Technology

Inpact of mechanisation on cement consumption

Published

13 years ago

July 31, 2012

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Labour shortage and demand from customer for very high speed construction has led to increasing mechanization of construction activity and higher demand for cement, says K. K. Taparia, Dy. Managing Director, Universal Construction Machinery & Equipment and Chairman, Committee for Mechanisation of Construction, Builders’ Association of India
With rapid economic development we find there is total change in construction process and system in real estate and infrastructure and industrial construction.CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES AND GROWTH OF CEMENT CONSUMPTIONScenario Upto 2000 ADIn the year 2000, value of project was small and investment was quite low, client was not demanding speedy delivery. There was abundant availability of labour with the result that there was slow construction, slow mechanisation and consumption of cement was low.Scenario between 2000-2010Upto 2010, project volume increased with construction of highways like Pune-Mumbai Expressway, Yamuna Express Highway and other National Highway projects client started demanding delivery in time. Labour shortage started with the development of states like Bihar, UP, Jharkhand and likely cost of labour increased tremendously. Mechanisation increased with the availability of equipments from international manufacturers. Looking at the demand for equipments most of the foreign equipment manufacturers started setting up plants in India. This gave a major impetus to the cement consumption and equipments for transportation of concrete.The concept of SEZs provided a medium wherein it not only attracted foreign companies looking for cheaper and efficient location to set up their offshore business, but it also allowed the local industries to improve their export through a proper channel and with the help of the new foreign partners to the outside world at a very competitive price. This also attracted big players who wanted to set up business without any licence hassles and the long process involved in it.Scenario after 2010Now in the 11th Five Year Plan, projects have gone to mega size like Ultra Mega Power Plants, Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, metro rail networks, modernisation of airports and ports, etc. Customers have started looking for very high speed with quality consciousness and safety measures and construction with multinational construction companies. Customers got choosy particularly for gaining multiple growth to execute big orders with automation through mechanization in construction.CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT USAGE TRENDS(Concreting and Supporting Equipments)With the development of different types of concreting machines particularly mobile batching plants and mobile batching machines instead of hand mixing there has been ready mix concrete production at site through various specially developed concreting equipments.Earlier sand was manually screened and now it is done through sand screening machines and washed through sand washing machines. Feeding of raw material and aggregate is done by loaders. Placement of concrete is done through concrete pumps and is transported by transit mixers and tough riders (mini dumpers).In vertical construction, material is transported by using tower hoist, mini lift and latest equipments like MultiGo, See Saw Lift. This has resulted into very high speed of transportation of material to meet the high speed of construction. With the use of passenger-cum-material lift it is possible to go for high rise building above 13 floors resulting into more construction in small areas as there is already scarcity of land in metros and tier-II cities.Use of PM lift in pre-heater buildings in cement plants has also mechanized the cement manufacturing process and reduced the manufacturing time. Similarly, in industrial construction the combination of reversible mixers with concrete pump and Tough Rider (mini dumper) for transportation has increased the speed and in turn increased the cement consumption rate, that is consumption of cement per hour.Most of the leading manufacturers started training operators to create friendliness for operation and institutes like NICMAR also instituted programmes for operators.MECHANISATION IN CONSTRUCTIONMechanisation in construction has also helped early construction of cement plants due to speedy civil work leading to early building of capacity to meet growth.Construction of bridges and roads has been totally mechanized and speed of construction has almost increased 20 times in road and also more than 20 times in real estate in comparison with construction in 1990. Construction in infrastructure has taken lead with development of suitable equipments for use of construction in irrigation, industry, PWD etc.Equipment manufacturers increased the production of these equipments and had to put robotic machinery in manufacturing to meet demand.Equipment manufacturers have also developed supporting equipments like the infinite range of equipments for increasing the speed by equipments like bar cutting and bending machines with requirement of steel for reinforcement. Equipments like pavers, earth compactors have also mechanized the process. Also the facility of water mixing has helped in reducing the bottlenecks for loss of time in construction. The vibration is done through needle vibrators and other vibrating equipments. The concept of ‘Equipment Consultant’ was born as there was a need for a specialist who can guide/support in choosing the right product as per the need of project and its effective utilization.With mechanization of construction in important projects has gone to all three shifts/two shifts. This mechanization has driven the growth of cement consumption and further will accelerate now for further multiply growth.FUTURE TRENDSWe find automation in construction equipments and support by equipment finance may further increase automation 3-5 times than the present levels which will result in increase in cement consumption per capita. This will also be necessitated by the ever increasing scarcity of construction labour.With all these developments there has been increase in volume, quality and, above all, increase in cement consumption per site i.e., volume in size and quantity per day.

Technology

ARAPL Reports 175% EBITDA Growth, Expands Global Robotics Footprint

Affordable Robotic & Automation posts strong Q2 and H1 FY26 results driven by innovation and overseas orders

Published

3 weeks ago

October 15, 2025

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Affordable Robotic & Automation Limited (ARAPL), India’s first listed robotics firm and a pioneer in industrial automation and smart robotic solutions, has reported robust financial results for the second quarter and half year ended September 30, 2025.
The company achieved a 175 per cent year-on-year rise in standalone EBITDA and strong revenue growth across its automation and robotics segments. The Board of Directors approved the unaudited financial results on October 10, 2025.

Key Highlights – Q2 FY2026
• Strong momentum across core automation and robotics divisions
• Secured the first order for the Atlas AC2000, an autonomous truck loading and unloading forklift, from a leading US logistics player
• Rebranded its RaaS product line as Humro (Human + Robot), symbolising collaborative automation between people and machines
• Expanded its Humro range in global warehouse automation markets
• Continued investment in deep-tech innovations, including AI-based route optimisation, autonomy kits, vehicle controllers, and digital twins
Global Milestone: First Atlas AC2000 Order in the US

ARAPL’s US-based subsidiary, ARAPL RaaS (Humro), received its first order for the next-generation Atlas AC2000 autonomous forklift from a leading logistics company. Following successful prototype trials, the client placed an order for two robots valued at Rs 36 million under a three-year lease. The project opens opportunities for scaling up to 15–16 robots per site across 15 US warehouses within two years.
The product addresses an untapped market of 10 million loading docks across 21,000 warehouses in the US, positioning ARAPL for exponential growth.

Financial Performance – Q2 FY2026 (Standalone)
Net Revenue: Rs 25.7587 million, up 37 per cent quarter-on-quarter
EBITDA: Rs 5.9632 million, up 396 per cent QoQ
Profit Before Tax: Rs 4.3808 million, compared to a Rs 360.46 lakh loss in Q1
Profit After Tax: Rs 4.1854 lakh, representing 216 per cent QoQ growth
On a half-year basis, ARAPL reported a 175 per cent rise in EBITDA and returned to profitability with Rs 58.08 lakh PAT, highlighting strong operational efficiency and improved contribution from core businesses.
Consolidated Performance – Q2 FY2026
Net Revenue: Rs 29.566 million, up 57% QoQ
EBITDA: Rs 6.2608 million, up 418 per cent QoQ
Profit After Tax: Rs 4.5672 million, marking a 224 per cent QoQ improvement

Milind Padole, Managing Director, ARAPL said, “Our Q2 results reflect the success of our innovation-led growth strategy and the growing global confidence in ARAPL’s technology. The Atlas AC2000 order marks a defining milestone that validates our engineering strength and accelerates our global expansion. With a healthy order book and continued investment in AI and autonomous systems, ARAPL is positioned to lead the next phase of intelligent industrial transformation.”
Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Pune, Affordable Robotic & Automation Ltd (ARAPL) delivers turnkey robotic and automation solutions across automotive, general manufacturing, and government sectors. Its offerings include robotic welding, automated inspection, assembly automation, automated parking systems, and autonomous driverless forklifts.
ARAPL operates five advanced plants in Pune spanning 350,000 sq ft, supported by over 400 engineers in India and seven team members in the US. The company also maintains facilities in North Carolina and California, and service centres in Faridabad, Mumbai, and San Francisco.

Technology

M.E. Energy Bags Rs 490 Mn Order for Waste Heat Recovery Project

Second major EPC contract from Ferro Alloys sector strengthens company’s growth

Published

3 weeks ago

October 15, 2025

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M.E. Energy Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kilburn Engineering Ltd and a leading Indian engineering company specialising in energy recovery and cost reduction, has secured its second consecutive major order worth Rs 490 million in the Ferro Alloys sector. The order covers the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of a 12 MW Waste Heat Recovery Based Power Plant (WHRPP).

This repeat order underscores the Ferro Alloys industry’s confidence in M.E. Energy’s expertise in delivering efficient and sustainable energy solutions for high-temperature process industries. The project aims to enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions by converting waste heat into clean power.

“Securing another project in the Ferro Alloys segment reinforces our strong technical credibility. It’s a proud moment as we continue helping our clients achieve sustainability and cost efficiency through innovative waste heat recovery systems,” said K. Vijaysanker Kartha, Managing Director, M.E. Energy Pvt Ltd.

“M.E. Energy’s expansion into sectors such as cement and ferro alloys is yielding solid results. We remain confident of sustained success as we deepen our presence in steel and carbon black industries. These achievements reaffirm our focus on innovation, technology, and energy efficiency,” added Amritanshu Khaitan, Director, Kilburn Engineering Ltd

With this latest order, M.E. Energy has already surpassed its total external order bookings from the previous financial year, recording Rs 138 crore so far in FY26. The company anticipates further growth in the second half, supported by a robust project pipeline and the rising adoption of waste heat recovery technologies across industries.

The development marks continued momentum towards FY27, strengthening M.E. Energy’s position as a leading player in industrial energy optimisation.

Technology

NTPC Green Energy Partners with Japan’s ENEOS for Green Fuel Exports

NGEL signs MoU with ENEOS to supply green methanol and hydrogen derivatives

Published

3 weeks ago

October 15, 2025

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NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), a subsidiary of NTPC Limited, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan’s ENEOS Corporation to explore a potential agreement for the supply of green methanol and hydrogen derivative products.

The MoU was exchanged on 10 October 2025 during the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. It marks a major step towards global collaboration in clean energy and decarbonisation.
The partnership centres on NGEL’s upcoming Green Hydrogen Hub at Pudimadaka in Andhra Pradesh. Spread across 1,200 acres, the integrated facility is being developed for large-scale green chemical production and exports.

By aligning ENEOS’s demand for hydrogen derivatives with NGEL’s renewable energy initiatives, the collaboration aims to accelerate low-carbon energy transitions. It also supports NGEL’s target of achieving a 60 GW renewable energy portfolio by 2032, reinforcing its commitment to India’s green energy ambitions and the global net-zero agenda.