Technology

ACC has made concerted efforts to achieve best-in-class logistics performance

Published

11 years ago

March 31, 2015

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Tushar Dave, Vice President – Central Logistics, ACC Ltd
Road Safety is a critical area in logistics, considering the level of safety discipline and poor quality of many roads in the country. ACC is committed to safety and with this mission, ACC embarked on its Logistics Safety Excellence journey in early 2012m says Tushar Dave, Vice President – Central Logistics, ACC Ltd. Excerpts from the interview..

What technology choices were made by you and why?
Under a fresh initiative, ACC?s new logistics management system has made concerted efforts to achieve best-in-class logistics performance in terms of cost-to-serve and time-to-serve. New technologies like RFID and GPS (global positioning systems) help ACC in minimizing in-plant loading time and in tracking vehicles in transit to end-consumer destinations, thus cutting down delays, enhancing vehicle turnarounds.

ACC has deployed versatile IT aids in fleet management and visual cargo solutions for its plant operations and contracted transport vendors. The fleet management solution will provide online tools for transport vendors to manage their fleet utilization and driver safety.

ACC has also introduced a fleet of new high tonnage trucks which are not only cost effective but also environment-friendly. Inthe first phase of this project, ACC has installed GPS in about 1000 trucks across 3 plant locations in Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and Karnataka. The company has also installed RFID across its cement plants and GPS in more than 9,000 trucks.

Brief us on the logistics safety programme.
The major aims of this logistics safety programme are to: a) reduce the vehicle and traffic related incidents through sustained improvement of processes, b) improve vehicle and driver fitness, and motivate drivers to change their behaviour and improve their driving skills, c) make effective use of technology like RFID to control the number of vehicles moving in the plant premises at any point of time and GPS to track the vehicle movement from the factory to the customer?s site against various parameters from ?Gate Out? to ?Gate In?, and d) address critical issues like journey risk mapping and driver fatigue to control accidents.

Some of the major steps taken included engaging with transport contractors and encouraging them to take ownership of the driver and vehicle certification by issuing ?Driver Passports? (these are internal certificates issued to drivers so named to identify drivers assessed as being competent to drive on company?s business) and ?Vehicle Passports? (similar certification issued to vehicles which have been inspected and found fit to be driven on company?s business). Over 14,000 driver and vehicle passports each have been issued by ACC?s transporters in 2013.

Intensive transporter engagement was undertaken to sensitise them to improve the condition of vehicles and quality and skills of manpower (drivers). A 30 point vehicle inspection checklist has been introduced for daily inspection of trucks and a defensive driving training drive launched across the plants covering over 8,600 drivers in 2013. Also, around 4000 drivers were administered a health check at our plants in 2013. Both these activities are continuing on a regular basis.

Tell us about the ?clean bag initiative?.
A unique clean bag initiative caters to customer satisfaction and further enhances logistical productivity. The clean bag project is based on the belief that cement bags create an enduring impression in the customer?s mind. The company defines a clean bag as one that not only looks appealing but also carries the correct weight, is dust free and sturdy enough to withstand multiple handling without any unseemly damage in the journey to the end user. It is a tough task that involves a host of improvements from the plant to the customer.

What are your future plans?
Sustained focused approach on enhancing people competencies, implanting matured processes, implementing enabling technology and also improving quality logistics infrastructure.

How do you assess the potential for integrated logistics systems?
Integrated logistics system is a very broad based concept, however in cement context we can look at aligning inbound (coal, gypsum, fly ash etc), WIP (clinker) and outbound (cement, aggregates and ready mixed concrete) as a first step.

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

2 weeks ago

October 15, 2025

admin

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

2 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

2 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.