Economy & Market

Bulking up

Published

9 years ago

March 31, 2018

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More and more RMC players and project implementing agencies are opting for bulk deliveries against split bags to save on costs and to curtail wastage.
Bulk distribution of cement is slowly but steadily replacing the once ubiquitous cement bags, changing the composition of cement channel supply chains forever. Bulk cement is consumed by ready mix concrete (RMC) manufacturers and project implementing agencies across the country. However, bag cement is refusing to disappear from the scene. For other activities like plastering, brickwork etc., bag cement is required, besides catering to the rural demand, where a lot of consumers order lower quantities.

"About 75% of requirements of RMC manufacturers are supplied through bulk only. The trend is building up towards bulk as wastage is low and cost is competitive. It saves on the cost of bags and wastage is less than one per cent. In the next couple of years, the trend will continue towards bulk," says AK Bal, Director of Pune-based Viraj Projects Pvt Ltd, which deals in steels, sand, dyes, bricks and tiles, besides cement.
Earlier the concept was use of split bags for even medium and big projects. But the trend is changing for several reasons. "Now, everybody has installed silos and has a big RMC plantat the site, particularly in South Mumbai, where you can see new towers coming up. They go for RMC orders, practically due to space constraints. This is the reason bulk cement has moved there, and this trend will continue," says Nikesh Parekh of Mumbai-based Span Cements, which also deals in paints, construction chemicals and tile adhesives.
For urban supplies and infrastructure projects, bulk supplies are being preferred, so demand for bulk supplies is expected to rise, says Bal, citing the example of Odisha, where bulk cement supplies were almost absent a year ago and gaining prominence of late.
Cement bag go into retail shops, who supply it to small contractors. "With the entry of specialised products like ready-made plasters, tile adhesives, mortars, polymer mortars etc., bag cement in retail will slowly diminish in future. In other developed countries, you do not get loose bag cements." Independent dealers
Few producers sell their goods directly to the final users. But, most use intermediaries to bring their products to market. The latter involves forging marketing channels, which can be described as a set of interdependent organizations that help make a product or service available for use or consumption by the consumer. Hence a company’s channel decisions will have a direct bearing on its marketing success.
There is an apprehension that some independent marketing players could takeover the building material channel operations wholesale in the days to come. There are already a couple of start-ups which are doing this in building materials. Nitin Vyas, Managing Director, Beumer Group says, "I believe that the next step for it would be having a platform for all cement-related industries to become an Uber (online call taxi service) of cement distribution. In the end, the cement producers would be containers, but the interface to the market would be the service companies who are reaching the material to the end customers. And that can’t be stopped."
Even some of the dealers have started guarding against this impending trend though it is not widely prevalent as of now. Span Cements has already started taking orders online from their customers. However, if online orders are accepted by any firm then they may seek payment in advance.
But for that there is no big change in the cement channels. The dealers opt for multiple dealerships for cement, so that they cannot disappoint any customer seeking a particular brand. Single dealerships are a rarity. Dealer-based
Cement is a pure commodity. Most of the cement manufacturers still deal with customers through distributors or dealers. "Though the companies are maintaining accounts of some key customers, the supplies are routed through dealers and distributors. Companies never supply cement directly to anybody. They want to encourage distributors also for insuring their receivables. The companies want to get their payment on time, so dealer will be in between to take care of payments," says Bal of Viraj.
"We have virtually become insurance agent for our principal (manufacturer for their receivables) than a marketing agent, and financier for our customer," Parekh says while explaining the role of cement dealers in the supply chain. For steel sector it is different – there customer pay interest for delayed payment. In steel, direct supply system from manufacturers is still prevalent. As far as sand goes, they have to make the spot payment, because natural sand is a very scarce commodity today. Whatever available is manufactured sand.
Comparing the channels between cement and steel, Bal says, "Another difference is cement has to be consumed within three months from the date of manufacture, hence some dealers push it through credit. That is not the case with steel, which can be stored for a couple of years without erosion in quality, if properly stored."
There is a general consensus among the dealers ICR has contacted about the upward trend in cement prices in the coming months, mostly banking on the pre-election infrastructure boost that will take place in the next 12 months before general elections scheduled for May 2019.
Bal of Viraj is expecting the cement prices to go up to Rs 270 plus GST per bag in the next two quarters from the present level of 230 plus GST in Pune. Even builders are trying to complete their projects at the earliest to cash in on their land banks. The reason is that earlier the building prices were going up rapidly giving hope that the builders can make more money if the project is delayed. Now, there is no such hope. "Now the rise in building/floor price is only 4-5 per cent a year, which is not sustainable if the project is delayed as it does not even cover the incremental interest cost incurred. Besides, input prices are moving up," Bal added.
If there is any hindrance to cement demand growth that is ‘availability of finance’, particularly in the wake of the government swooping down on defaulting companies and bad loans. "Financing has become tight everywhere. We (as dealers) have a certain capacity and I cannot go beyond that or else I will also fall. If any builder calls me and tells me that I can only pay you only a couple of weeks later, I will have to accept it. Otherwise they will stop taking my supplies. As far as payments to companies are concerned, we work on one principle – RTGS in 48 hours."– BS Srinivasalu Reddy

Economy & Market

Leonard Unveils Dual-Head Robotic Arm for Hazardous Industrial Demolition

Published

1 day ago

October 30, 2026

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Leonard unveils Descender Duo, a dual-head robotic demolition arm designed to improve industrial safety and reduce shutdown time by up to 50 per cent.

Industrial robotics and refractory services specialist Leonard has launched Descender Duo, a dual-head robotic demolition arm designed to improve safety, accelerate maintenance and reduce shutdown times in hazardous industrial environments. The system made its debut at Lisahally Power Station in Northern Ireland, removing 25 tonnes of slag material within hours.

Developed for the cement, metals, waste-to-energy and petrochemical industries, Descender Duo enables remote-controlled refractory demolition, anchor cutting and welding, and refractory spraying inside boilers, calciners and silos. Its vertical-access design eliminates the need for personnel to enter confined, high-risk spaces during these operations.

Weighing less than two tonnes, the pre-assembled system requires an access opening of just 1.2 m². Supported by an external overhead hoist, it uses electrically operated hydraulic stabilising legs to secure itself inside vessels. The robotic arm offers 360-degree rotation and is suited to vessels approximately 9 m in diameter, with its operating reach extendable through strategically positioned access points.

Equipped with two independently controlled robotic heads, Descender Duo can perform identical or different tasks simultaneously, including refractory demolition, anchor cutting and spraying. Its remote-control system incorporates live camera feeds, allowing operators to monitor operations without entering hazardous environments.

According to Leonard, the technology can deliver time savings of up to 50 per cent compared with manual methods. Its ability to operate at temperatures exceeding 100°C allows maintenance to begin as early as 24 hours after burner shutdown. An all-electric power supply further supports cleaner and more cost-efficient operations.

First Deployment Demonstrates Shutdown Efficiency

The system was first deployed at Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor’s (BWSC) Lisahally Power Station in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The facility generates electricity from grade C waste wood, supplying approximately 40,000 homes and businesses.

Leonard and BWSC collaborated to develop a customised solution for the plant’s 26-metre furnace, where extensive external pipework created significant access challenges.

Mark Leonard, Managing Director, Leonard, said, “It required new thinking and rather than step away from the problem we were committed to solving it for the customer, with the customer. We’re relentless in our approach to tackling complex challenges, head-on. We took our years of cement plant experience, coupled with our working knowledge of the BWSC plant, and designed, engineered and tested a completely new vertical solution within just seven weeks from that initial conversation with the customer. That solution was the Descender Duo as we know it today.”

Traditionally, the furnace required a cooling period of up to 36 hours before preparatory work could begin, followed by manual slag removal using rope-access personnel. With Descender Duo, work commenced just 24 hours after shutdown, reducing downtime by up to one day.

The deployment removed 25 tonnes of slag within hours, eliminated the need for at least six workers to enter the hazardous furnace interior and saved 26 hours in the shutdown programme.

“The effectiveness exceeded expectation,” said Martin Doran, Plant Manager at Lisahally Power Station.

“When the Descender Duo concept was first discussed, we had to spend some time with the team from Leonard looking at how it was going to be moved into the furnace. Every site is different and that presented its own challenges, but nothing that the team couldn’t overcome. Once it was installed we were hugely impressed by its efficiency.”

Expanding Industrial Robotics Applications

Descender Duo joins Leonard’s existing portfolio of robotic maintenance solutions, including the Axis horizontal-access arm, Nano confined-space access arm, Charger cement mill media recharging system and Calibre cement mill media grading system.

Headquartered in Northern Ireland, Leonard provides robotic refractory demolition, installation, inspection and industrial maintenance services across the cement, metals, energy, biomass, glass and civil engineering sectors.

Formerly known as G Leonard, the company has more than 35 years of industry experience and operates across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

The latest innovation reinforces Leonard’s focus on replacing hazardous manual processes with robotic systems that improve workforce safety, enhance operational efficiency and minimise industrial downtime.

Concrete

Martin Engineering Appoints Ashwini Khunte as India General Manager

Published

2 days ago

October 30, 2026

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Martin Engineering names Ashwini Khunte India General Manager to strengthen operations and drive growth across key bulk material handling sectors.

Pune

Martin Engineering, a global provider of bulk material handling solutions, has appointed Ashwini Khunte as General Manager of its India business, strengthening its leadership as the company expands its presence across the country’s cement, mining, steel, power and infrastructure sectors.

Khunte brings more than a decade of experience with Martin Engineering, having joined its Indian operations in 2013 as a Design Engineer, shortly after the company established its presence in the country in 2012.

A mechanical engineer by qualification, she spent her initial five years developing bulk material handling solutions in collaboration with the company’s operations team. During this period, she gained extensive experience addressing operational challenges in the steel, cement and coal industries. She subsequently moved into project engineering, managing major engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) projects from initial enquiry to commissioning. Her responsibilities later expanded to overseeing Martin Engineering’s conveyor product portfolio in India, involving customer engagement, technical presentations and site visits across heavy industries.

In 2024, Khunte was promoted to Head of Sales & Marketing for the company’s Europe, Middle East, Africa and India (EMEAI) region. The position broadened her international market exposure and strengthened her strategic and commercial leadership capabilities.

Commenting on her appointment, Ashwini Khunte, General Manager, Martin Engineering India, said: “India represents a tremendous opportunity for Martin Engineering. The country’s continued investment in cement, mining, steel, power and infrastructure is creating increasing demand for safer, cleaner and more productive bulk material handling, and that’s exactly what we do. My priority will be to build on the strong foundations already established in India, while continuing to develop our people, strengthen customer relationships and bring practical solutions to the challenges faced by our industry.”

Robert Whetstone, Area Vice President – EMEAI, Martin Engineering, highlighted Khunte’s technical expertise, market understanding and leadership experience.

“Ashwini brings an exceptional combination of technical understanding, customer knowledge and commercial leadership. She has grown as Martin Engineering has grown, and has consistently demonstrated outstanding capability to transform her expertise into practical solutions. Her knowledge of the Indian market, together with her international experience, makes her ideally suited to lead our India business through its next stage of growth for years to come.”

Since establishing its Indian business in 2012, Martin Engineering has expanded its local workforce, manufacturing capabilities and dealership network. The company supplies conveyor products, transfer point solutions, material flow aids, training and technical support to bulk material handling industries. Khunte’s appointment positions the company to further strengthen customer relationships and expand its solutions portfolio in India’s growing industrial and infrastructure markets.

Concrete

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

Published

2 weeks 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