Technology

The next-gen cement packing

Published

7 years ago

June 30, 2018

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Cement is a product that is consumed in large volumes next to only food grains. Therefore packaging of cement becomes extremely important. From the delivery of loose cement, it varies to costly paper bags or laminated polymer bags.

For the cement market, India has been a very different place and has its unique position on the world map. The retail market, which exists in India, is very different than the developed world. In the advanced countries, about 90 to 95 per cent of cement is sold loose in the form of bulk cement for the simple reason that concrete the end product is not produced at site, but it is a factory made product. Therefore it is B2B game. We hardly find cement bag being sold in supermarkets of Europe or US, whereas in India, bagged cement dominates the scene. Here, we have shops that only deal in cement or building materials for retail consumers.

ACC was the first company in the country that started supplying cement in bulk in the city of Mumbai the others soon followed after seeing the success. Another dimension to bulk cement is jumbo bags again for large consumption. The major consumers have been asbestos sheet manufacturers, spun pipe makers, electric pole manufacturers and railway sleeper producers. However, supply of cement in jumbo bags have limited market and is not growing much. We have a few companies that are presently supplying loose cement through bulkers or wagons to the users directly. The users are the large volume consumers where it makes sense for them to procure cement in loose form to save on costs and handling. The requirements of the end users of bulk cement are much different than that of retail cement consumers.

In the good old days, cement was being packed in jute bags as a support to jute industry; however of late, now cement is packed in woven polypropylene (PP) bags. The advantages are many folds, the ability to protect the contents from dust and moisture, impact resistance, resistance to sliding, and high durability and above all the cost of packing. The standard packing of cement has been 50 kg in our country. Palletisation of cement bags is not at all popular in our country.

In the conventional 50 kg packing, there have been many varieties available today. Three ply paper bags have been a proved and accepted since 90s. For filling of any type of bag, it is extremely important to have efficient perforation on the bag that allows good air ventilation minimizing bursting of bags and the least moisture ingress shower proof bags. Less flying of cements means cleaner environment and production areas.

Nowadays, there are laminated brick-shaped PP woven sack, produced without adhesives by heat welding of the coating on the fabric are available. These have been developed with automated filling and handling processes in mind. The sack can be produced either as a one-layer block bottom valve bag or as an open mouth bag with a block bottom. It surpasses all comparable products as far as resistance to breakage is concerned, is versatile and also eco-friendly and economical.

PP fabric is laminated on a PP extruder and printed. At the end of the production process, the tubular fabric becomes a sack. And it is the conversion line that gives the sack its final, individual form, cutting it to length, sewing it, and adding the desired closure type – or forming a brick-shaped sack in a special adhesive-free heat welding process. It turns out to be slightly expensive than PP bags hence it may take time to get established.

Another facet of packaging cement is smaller packets for retail consumption. Today if your visit any retailer, he unpacks 50 kg sack of grey cement and repacks smaller denominations of quantities for end users. There is a demand for small packs of cement but manufacturers are unable to meet it for the reasons of viability. However the story is opposite in case of white cement, which sales the smallest pack of 1 kg in highest numbers. It has been a successful case study. If the product is packed in right kind of denomination and brought to the market, nothing can stop it. Smaller quantities have been instant success in the case of white cement. However in case of grey cement, some manufacturers have tried 25 kg pack but could not sustain the same.

As our country focuses on infrastructure development, bulk cement in the years to come will grow and has a good potential. Bagged cement will continue to stay in India even after 25 years from now.

– VIKAS DAMLE

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

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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.