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21-km cross-country belt conveyor for Heidelberg Cement, Damoh

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The EPC contract for India?s longest Overland Belt Conveyor (OLBC) system to Heidelberg Cement is another significant milestone in Macmet?s list of achievements.

In 2010 Macmet, against stiff competition from L&T, FL Schmidt, Sinoma International Engineering Co bagged the turnkey contract from Heidelberg Cement for design, engineering, manufacture, supply of equipment, Civil & Structural Construction and Erection of Plant/Machinery for a 21 km long Overland Belt Conveyor system for transporting Limestone from Patharia Quarry to Narsingarh Clinkerization Unit, for the Diamond Cements Plant at Damoh.

The OLBC commissioned for Heidelberg Cement consists of six flights of conveyors, totaling to 20,790 meters. Four flights connect the mine to the Bunker. From the bunker, one flight goes to the Plant and another flight goes to the stockyard. The six flights measure 640 meters, 9800 meters, 8150 meters, 1600 meters, 475 meters and 125 meters (total 20,790 meters). The 1000 mm wide belt conveyor has been designed to transport limestone at an average speed of 4.0 meters/second from the quarry to the plant. The capacity of this conveyor system is 1000 TPH. On its way to the Plant, the conveyor crosses several villages and roads as well as the Sonar River (spanning a width of 120 meters at the cross over).

The conveyor accessories supplied include apron feeders, bag filter with fan, compressors, motorized diverter, Pin/Rod Gate, Magnetic Separator, Metal Detector and Belt Weigher. The electrics include 33KV Substations, Transformers, 690V Voltage Variable Frequency Panels with 690V/350kW Motors controlled by a PLC Automation System.

Macmet undertook the civil work, constructing 890 nos. RCC columns, the maximum height of which was 23 meters at the Sonar River. 4 sub-stations (18,280 cubic meter) as well as a Hopper of 2020 cubic meters were built. The Civil RCC work (including sub-station buildings, bunker, trestle columns and foundations etc.) was completed in one year from November, 2010 to October 2011.

Macmet also completed Structural Fabrication and Erection work of 903 Girders (the maximum span being 47 meters), 61 nos. Trestles (maximum height being 37 meters). The 6025 Ton Fabrication and erection of structural steel work (including transfer houses, gallery, girders, trestles, etc.) was completed in one year from June 2011 to May 2012. About 3300 Tons of mechanical equipment and electrical equipment was also erected.

The 21 km conveyor system passes through several densely populated villages. There was scarcity of water (a significant hurdle for civil construction) and only a single ?kutcha? road running along the route of the conveyor system, which made movement of men and material very difficult. Macmet had to tread the tightrope of handling disgruntled local populace and completing the work within schedule. Land disputes were settled by our interaction with the local villagers and the help of Heidelberg Cement and local Administration Officials.

We gained the confidence of the local people through regular interactions and by conducting social work such as education, provision of drinking water, renovation of places of worship, etc.. Macmet also educated local labour to work in line with safety protocols. We are proud to say that the work was completed without any major mishap and Macmet was awarded the Certificate for conducting work safely. Erection was completed in December 2012 and operation of the 21 km OBLC for Heidelberg Cement commenced in January 2013. Macmet has also been awarded the maintenance contract for the system. The 21 km Overland Belt Conveyor System supplied by Macmet to Heidelberg Cement at Damoh continues to perform satisfactorily since commencement of its operation in 2013. Macmet also has been awarded job for maintenance of the conveyor.

Macmet, an ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004, OHSAS 18001:2007 certified company, supplies Bulk Material Handling systems and Intake Screening equipment to Cement, Power, Steel and Mining companies in India and abroad.

Macmet is a leading supplier of Troughed Overland Belt Conveyors and Pipe Conveyors in India. Pipe Conveyors provide an environmental friendly solution for conveying bulk material with zero spillage. Macmet has the maximum number of references for Pipe Conveyors in India. Macmet has supplied Asia?s longest Pipe Conveyor (7 km) to Jindal Power Plant at Raigarh. We have also supplied one of the world?s highest capacity, fastest Pipe Conveyors to Gayatri Projects Ltd. for carrying coal between port and Plant End of TPCIL?s 4 x 660 MW Thermal Power Plant of TPCIL at Krishnapatnam, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh.

Macmet also manufactures screening equipment to remove debris, weeds, branches, grass, fish, etc. from water sourced from rivers, lakes and oceans by Power Plants. Macmet has commissioned India?s largest intake system for Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd. and the country?s second largest intake system for Nuclear Power Corporation of India at Tarapur. Intake screening equipment manufactured by Macmet is in operation in over 15 countries worldwide.

Macmet has modern engineering & manufacturing facilities and a firm commitment to quality assurance and customer satisfaction. The company is headquartered in Kolkata with engineering offices at Kolkata, New Delhi and Bangalore. The manufacturing works are located at Kolkata.

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Concrete

FORNNAX Appoints Dieter Jerschl as Sales Partner for Central Europe

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FORNNAX TECHNOLOGY has appointed industry veteran Dieter Jerschl as its new sales partner in Germany to strengthen its presence across Central Europe. The partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of FORNNAX’s high-capacity, sustainable recycling solutions while building long-term regional capabilities.

FORNNAX TECHNOLOGY, one of the leading advanced recycling equipment manufacturers, has announced the appointment of a new sales partner in Germany as part of its strategic expansion into Central Europe. The company has entered into a collaborative agreement with Mr. Dieter Jerschl, a seasoned industry professional with over 20 years of experience in the shredding and recycling sector, to represent and promote FORNNAX’s solutions across key European markets.

Mr. Jerschl brings extensive expertise from his work with renowned companies such as BHS, Eldan, Vecoplan, and others. Over the course of his career, he has successfully led the deployment of both single machines and complete turnkey installations for a wide range of applications, including tyre recycling, cable recycling, municipal solid waste, e-waste, and industrial waste processing.

Speaking about the partnership, Mr. Jerschl said,
“I’ve known FORNNAX for over a decade and have followed their growth closely. What attracted me to this collaboration is their state-of-the-art & high-capacity technology, it is powerful, sustainable, and economically viable. There is great potential to introduce FORNNAX’s innovative systems to more markets across Europe, and I am excited to be part of that journey.”

The partnership will primarily focus on Central Europe, including Germany, Austria, and neighbouring countries, with the flexibility to extend the geographical scope based on project requirements and mutual agreement. The collaboration is structured to evolve over time, with performance-driven expansion and ongoing strategic discussions with FORNNAX’s management. The immediate priority is to build a strong project pipeline and enhance FORNNAX’s brand presence across the region.

FORNNAX’s portfolio of high-performance shredding and pre-processing solutions is well aligned with Europe’s growing demand for sustainable and efficient waste treatment technologies. By partnering with Mr. Jerschl—who brings deep market insight and established industry relationships—FORNNAX aims to accelerate adoption of its solutions and participate in upcoming recycling projects across the region.

As part of the partnership, Mr. Jerschl will also deliver value-added services, including equipment installation, maintenance, and spare parts support through a dedicated technical team. This local service capability is expected to ensure faster project execution, minimise downtime, and enhance overall customer experience.

Commenting on the long-term vision, Mr. Jerschl added,
“We are committed to increasing market awareness and establishing new reference projects across the region. My goal is not only to generate business but to lay the foundation for long-term growth. Ideally, we aim to establish a dedicated FORNNAX legal entity or operational site in Germany over the next five to ten years.”

For FORNNAX, this partnership aligns closely with its global strategy of expanding into key markets through strong regional representation. The company believes that local partnerships are critical for navigating complex market dynamics and delivering solutions tailored to region-specific waste management challenges.

“We see tremendous potential in the Central European market,” said Mr. Jignesh Kundaria, Director and CEO of FORNNAX.
“Partnering with someone as experienced and well-established as Mr. Jerschl gives us a strong foothold and allows us to better serve our customers. This marks a major milestone in our efforts to promote reliable, efficient and future-ready recycling solutions globally,” he added.

This collaboration further strengthens FORNNAX’s commitment to environmental stewardship, innovation, and sustainable waste management, supporting the transition toward a greener and more circular future.

 

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Budget 2026–27 infra thrust and CCUS outlay to lift cement sector outlook

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Higher capex, city-led growth and CCUS funding improve demand visibility and decarbonisation prospects for cement

Mumbai

Cement manufacturers have welcomed the Union Budget 2026–27’s strong infrastructure thrust, with public capital expenditure increased to Rs 12.2 trillion, saying it reinforces infrastructure as the central engine of economic growth and strengthens medium-term prospects for the cement sector. In a statement, the Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) has welcomed the Union budget 2026-27 for reinforcing the ambitions for the nation’s growth balancing the aspirations of the people through inclusivity inspired by the vision of Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, for a Viksit Bharat by 2047 and Atmanirbharta.

The budget underscores India’s steady economic trajectory over the past 12 years, marked by fiscal discipline, sustained growth and moderate inflation, and offers strong demand visibility for infrastructure linked sectors such as cement.

The Budget’s strong infrastructure push, with public capital expenditure rising from Rs 11.2 trillion in fiscal year 2025–26 to Rs 12.2 trillion in fiscal year 2026–27, recognises infrastructure as the primary anchor for economic growth creating positive prospects for the Indian cement industry and improving long term visibility for the cement sector. The emphasis on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with populations above 5 lakh and the creation of City Economic Regions (CERs) with an allocation of Rs 50 billion per CER over five years, should accelerate construction activity across housing, transport and urban services, supporting broad based cement consumption.

Logistics and connectivity measures announced in the budget are particularly significant for the cement industry. The announcement of new dedicated freight corridors, the operationalisation of 20 additional National Waterways over the next five years, the launch of the Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme to raise the modal share of waterways and coastal shipping from 6 per cent to 12 per cent by 2047, and the development of ship repair ecosystems should enhance multimodal freight efficiency, reduce logistics costs and improve the sector’s carbon footprint. The announcement of seven high speed rail corridors as growth corridors can be expected to further stimulate regional development and construction demand.

Commenting on the budget, Parth Jindal, President, Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA), said, “As India advances towards a Viksit Bharat, the three kartavya articulated in the Union Budget provide a clear context for the Nation’s growth and aspirations, combining economic momentum with capacity building and inclusive progress. The Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) appreciates the Union Budget 2026-27 for the continued emphasis on manufacturing competitiveness, urban development and infrastructure modernisation, supported by over 350 reforms spanning GST simplification, labour codes, quality control rationalisation and coordinated deregulation with States. These reforms, alongside the Budget’s focus on Youth Power and domestic manufacturing capacity under Atmanirbharta, stand to strengthen the investment environment for capital intensive sectors such as Cement. The Union Budget 2026-27 reflects the Government’s focus on infrastructure led development emerging as a structural pillar of India’s growth strategy.”

He added, “The Rs 200 billion CCUS outlay for various sectors, including Cement, fundamentally alters the decarbonisation landscape for India’s emissions intensive industries. CCUS is a significant enabler for large scale decarbonisation of industries such as Cement and this intervention directly addresses the technology and cost requirements of the Cement sector in context. The Cement Industry, fully aligned with the Government of India’s Net Zero commitment by 2070, views this support as critical to enabling the adoption and scale up of CCUS technologies while continuing to meet the Country’s long term infrastructure needs.”

Dr Raghavpat Singhania, Vice President, CMA, said, “The government’s sustained infrastructure push supports employment, regional development and stronger local supply chains. Cement manufacturing clusters act as economic anchors across regions, generating livelihoods in construction, logistics and allied sectors. The budget’s focus on inclusive growth, execution and system level enablers creates a supportive environment for responsible and efficient expansion offering opportunities for economic growth and lending momentum to the cement sector. The increase in public capex to Rs 12.2 trillion, the focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, and the creation of City Economic Regions stand to strengthen the growth of the cement sector. We welcome the budget’s emphasis on tourism, cultural and social infrastructure, which should broaden construction activity across regions. Investments in tourism facilities, heritage and Buddhist circuits, regional connectivity in Purvodaya and North Eastern States, and the strengthening of emergency and trauma care infrastructure in district hospitals reinforce the cement sector’s role in enabling inclusive growth.”

CMA also noted the Government’s continued commitment to fiscal discipline, with the fiscal deficit estimated at 4.3 per cent of GDP in FY27, reinforcing macroeconomic stability and investor confidence.

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Concrete

Steel: Shielded or Strengthened?

CW explores the impact of pro-steel policies on construction and infrastructure and identifies gaps that need to be addressed.

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Going forward, domestic steel mills are targeting capacity expansion
of nearly 40 per cent through till FY31, adding 80-85 mt, translating
into an investment pipeline of $ 45-50 billion. So, Jhunjhunwala points
out that continuing the safeguard duty will be vital to prevent a surge
in imports and protect domestic prices from external shocks. While in
FY26, the industry operating profit per tonne is expected to hold at
around $ 108, similar to last year, the industry’s earnings must
meaningfully improve from hereon to sustain large-scale investments.
Else, domestic mills could experience a significant spike in industry
leverage levels over the medium term, increasing their vulnerability to
external macroeconomic shocks.(~$ 60/tonne) over the past one month,
compressing the import parity discount to ~$ 23-25/tonne from previous
highs of ~$ 70-90/tonne, adds Jhunjhunwala. With this, he says, “the
industry can expect high resistance to further steel price increases.”

Domestic HRC prices have increased by ~Rs 5,000/tonne
“Aggressive
capacity additions (~15 mt commissioned in FY25, with 5 mt more by
FY26) have created a supply overhang, temporarily outpacing demand
growth of ~11-12 mt,” he says…

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