-end logistics chain, from clinker dispatch to the last-mile delivery of bagged cement to construction sites, remains a domain riddled with inefficiencies, opacity and manual decision-making.
The good news is that a new generation of spatial computing technologies is now mature enough to transform this reality. Digital twins, spatial artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) training platforms are converging to offer cement producers something they have long sought: real-time visibility, autonomous decision-making at the operational edge, and a scalable solution to the persistent skills gap that hampers workforce performance.

Advancing logistics with digital twins
The cement supply chain is uniquely complex. A single integrated plant may manage limestone quarrying, kiln operations, grinding, packing and despatch simultaneously, with finished product flowing through rail, road, and waterway networks to reach hundreds of regional depots and distribution points. Coordinating this network using spreadsheets, siloed ERP data, and phone calls is not merely inefficient; it is a structural liability in a competitive market where delivery reliability is a key differentiator.
Digital twin technology offers a way out. A cement logistics digital twin is a continuously updated, three-dimensional virtual replica of the entire supply chain, from the truck loading bays at the plant to the inventory levels at district depots. By ingesting data from IoT sensors on conveyor belts and packing machines, GPS trackers on road and rail fleets, weighbridge records, and weather feeds, the digital twin provides planners with a single, authoritative picture of where every ton of cement is, in real time.
The value, however, goes well beyond visibility. Because the digital twin mirrors the physical system in dynamic detail, it can run scenario simulations before decisions are executed. If a primary rail corridor is disrupted, logistics managers can model alternative routing options, shifting volumes to road or coastal shipping, and assess the cost and time implications within minutes rather than days. If a packing line at the plant is running below capacity, the twin can automatically recalculate dispatch schedules downstream and alert depot managers to adjust receiving resources accordingly.
For cement companies operating multi-plant networks across geographies as varied as Rajasthan and the North-East, this kind of end-to-end situational awareness is transformative. It collapses information latency from hours to seconds, enables proactive rather than reactive logistics management, and creates the data foundation upon which AI-driven decision-making can be built. Companies that have deployed logistics digital twins in comparable heavy-industry contexts have reported reductions in transit time variability of up to 20 per cent and meaningful decreases in demurrage and detention costs, savings that flow directly to the bottom line.

Smart logistics operations
A digital twin is only as powerful as the intelligence layer that sits on top of it. This is where Spatial AI becomes the critical differentiator for cement logistics.
Traditional logistics management systems are reactive. They record what has happened and flag exceptions after the fact. Spatial AI systems, by contrast, are proactive. They continuously analyse the state of the logistics network as represented in the digital twin, identify emerging bottlenecks before they crystallise into delays, and recommend corrective actions.
At the plant gate, AI-powered visual inspection systems using spatial depth-sensing cameras can assess truck conditions, verify load integrity and confirm seal tamper status in seconds, replacing the manual checks that currently slow throughput. At the depot level, Spatial AI can monitor stock drawdown rates in real time, cross-reference them against pending customer orders and inbound shipment ETAs, and automatically trigger replenishment orders when safety thresholds are approached. In transit, AI systems processing GPS and telematics data can detect anomalous vehicle behaviour, including extended stops, route deviations, speed irregularities and alert fleet managers instantly.
Perhaps most significantly for Indian cement logistics, Spatial AI can optimise the complex multi-modal routing decisions that are central to competitive cost management. Given the variability in road quality, seasonal accessibility, rail rake availability, and regional demand patterns across India’s vast geography, the combinatorial complexity of routing optimisation is beyond human planners working with conventional tools. AI systems can process this complexity continuously and adapt routing recommendations as conditions change, reducing empty running, improving vehicle utilisation and cutting fuel costs.
The agentic dimension of modern AI is particularly relevant here. Agentic AI systems do not merely analyse and recommend; they act. In a cement logistics context, this means an AI system that can, within pre-authorised boundaries, directly communicate revised dispatch instructions to plant teams, update booking confirmations with freight forwarders and reallocate available rail rakes across plant locations, all without waiting for a human to process a recommendation and make a call. For logistics executives, this represents a genuine shift from managing a workforce to setting the rules of engagement and reviewing outcomes. The operational tempo achievable with agentic AI simply cannot be matched by human-in-the-loop systems working at the pace of emails and phone calls.

Bridging the skills gap
Technology investments in digital twins and spatial AI will deliver diminishing returns if the human workforce cannot operate effectively within the new systems they create. This is a challenge that India’s cement industry cannot afford to underestimate. The sector relies on a large, geographically dispersed workforce, including truck drivers, depot managers, despatch supervisors, fleet maintenance technicians, many of whom have been trained on paper-based processes and manual workflows. Retraining this workforce for a digitised, AI-augmented environment is a substantial undertaking, and conventional classroom or on-the-job training methods are poorly suited to the scale and pace required.
Immersive AR and VR training platforms offer a fundamentally different approach. By creating photorealistic, interactive simulations of logistics environments, such as a plant dispatch bay, a depot yard, the interior of a cement truck cab, allow workers to practice complex procedures and decision-making scenarios in a safe, consequence-free virtual environment. A depot manager can work through a simulated rail rake delay scenario, making decisions about customer allocation and communication
without the pressure of real orders being affected. A truck driver can practice the correct procedure for securing a load of bagged cement without the risk of a road incident.
The learning science case for immersive training is compelling. Studies consistently show that experiential, simulation-based learning produces faster skill acquisition and higher retention rates than didactic instruction, with some research indicating retention rates three to four times higher for VR-based training compared to classroom methods. For complex operational procedures where muscle memory and situational awareness matter as much as conceptual knowledge, the advantage of immersive simulation is even more pronounced.
Today’s leading cloud-based spatial computing platforms enable high-fidelity AR and VR training experiences to be delivered on standard mobile devices, removing the hardware barrier that has historically made immersive training impractical for large, distributed workforces. This is particularly relevant for cement companies with depots and logistics operations in tier-two and tier-three locations, where access to specialised training hardware cannot be assumed.
The integration of AR into live operations also creates ongoing learning opportunities beyond formal training programs. As an example, maintenance technicians equipped with AR overlays can receive step-by-step guidance for equipment procedures directly in their field of view, reducing error rates and service times for critical plant and fleet assets.

New strategy, new horizons
India’s cement industry is entering a period of intensifying competition, rising logistics costs, and demanding customers with shrinking tolerance for delivery variability. The companies that will lead over the next decade will be those that treat logistics not as a cost centre to be minimised, but as a strategic capability to be built.
Digital twins, spatial AI and immersive AR/VR training are not distant future technologies, they are deployable today on infrastructure that Indian cement companies already operate. The question is not whether to adopt them, but how quickly to do so and where to begin.

About the author:
Dijam Panigrahi is Co-Founder and COO of GridRaster Inc., a provider of cloud-based spatial computing platforms that power high-quality digital twin and immersive AR/VR experiences on mobile devices for enterprises. GridRaster’s technology is deployed across manufacturing, logistics and infrastructure sectors globally.

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