Environment

Equipment India Awards & CEO Forum 2017

Published

8 years ago

April 30, 2017

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Outstanding performers from India’s infrastructure equipment sector were honoured at the 4th Annual Equipment India Awards and CEO Forum, held in New Delhi on April 21, 2017.

It was 6.15 p.m. with 15 minutes more to go for the mega event of the infrastructure equipment industry. Meanwhile, the Viceroy Hall at the heritage Claridges Hotel located in New Delhi’s famed Lutyen’s Zone was already filled to capacity.

World over the national capital is renowned for its leisurely professional culture. However, the excited buzz at the venue made the Friday evening appear like any other normal working day in some business districts in the country. In fact, the who’s who of the country’s infrastructure equipment sector had started arriving nearly an hour before the fourth edition of the prestigious Equipment India Annual Awards and CEO Forum 2017 was to get underway. A few from outside the city, even arrived with their trolley bags directly from the airport!

The world’s 17th biggest tyre manufacturer by revenue, Apollo Tyres was the event sponsor, while the apex organisation of all contractors and builders of India’s national and state highways and bridges, the National Highway Builders Federation was the associate partner. Other than EQUIPMENT INDIA, ASAPP Info Global Group’ flagship publication, CONSTRUCTION WORLD was the magazine partner for the event.

Opportunity in a challenge
Although a hush descended over the assembly once the ceremony kicked-off with lighting of the ceremonial lamp, the general excitement could barely be suppressed. Pratap Padode, Managing Director, ASAPP Info Global Group (publishers of EQUIPMENT INDIA), set the tone for the evening with the words, "This event is possibly right in the beginning of the season for the construction equipment industry. Credit must be given to the government for having advanced the (Union) Budget by a month to ensure that money reaches the right places for spending at the right time, as the monsoon otherwise washes away most spending. Hopefully, this time around everyone has already managed to pre-empt that."

Reiterating his belief in the India growth story, he remarked, "Public spending is the critical element that is holding the economy up currently. Everything is going to come together once the private sector too decides to join the bandwagon."

EQUIPMENT INDIA was launched in 2008; a few months earlier, the US subprime mortgage crisis blew up on everyone’s face to send the global economy into an extended tailspin. Yet, a McKinsey & Company report released around the same time had predicted good tidings for India’s infrastructure equipment sector in the years to come. It was in this atmosphere of great uncertainty that the first issue of the magazine, which has today come to occupy a pre-eminent place in its segment, was unveiled in Bengaluru.

It is perhaps memory of that experience that led the ASAPP founder to add, "We have seen a strong economic upcycle and a strong economic downcycle. In that sense, this industry has matured pretty well. And we have set-off on a cycle of growth, where infrastructure is also going to support and supplement it."

In its nine years of existence, EQUIPMENT INDIA has successfully explored various segments within the whole value chain of the industry, be it dealership at one end and technology at the other.

Members of the jury who were present on the occasion were called on to the stage to release the 9th Anniversary Edition of EQUIPMENT INDIA, which is also much sought after by the industry as a collector’s item.

Is the Government doing enough?
The unveiling of Anniversary Edition was followed by the CEO Forum that was appropriately titled, ‘Is government’s infrastructure plan enough to build economic momentum?’ The session was chaired by Dr S Vasudevan, Director, Aerospace & Defence, KPMG.

Speaking on the occasion, Vasudevan said, "The question has not lost its relevance. Ten years ago, we were asking the same thing. And we still remain one of the fastest-growing economies in the world." He observed that going by the macro-economic indicators, India seems to be getting things right at a time when rest of the world are struggling with its own share of problems. Simultaneously, there are certain alarming trends globally such as protectionism. Also, there was now a need to bridge the so-called ‘infrastructure deficit’ in the country.

KK Kapila, Chairman, International Road Federation, asked if India was offering the right ease-of-doing business by addressing some of the long-pending issues such as service tax. "GST is excellent, how about the point of taxation? Now the Government expects you to pay within 30 days of raising an invoice, irrespective of whether you have received the payment or not," he said. He also touched upon the issue of skills gap.

RK Pandey, Member (Projects) of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), said, "Last year we made around 8,100 plus km of roads, which translates into around 20 km daily. And not only that, we have awarded 16,000 km of new roads. If we continue at this pace, we will have more than 40 km a day of road construction daily." When work started on the National Highways Development Project (NHDP), it was believed that construction of four-lane highways would be the benchmark. "Today we are faced with the problem of road safety. So, infrastructure that was thought to be of the right quality 10 years ago, is not the right quality today. We have to now think in terms of futuristic development," he added.

The Indian Railways continues to be on the forefront when it comes to investing in infrastructure development. GVL Satyakumar, Executive Director-Perspective and Planning, Railway Board, informed that the organisation intended to spend around Rs 8.5 lakh crore over the next five years. "If you look at the parameters in terms of delivery, it shows quantum leaps in terms of new lines, doubling, gauge conversion and electrification. From the previous 1,100 km per year, we have gone over 2,100 km in electrification this terminal year. Similarly, on new lines and guage conversion, we have clocked over 900 km this year as compared to the 600-km average earlier," he added. The Indian Railways also expects to double its freight carriage from the present 1,105 million tonne by 2021-22 annually. Satyakumar, however, pointed out that lack of skilled manpower and right building materials were posing a challenging.

Ranjit Manjarekar, Vice President – Asset Management, Tata Projects, pointed out that the laying of railway tracks could easily be increased from the present 600 m per day to 3 km per day. "We have the equipment and capability to achieve that speed." As someone who has been associated with the construction equipment industry for a very long time, he urged development of sustainable business models so that everyone from the financer to engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor to manufacturer benefit equally.

Ramesh Palagri, Managing Director and CEO, Wirtgen India, commended the government agencies on encouraging use of new technologies and materials. He also added that with increasing number of EPC being awarded in road and highway sector, it was imperative to monitor the quality of construction to ascertain whether it was truly value for money.

Anand Sundaresan, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Schwing Stetter India, informed that the Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (ICEMA) had started the Infrastructure Equipment Skill Council (IESC) in conjunction with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). However, IESC is unable to enhance the skills of people that it trains since the government’s tendering process fails to identify the appropriate certifying agency. Sundaresan also said that although the Supreme Court order on BS-IV vehicles did not include construction equipment vehicles, not a single unit in the category had been registered in the past many days for lack of clarification. "When an order is issued, it’s interpretation is left to the officers," he said.

However, it wasn’t long before an insight shared by Satish Sharma, President Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Apollo Tyres, [once again] cheered up the assembly hall. From 2010 to 2015, Apollo’s tyre plants were running at just 40 per cent of their total capacity. "Today, not only are our plants running to their full capacity, but we have advanced our expansion plans from 2020." Sharma further said that though most of the capacity had been created with the export market in mind, a steady rise in domestic demand is clearly noticeable.

Speaking of the hesitation on part the private sector to participate in infrastructure financing, Rajiv Mukhija, Chief General Manager, India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL), emphasised, "Private investment will come once we have a good concept of viable infrastructure projects are conceived in the country. It will wait till we correct balance sheets of various players that are already over leveraged. Private investment from international market would also need to be facilitated." He mentioned how the government had widened the list of infrastructure sectors to include affordable housing and sports infrastructure to the list.

The panelists used the opportunity to not only discuss various aspects related to the main theme, but also their specific business areas.

And the Award Goes to…
This fourth edition of the prestigious industry awards sought to honour leading equipment manu-facturers as well as bring together top manufacturers, CASH (Components, Accessories, Spares and Hardware) firms, dealers and financiers. The winners were chosen by an eminent jury panel.

Best-selling products spread over 12 categories were honoured along with ‘Equipment India Person of the Year Award’. Ammann Apollo India won the award for maximum sales in asphalt finishers, while JCB India walked away with the honours in backhoe loaders. In other categories, CASE India won the award for compaction equipment, BEML for crawler dozers and rigid dump trucks, Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery Co for crawler excavators and mini excavators, Atlas Copco for mobile compressors, Action Construction Equipment for mobile cranes, Caterpillar India for motor graders and wheel loaders, and Doosan Bobcat India for skid steer loaders.

P Prakash Pai, Partner, Puzzolana Machinery Fabricators (Hyd) LLC, was presented with the ‘Equipment India Person of the Year’ trophy.

By bringing together the various stakeholders in the construction equipment sector, the event also provided the participants a platform to both re-connect and network with each other. As curtains came down on the evening, a visibly elated senior executive working with a leading multinational involved in creating software solutions for the infrastructure sector was seen excitedly telling other guests, "Great show! I’m glad that I could make it."

– Manish Pant

The Jury

Ahamed Mohideen, Dy Vice President, Plant & Equipment, Lodha Group
Anand Singh, CEO, MHE Rentals
DK Vyas, CEO, SREI Equipment Finance
Neerav Parmar, Vice President Contracts and Procurement, Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate
Nitin R Patel, Director, Sadbhav Engineering
Samir Bansal, General Manager India, Off-Highway Research
Samir Malhotra, CEO, Shriram Automall
Sanjeev Kathpalia, Senior Advisor, Prime Ministry, Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey
Santosh Parulekar, Co-Founder & CEO, Pipal Tree Ventures
SP Rajan, Head, Plant & Equipment, L&T Construction
Sudhir Hoshing, CEO, IRB Infrastructure Developers

Concrete

India donates 225t of cement for Myanmar earthquake relief

Published

1 month ago

June 17, 2025

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On 23 May 2025, the Indian Navy ship UMS Myitkyina arrived at Thilawa (MITT) port carrying 225 tonnes of cement provided by the Indian government to aid post-earthquake rebuilding efforts in Myanmar. As reported by the Global Light of Myanmar, a formal handover of 4500 50kg cement bags took place that afternoon. The Yangon Region authorities managed the loading of the cement onto trucks for distribution to the earthquake-affected zones.

Concrete

Reclamation of Used Oil for a Greener Future

Published

2 months ago

June 16, 2025

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In this insightful article, KB Mathur, Founder and Director, Global Technical Services, explores how reclaiming used lubricants through advanced filtration and on-site testing can drive cost savings, enhance productivity, and support a greener industrial future. Read on to discover how oil regeneration is revolutionising sustainability in cement and core industries.

The core principle of the circular economy is to redefine the life cycle of materials and products. Unlike traditional linear models where waste from industrial production is dumped/discarded into the environment causing immense harm to the environment;the circular model seeks to keep materials literally in continuous circulation. This is achievedthrough processes cycle of reduction, regeneration, validating (testing) and reuse. Product once
validated as fit, this model ensures that products and materials are reintroduced into the production system, minimising waste. The result? Cleaner and greener manufacturing that fosters a more sustainable planet for future generations.

The current landscape of lubricants
Modern lubricants, typically derived from refined hydrocarbons, made from highly refined petroleum base stocks from crude oil. These play a critical role in maintaining the performance of machinery by reducing friction, enabling smooth operation, preventing damage and wear. However, most of these lubricants; derived from finite petroleum resources pose an environmental challenge once used and disposed of. As industries become increasingly conscious of their environmental impact, the paramount importance or focus is shifting towards reducing the carbon footprint and maximising the lifespan of lubricants; not just for environmental reasons but also to optimise operational costs.
During operations, lubricants often lose their efficacy and performance due to contamination and depletion of additives. When these oils reach their rejection limits (as they will now offer poor or bad lubrication) determined through laboratory testing, they are typically discarded contributing to environmental contamination and pollution.
But here lies an opportunity: Used lubricants can be regenerated and recharged, restoring them to their original performance level. This not only mitigates environmental pollution but also supports a circular economy by reducing waste and conserving resources.

Circular economy in lubricants
In the world of industrial machinery, lubricating oils while essential; are often misunderstood in terms of their life cycle. When oils are used in machinery, they don’t simply ‘DIE’. Instead, they become contaminated with moisture (water) and solid contaminants like dust, dirt, and wear debris. These contaminants degrade the oil’s effectiveness but do not render it completely unusable. Used lubricants can be regenerated via advanced filtration processes/systems and recharged with the use of performance enhancing additives hence restoring them. These oils are brought back to ‘As-New’ levels. This new fresher lubricating oil is formulated to carry out its specific job providing heightened lubrication and reliable performance of the assets with a view of improved machine condition. Hence, contributing to not just cost savings but leading to magnified productivity, and diminished environmental stress.

Save oil, save environment
At Global Technical Services (GTS), we specialise in the regeneration of hydraulic oils and gear oils used in plant operations. While we don’t recommend the regeneration of engine oils due to the complexity of contaminants and additives, our process ensures the continued utility of oils in other applications, offering both cost-saving and environmental benefits.

Regeneration process
Our regeneration plant employs state-of-the-art advanced contamination removal systems including fine and depth filters designed to remove dirt, wear particles, sludge, varnish, and water. Once contaminants are removed, the oil undergoes comprehensive testing to assess its physico-chemical properties and contamination levels. The test results indicate the status of the regenerated oil as compared to the fresh oil.
Depending upon the status the oil is further supplemented with high performance additives to bring it back to the desired specifications, under the guidance of an experienced lubrication technologist.
Contamination Removal ? Testing ? Additive Addition
(to be determined after testing in oil test laboratory)

The steps involved in this process are as follows:
1. Contamination removal: Using advanced filtration techniques to remove contaminants.
2. Testing: Assessing the oil’s properties to determine if it meets the required performance standards.
3. Additive addition: Based on testing results, performance-enhancing additives are added to restore the oil’s original characteristics.

On-site oil testing laboratories
The used oil from the machine passes through 5th generation fine filtration to be reclaimed as ‘New Oil’ and fit to use as per stringent industry standards.
To effectively implement circular economy principles in oil reclamation from used oil, establishing an on-site oil testing laboratory is crucial at any large plants or sites. Scientific testing methods ensure that regenerated oil meets the specifications required for optimal machine performance, making it suitable for reuse as ‘New Oil’ (within specified tolerances). Hence, it can be reused safely by reintroducing it in the machines.
The key parameters to be tested for regenerated hydraulic, gear and transmission oils (except Engine oils) include both physical and chemical characteristics of the lubricant:

Kinematic Viscosity
Flash Point
Total Acid Number
Moisture / Water Content
Oil Cleanliness
Elemental Analysis (Particulates, Additives and Contaminants)
Insoluble

The presence of an on-site laboratory is essential for making quick decisions; ensuring that test reports are available within 36 to 48 hours and this prevents potential mechanical issues/ failures from arising due to poor lubrication. This symbiotic and cyclic process helps not only reduce waste and conserve oil, but also contributes in achieving cost savings and playing a big role in green economy.

Conclusion
The future of industrial operations depends on sustainability, and reclaiming used lubricating oils plays a critical role in this transformation. Through 5th Generation Filtration processes, lubricants can be regenerated and restored to their original levels, contributing to both environmental preservation and economic efficiency.
What would happen if we didn’t recycle our lubricants? Let’s review the quadruple impacts as mentioned below:
1. Oil Conservation and Environmental Impact: Used lubricating oils after usage are normally burnt or sold to a vendor which can be misused leading to pollution. Regenerating oils rather than discarding prevents unnecessary waste and reduces the environmental footprint of the industry. It helps save invaluable resources, aligning with the principles of sustainability and the circular economy. All lubricating oils (except engine oils) can be regenerated and brought to the level of ‘As New Oils’.
2. Cost Reduction Impact: By extending the life of lubricants, industries can significantly cut down on operating costs associated with frequent oil changes, leading to considerable savings over time. Lubricating oils are expensive and saving of lubricants by the process of regeneration will overall be a game changer and highly economical to the core industries.
3. Timely Decisions Impact: Having an oil testing laboratory at site is of prime importance for getting test reports within 36 to 48 hours enabling quick decisions in critical matters that may
lead to complete shutdown of the invaluable asset/equipment.
4. Green Economy Impact: Oil Regeneration is a fundamental part of the green economy. Supporting industries in their efforts to reduce waste, conserve resources, and minimise pollution is ‘The Need of Our Times’.

About the author:
KB Mathur, Founder & Director, Global Technical Services, is a seasoned mechanical engineer with 56 years of experience in India’s oil industry and industrial reliability. He pioneered ‘Total Lubrication Management’ and has been serving the mining and cement sectors since 1999.

Concrete

Charting the Green Path

Published

3 months ago

May 13, 2025

admin

The Indian cement industry has reached a critical juncture in its sustainability journey. In a landmark move, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has, for the first time, announced greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity reduction targets for 282 entities, including 186 cement plants, under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, 2023. These targets, to be enforced starting FY2025-26, are aligned with India’s overarching ambition of achieving net zero emissions by 2070.
Cement manufacturing is intrinsically carbon-intensive, contributing to around 7 per cent of global GHG emissions, or approximately 3.8 billion tonnes annually. In India, the sector is responsible for 6 per cent of total emissions, underscoring its critical role in national climate mitigation strategies. This regulatory push, though long overdue, marks a significant shift towards accountability and structured decarbonisation.
However, the path to a greener cement sector is fraught with challenges—economic viability, regulatory ambiguity, and technical limitations continue to hinder the widespread adoption of sustainable alternatives. A major gap lies in the lack of a clear, India-specific definition for ‘green cement’, which is essential to establish standards and drive industry-wide transformation.
Despite these hurdles, the industry holds immense potential to emerge as a climate champion. Studies estimate that through targeted decarbonisation strategies—ranging from clinker substitution and alternative fuels to carbon capture and innovative product development—the sector could reduce emissions by 400 to 500 million metric tonnes by 2030.
Collaborations between key stakeholders and industry-wide awareness initiatives (such as Earth Day) are already fostering momentum. The responsibility now lies with producers, regulators and technology providers to fast-track innovation and investment.
The time to act is now. A sustainable cement industry is not only possible—it is imperative.