Technology

Moving from natural to manufactured sand

Published

7 years ago

January 10, 2019

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Today construction industry faces shortage of aggregates and sand. In fact, the availability and cost of sand have seriously slowed the progress of couple of projects in the country. There are other options, but we as a country are yet to exploit those. One is using the over burden from mines as aggregates in construction. Considering the progress made by other countries in this area, we need to move fast, otherwise speed of high value projects will suffer. Ramesh Bhatawadekar has been advocating this idea with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

I ndia, the second largest global consumer of aggregates, is said to be the new landmark for the world construction industry market. The 6,000-km Golden Quadrilateral Highway Project, completed in 2013, links the key cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Belgaum and Chennai (shown below). Investment in various infrastructure projects such as railways, roads, port development and construction of new airports is identified. Building construction will accordingly post solid gains in the years ahead, boosting aggregates demand in India. There is as yet no definitive source for aggregate tonnages in India. The Freedonia Group provides the estimated data in the table.

However, in addition to the information available, aggregates are also extensively required for railways. Therefore it is estimated that the present demand for aggregates in India is around 5.5 billion tonnes. The Government has already approved the development of 18 airports, namely Mopa in Goa, Navi in Mumbai, Shirdi and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Hasan and Shimoga in Karnataka, Kannur in Kerala, Pakyong in Sikkim, Karaikal in Puducherry, Dholera in Gujarat and Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh. India will be spending around $63 billion for 100 airports in II tier cities in the next 15 years.

The overall volume growth of aggregate market is being projected at a breathtaking 11 per cent a year. In particular, the market demand for manufactured sand is expected to grow by 70 per cent by 2020, predominantly driven by the substitution of river bed sand by manufactured sand.

Progress in the country
Telangana now and erstwhile Andhra Pradesh is utilising manufactured sand (M-sand) for more than a decade for the construction of various infrastructures. The State Government itself is encouraging use of M-Sand as an alternative to river sand. The Mining Engineers’ Association of India (MEAI) has recognised the wider need to launch a strong national campaign, in conjunction with the Government and State authorities, to switch the ecologically-undesirable extraction of sand from beaches and river-beds to manufactured sand produced in responsibly-operated quarries and pits.

In different States of India, the price of sand varies from $3.3 to $33 per tonne. The newly carved out State, Telangana, has a policy document is place for sand mining. The same has been accepted by the Government of India and other States as well. The Indian aggregate Industry is currently very fragmented with 12,000 family businesses with small quarries and low capacity plants. There are a few local associations in scattered clusters for addressing local issues but there had hitherto lacked a national level aggregate association for raising the standards of the Indian aggregate industry. There is a need to have an association of aggregate producers at national and State levels.

Sanjay Nikam, an enthusiast and a professional, has taken the initial steps in forming the Aggregates Manufacturers’ Association of India (AMA). Several producers have already committed to join, and from the beginning of the year 2019, member registration will start. Recently, MEAI has also applied to be a member of international body Global Aggregates Information Network (GAIN). Both initiatives are very important steps, and it is proposed to accept both AMA and MEAI as GAIN members pending the evolution of a national association which represents all aggregates interests.

Import of sand from Malaysia and Cambodia raises hope of finding new avenues to tide over the river sand crisis in Tamil Nadu. The first consignment of 55,000 tonnes of river sand from Sungai Pahang Port in Malaysia to Chennai in Tamil Nadu was received way back in September 2017.

Bhatawdekar recommends…
Indian policymakers -Ministry of mining, Indian Bureau of Mines, (Central Government officials) Department of Mines and Geology (State Government) officials to visit quarries in Southeast Asia / China
National importance to be given for aggregate sector
Mega infrastructures projects to have large quarries of a minimum 1 MTPA attached to it
Funds to be allocated for R&D on M-sand and building material (Malaysia allocates Rs 10,000 for every core spectrum on infrastructure project)
M-sand standards for different applications need to be developed
A lot of waste e.g. from mines is generated, which can be converted to aggregates and M-sand with support from R&D
Environment can be protected with larger quarries through professionals

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ramesh Bhatawdekar is a mining engineer from IIT Kharagpur, and is currently an International Fellow at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, having experience in aggregate and limestone quarries in Southeast Asia.

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

admin

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.