Economy & Market

Local equipment makers could do with govt boost

Published

9 years ago

December 31, 2017

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Rakesh Sharma, Director, AMCL Machinery Ltd

Rajesh Pathak, Director, Sales & Operations, Raymond Bartlett Snow

Do you foresee any paradigm shift?
Rakesh Sharma (RS): As far as the Indian cement industry is concerned, it proactively factored in the advancements in technology a decade ago. That’s why plants with 10,000 tonne per day capacity continue to operate with the same number of personnel as earlier. However, NOx, SOx and carbon dioxide emissions might pose a challenge and cement plants, and the industry is trying to cope up with that. This provides an opportunity to Indian equipment manufacturers to work out cost-effective emission control technologies. Apart from that, the industry is continuously striving to reduce consumption of power and fuel. Equipment manufacturers like us are undertaking retrofit jobs to not only reduce power and fuel consumption but also release of polluting elements.

Rajesh Pathak (RP): I would say that there is no paradigm shift per se. No major capacity expansion took place in the cement segment after 2008. But with the government impetus to infrastructure projects from 2014, most cement, power and steel plants are again expanding capacity. I, therefore, don’t see any threat in terms of redundancies. But I do agree that there is a need for pollution control norms. For example, in the cement sector, wherein there is an application of coal grinding mills, most cement plants use pet coke as it’s cheaper. A recent Supreme Court judgment has asked states and union territories to consider banning the fuel. Avoiding pet coke is certainly going to help in reducing emission levels, but it is also going to put pressure on pockets of cement manufacturers.

So, what’s your outlook for the Indian cement business?
RS: I am very positive. Although things might not look very bright for equipment manufacturers at the moment, but growth is certain going forward. Today, we are talking about 7 per cent growth, but it’s my guess that in the next 3-4 years it might touch 9 per cent. Normally cement consumption is one-and-a-half times GDP growth. The earlier high was around 8 per cent. Once the economy picks up pace, this might exceed 10 per cent! And, most definitely, by 2030 the per capita consumption of cement would reach 400 kg, which will help double the capacity of cement plants. RP: The cement industry will register further growth. If you look at the outlook for the next five years, there is a lot of talk about slag cement. This waste material from steel plants can be used for cement application. The talk is now about Portland Slag Cement (PSC). I also agree with Mr. Sharma’s view on cement equipment manufacturers. They face a major challenge from their Chinese counterparts. Therefore, when we talk about ‘Make in India’, all equipment suppliers should have terms in their contract to either manufacturing or source only India-made equipment. This will ensure that local suppliers also get a chance to grow. The government could also mull levying extra import duty on equipment that are outsourced from countries like China and South Korea.

What can be done at the government level?
RS: Unlike Chinese equipment manufacturers, where there is always a question mark on product quality, Indian manufacturers enjoy a favourable reputation. Leading global players like FLSmidth, KHD Humboldt Wedag and others have set up bases here, and are doing quite a bit of engineering and local sourcing. India will definitely acquire an edge over competition over the next few years and might become an exporter of machinery to countries that prefer quality. It’s like in the automobiles industry, where we are today reckoned an important exporter of automotive components and automobiles.

RP: India is presently the second largest producer of cement in the world. Since we are now talking about smart cities, dedicated freight corridors and new roads & highways, there is undoubtedly good potential for the growth of the sector. In the Indian Subcontinent, we have favourable business treaties with countries like Nepal and Bhutan, and the government can incentivise Indian companies to set-up cement plants there. This would help expand the industry’s footprint overseas.

Concrete

Fornnax Wins AIRIA’s Special Export Award for Rubber Machinery in 2025-26

Published

1 day ago

October 19, 2026

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Fornnax Technology Pvt. Ltd. has been honoured with the Special Export Award – Rubber Machinery for 2025–26 by the All-India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA), in recognition of its highest exports of tyre recycling plants to the European region.

With more than a decade of experience in India’s tyre recycling industry, Fornnax has contributed to the development of advanced recycling technologies and infrastructure. The company currently holds a 90% market share in India’s domestic tyre recycling sector, while exports account for 30% of its business, spanning markets such as Europe, Australia and the GCC.

The award marks another milestone for Fornnax, whose tyre recycling lines and advanced shredding technologies are supporting the growth of the circular economy in India and international markets.

Commenting on the recognition, Mr. Jignesh Kundaria, Founder and Director of Fornnax, said:

“This honour from AIRIA is a reflection of an incredible journey we have undertaken over the years. When we started Fornnax, there was no established recycling industry in India to follow. We chose to build for the future instead. Today, when you see India’s tyre recycling sector, it has already transformed into a dynamic, high-growth industry and we are extremely proud to have played our part in building it.”

Unlike standalone equipment suppliers, Fornnax focuses on developing complete, high-capacity recycling infrastructure. Its integrated systems combine multiple stages of shredding and size reduction to enable efficient, continuous operations. This system-level engineering approach helps recycling operators improve throughput, equipment reliability and operational consistency.

The recognition reinforces Fornnax’s commitment to developing engineering technologies that contribute to a more efficient and circular recycling ecosystem.

Looking ahead, the company aims to expand its international presence while continuing to develop advanced shredding and recycling solutions to address the growing volumes and evolving requirements of the global recycling industry.

For more information, visit: www.fornnax.com

Concrete

Wonder Cement appoints Mahesh Singh as VP Corporate Brand Communication

Published

2 weeks ago

October 9, 2026

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Singh brings 20+ years of brand and marketing experience, and will lead integrated corporate brand communication initiatives at Wonder Cement

New Delhi

Wonder Cement, a leading cement manufacturer, has appointed Mahesh Singh as Vice President – Corporate Brand Communication. In his new role, he will oversee corporate brand strategy and communication, including digital and performance marketing, public relations, trade, events, exhibitions, sports and experiential marketing.

Singh brings over two decades of experience across marketing and communications, with roles spanning the automotive industry, agencies and entrepreneurship. He spent more than a decade with Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, working across integrated communication, media, digital, retail and consumer engagement. His stint also included helping build the company’s digital marketing capabilities.

He moved to dentsu X India as Vice President – Strategy & Planning, working across categories such as automotive, auto components, electric vehicles, FMCG, consumer electronics, BFSI, apparel and brand consulting. His responsibilities included media and marketing strategy, product launches, content, performance marketing and consumer activations.

Singh subsequently took an entrepreneurial route with Radiant Brands before joining Shriram Ltd (SPR Autotech) as Head – Marketing & Communications. There, his remit included brand and corporate strategy, communications, PR and ORM, retail identity, loyalty programmes and events.

At Wonder Cement, Singh will be responsible for bringing together the company’s corporate brand communication initiatives across digital, performance marketing, PR, trade, sports and experiential platforms. The role will focus on creating an integrated approach to communication across consumers, trade partners and other key stakeholders.

The appointment brings to Wonder Cement a marketer whose career has spanned the brand, agency and entrepreneurial sides of the communications ecosystem.

Wonder Cement, part of the RK Group, is a cement manufacturer with roots in Rajasthan and a focus on quality, trust and transparency. The company has grown to six manufacturing plants, and a cement capacity of 21.5 MTPA. With more than 2,000 employees and a network of over 5,000 dealers, its operations span manufacturing, distribution and customer engagement, with a focus on consistent product quality and efficient execution.

Concrete

JSW Cement commissions additional 1 MTPA grinding unit at Nagaur

Published

2 weeks ago

October 8, 2026

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With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA,
Mumbai

JSW Cement, one of India’s leading green cement producers and part of the diversified JSW Group, today announced the successful commissioning of an additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit at Nagaur, Rajasthan. The commissioning marks another significant milestone in the Company’s growth strategy.

With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA, while its total clinker manufacturing capacity, including clinker capacity at its joint venture, JSW Cement FZC, stands at 9.74 MTPA.

JSW Cement had commenced operations in North India in March 2026 with the Nagaur Integrated Plant, comprising a 3.30 MTPA clinkerisation unit and 2.50 MTPA cement grinding unit. With the commissioning of the additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit, the plant’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 3.50 MTPA, enhancing the company’s ability to cater to the growing cement demand across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the National Capital Region (NCR). The expansion has been funded through a strategic mix of equity and long-term debt.

During the quarter ended 30th September 2026, JSW Cement has also commissioned the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) at the Nagaur Integrated Plant.

Nilesh Narwekar, CEO, JSW Cement, said: “The commissioning of additional 1.00 MTPA grinding capacity at Nagaur is a key strategic priority for us and will accelerate JSW Cement’s expansion into North India. We look forward to servicing the growing needs of the region and contributing to the economic growth of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the NCR area. I am delighted to share that the company has commissioned this grinding unit within the expected timeline, showcasing our project execution capabilities. Further, the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) are expected to substantially reduce our production costs going forward.”