Economy & Market

Customised solution for every stage of construction

Published

8 years ago

January 11, 2019

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ACC, one of the oldest cement manufacturers in the country, is credited as the first commercial ready-mix concrete producer. The cement/concrete producer has passed through different phases of lifecycle and is at crossroads today.

ACC is a pioneer in cement and concrete. We are not merely selling concrete products to our customers, we sell solutions. ACC has a wide range of solutions to cater the needs of challenging construction problems. We are proud to have a huge array of solutions brought out of years of research at our R&D Centre in Thane and the best of knowledge transfer from one of the world’s finest construction development labs based in Lyon, France. We are always ahead of the market and we develop the concrete and concrete technology to meet the future requirement. Earlier we were producing about M-40, M-50; today, we are in the stage of producing M-100 and in future we would produce more than M-100 based on demand in high rise segment. As market demand is moving rapidly towards higher grade of concrete, we have done a lot of R&D work through our central R&D centre and technologies have been developed to provide sustainable, high-rise solutions. We have a vast range of customised value added solutions to address the specific requirement of customers. We have Centre of Excellence (CoE) located in Thane where various products / solutions have been showcased to create more awareness to customers. It’s our moment of great pride to say that ACC RMX is the only ready-mix company in India to have both EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) & GreenPro certification for all its products.

Lightweight concrete: ACC Feathercrete
ACC Feathercrete is a concrete solution, scientifically designed to be 50-70 per cent lighter than conventional concrete. This unique property helps in drastic reduction of the structural dead load- making it a preferred solution for all non structural applications such as Terrace/Sunkan slabs, partition walls, profile correction, composite slabs on metal decks and bridge repair. Feathercrete also exhibits better sound- resistant properties, which make it an ideal solution for structures requiring sound insulation.

Historically, lightweight concrete was extensively used for ship building in the United States in the year 1918 and 1919. Lightweight concrete is known to have better shock resistance as compared to conventional concrete in atomic bomb test of buildings

Superfast solution: ACC Jetsetcrete
ACC Jestsetcrete is a specially-engineered solution, crafted to gain ultra high strength in a few hours. Packed with advance features such as "rapid strength gain" and "self levelling" which facilitates quicker removal of formwork and offers greater flexibility vis-a vis conventional concrete. Jetsetcrete is hence the perfect solution, which will always help you fast-track your construction speed from days to just a few hours. Jetsetcrete can give 5-7 per cent cost saving for a project at an elemental level. It is an ideal solution for a country like India where on an average residential projects get delayed by approximate three years

Heat resistance concrete: ACC Refraxcrete
This concrete is designed for industrial application and requires different engineering performance. For applications like foundry castings, jet blasts where the temperature in and around concrete exceeds 300 degree Celsius ordinary concrete can suffer damage effecting lifecycle and durability of these structures. Elements could distort, displace, and the concrete surface could also spall, ACC Refraxcrete is highly-engineered concrete for structures exposed to high temperatures available in all grades.

ACC RMX for futuristic value-added solution
We are in the continuous process of developing various customised solutions based on the market demands and future needs.

To address the scenario of rising global temperature, Increase usage of air conditioning, we have heat insulation concrete solutions.

Light weight sound insulating concrete will help us to reduce the noise level by 15 dB

As per the study on influence of chloride threshold value in service life prediction of RCC- Indian Academy of Science, 3 per cent of world’s GDP is lost due to premature deterioration and corrosion of concrete structure. We have developed ACC Cure Crete, ACC antibacterial concrete to address these issues.

We have extensive range of customised products and solutions to serve better to our prestige customers:

Flow Crete is a solution by ACC for architects and engineers aimed towards the best finishing for structures having congested reinforcements. It facilitates enhancement of site productivity and significantly reduces the noise level, thanks to its self-consolidating properties.

We have a range of decorative solutions for architects in the form of imprint Crete and Colour Crete.

We have Temperature controlled concrete i.e., ACC Cool Crete and ACC Insulocrete

Road construction is another segment where we provide a number of solutions in the form of UTWT, UTWT-8, and UTWT-24, Super coat and Super coat Premium

We have fast setting concrete solutions i.e., ACC Jetsetcrete and light weight concrete solutions

ACC is well known as one of the best solution providers to mid and high rise towers. ACC Ultivacrete is the high strength and high performance concrete for high rise construction

We also offer sustainable solutions in the form of Permecrete and Life Crete, which are aimed at ground water conservation and long term durability of concrete

We also have Neev, Aadhar, and Suraksha, for footings, columns, and slabs, respectively, aimed at individual house builders and other smaller construction projects. These products have better properties compared to the generic grades of concrete available in the market.

All our products are designed with long-term applicability in mind. They are designed to have a higher service life than any of the other products offered in the market. ACC is a strong believer in sustainable solutions and this is the key pillar of thought while designing our concrete solutions.

ACC is a part of Lafarge Holcim Group (a world leader in construction solutions) with which it enables ACC to leverage technical support and global expertise on new technology in the field of construction. ACC has an established track record of consistently partnering with the biggest names in the country.

It has a strong backup of a world class research centre at Lyon, thus ensuring best-in-class solutions, making it the leading choice when it comes to construction solutions.

We have a very robust and mature quality control system deployed across our pan India operations. Each cluster has a full-fledged central quality lab to perform raw material analysis and mix design evaluation. These cluster labs are backed by a state-of the-art R&D lab, which we also call mini Lyon, located in Thane. Mix designs used in production are approved and controlled by a central desk in R&D lab in Thane. Most of our commercial plants are certified by QCI (Quality Council of India).

Due to the focussed government policies and the impetus of smart cities, the construction industry in India has been booming.

Numerous infrastructure projects such as roads, metros, and airports, are in pipeline for the next decade. Major demand is expected from the mid and high rise segment, especially for slum development and rehabilitation projects. We have been signing contracts for power projects, metro works, and commercial spaces such as industries, factories, malls, and software parks.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Prahlad Mujumdar, CEO – Concrete and B2B Business, ACC Ltd.

CC RMX is the only ready-mix company in India to have both EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) & GreenPro certification for all its products.

ACC is a part of Lafarge
Holcim Group with which it enables ACC to leverage technical support and global expertise on new technology in the field of construction.

Concrete

UltraTech becomes first Indian cement firm to cross 2 GW green energy

Published

49 minutes ago

October 7, 2026

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UltraTech Cement has crossed 2 GW of captive green energy capacity, with renewables and waste heat recovery meeting 48 per cent of its power needs.

Mumbai

UltraTech Cement Limited has surpassed 2 GW of installed green energy capacity for captive use, becoming the first cement company in India to achieve the milestone. The Aditya Birla Group company commissioned 116.55 MW of wind capacity at its Inter-State Transmission System-connected wind-solar hybrid project in Barmer, Rajasthan, along with 10 MW of Waste Heat Recovery System capacity at Sarlanagar Cement Works in Karnataka.

With these additions, UltraTech’s cumulative installed green energy capacity has reached 2,024 MW. This includes 1,580 MW of renewable energy capacity and 444 MW of waste heat recovery capacity, together meeting around 48 per cent of the company’s current power requirements.

The company said the milestone reflects the progress of its long-term energy transition strategy. In FY27 so far, nearly one-third of UltraTech’s 76 manufacturing units in India have maintained green energy utilisation above 50 per cent of their electricity requirements, while five units have crossed 95 per cent.

K C Jhanwar, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement Limited, said, “Crossing the 2 GW green energy milestone is the result of a strategy we have pursued consistently over the past decade. Cement is an energy-intensive, hard-to-abate sector, and showing that reliability and growth can go hand in hand with a rapid shift to green energy sets a benchmark for the industry. With nearly half of our power needs now met through green energy, we are significantly less exposed to fossil fuel supply constraints and power price volatility. As we scale up renewables, waste heat recovery and battery storage across our operations, we are building an energy foundation for stable, long-term growth.”

UltraTech commissioned 430 MW of green energy capacity in FY26 and continues to expand its renewable energy and waste heat recovery portfolio.

The company is also progressively integrating Battery Energy Storage Systems across its operations to improve renewable energy utilisation and supply reliability.

In 2025, UltraTech operationalised what it described as India’s first on-site hybrid round-the-clock renewable energy project at Sewagram Cement Works in Gujarat. The project combines solar, wind and battery storage.

As part of its decarbonisation strategy, UltraTech said it has not invested in new captive thermal power capacity for either greenfield projects or brownfield expansions at its integrated units for more than a decade.

The company said its expanding green energy portfolio is helping reduce dependence on conventional grid electricity and fossil fuel-based power, while lowering exposure to fluctuations in coal and electricity prices.

UltraTech aims to increase green energy’s share in its total power mix to 85 per cent by 2030. As a member of RE100, it has also committed to meeting 100 per cent of its electricity requirement through renewable sources by 2050.

UltraTech Cement, the cement flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, has a total grey cement capacity of 210.1 MTPA and white cement and putty capacity of 3.5 MTPA. The company is also a signatory to the GCCA Climate Ambition 2050 and has committed to the GCCA Net Zero Concrete roadmap.

Concrete

Shiva Cement Merges with JSW Cement

Published

4 hours ago

October 7, 2026

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JSW Cement has announced a scheme of arrangement to merge its listed subsidiary Shiva Cement with itself, creating a single unified cement platform. The boards of both companies have approved the proposal, which will require clearances from stock exchanges, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the National Company Law Tribunal, Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation and other applicable authorities.

The transaction is expected to be completed within 12 to 14 months, subject to the necessary approvals from regulators, shareholders and creditors. Under the scheme, JSW Cement will issue 5 equity shares with a face value of Rs. 10 each for every 41 equity shares with a face value of Rs. 2 each held by Shiva Cement shareholders other than JSW Cement.

The company said the merger would consolidate financial, managerial, technical, distribution and marketing resources while reducing administrative duplication and compliance requirements. It would also provide greater funding flexibility, potentially lower financing costs and eliminate inter-company guarantees.

The consolidation is expected to strengthen backward integration by enabling JSW Cement to use Shiva Cement’s clinker manufacturing facility. This would reduce dependence on external clinker procurement and improve supply-chain efficiency. Public shareholders of Shiva Cement would receive direct ownership in JSW Cement, which has a broader institutional investor base and a more liquid listed presence.

JSW Cement acquired a controlling stake in Shiva Cement through transactions that began in January 2017. Shiva Cement operates a clinker facility in Odisha, near the borders of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, and commissioned a 1 mtpa cement grinding unit at Sambalpur in FY26 through a commercial arrangement with Bhushan Power and Steel.

JSW Cement has 24.10 mtpa of cement grinding capacity and 9.74 mtpa of clinkerisation capacity. Its Indian operations comprise nine plants, including two integrated units, one clinker unit and six grinding units. The proposed merger is intended to simplify the corporate structure and align the financial statements of the two companies.

Concrete

Nuvoco Vistas, CleanMax Partner for Wind-Solar Hybrid Project in Rajasthan

Published

1 week ago

September 29, 2026

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The project – comprising 20 MW of wind and 26.4 MWdc of solar capacity – will support Nuvoco’s cement operations with cleaner power while strengthening its renewable energy and decarbonisation strategy.

Mumbai, September 29, 2026

Nuvoco Vistas Corp Ltd, part of Nirma Group and one of India’s leading cement companies, has partnered with Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions Limited (CleanMax), a renewable energy solutions provider for the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector, to develop a 46.4 MW wind-solar hybrid renewable energy project in Rajasthan.

The project will support Nuvoco’s cement operations with cleaner power while strengthening its renewable energy and decarbonisation strategy. It is expected to increase the share of renewable energy in Nuvoco’s power mix, reducing fossil fuel consumption and associated emissions.

Developed by CleanMax, an Independent Power Producer (IPP), at Bhikamkhore, Rajasthan, the project will comprise 20 MW of wind capacity and 26.4 MWdc of solar capacity, along with a 2-MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). Power generated from the facility will be supplied to Nuvoco through the State Transmission Utility (STU) Open Access network.

The hybrid project is expected to generate approximately 100 million units (MU) of renewable electricity annually and help avoid around 1,25,485 tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year across Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.

The initiative supports Nuvoco’s ongoing efforts to reduce the carbon intensity of its manufacturing operations through renewable energy adoption, Waste Heat Recovery Systems (WHRS), energy-efficiency measures and increased use of alternative fuels. It also aligns with the company’s DIRE (Digitalisation, Innovation and Renewables) agenda, which focuses on climate action, renewable energy transition, water stewardship, circularity and biodiversity conservation across its manufacturing ecosystem.

Commenting on the initiative, Jayakumar Krishnaswamy, Managing Director, Nuvoco Vistas Corp Ltd, said, “This marks an important step in advancing Nuvoco’s journey towards more sustainable and resilient operations. Our collaboration with CleanMax will increase the share of renewable energy across our Rajasthan operations, strengthening our energy mix while improving long-term cost efficiency and reducing our dependence on conventional power sources. Initiatives such as these reinforce our commitment to operational excellence and responsible growth, while supporting our vision of Building a Safer, Smarter and Sustainable World.”

Kuldeep Jain, Founder and Managing Director, CleanMax, said, “Cement plants run continuously, so the power behind them has to be dependable for decades, not years. We’re seeing manufacturing industries view clean energy as an integral part of their core operations and long-term strategy. Our partnership with Nuvoco reflects that shift, and we’re pleased to support its decarbonisation journey. This wind-solar hybrid project is designed to deliver long-term cost certainty while supporting the Company’s transition to cleaner power.”

Nuvoco has been advancing its sustainability initiatives through renewable energy, operational efficiency and technology-driven solutions. The company operates across Cement, Ready-Mix Concrete (RMX) and Modern Building Materials (MBM) segments, with a presence across East, North and West India.

The company began operations in 2014 with a greenfield cement plant in Nimbol, Rajasthan, and later acquired Lafarge India Limited, which entered India in 1999, along with Emami Cement Ltd in 2020 and Vadraj Cement Limited in April 2025. With planned expansion initiatives, including a new grinding mill at the Arasmeta Cement Plant and multiple debottlenecking projects, Nuvoco aims to achieve a cement capacity of 35 MMTPA.

The company reported total income of Rs 113.62 billion in FY 2025-26, reflecting its continued growth trajectory. Its cement portfolio includes Concreto, Duraguard, Double Bull, PSC, Nirmax and Infracem brands, while its RMX business offers products under Concreto, Artiste, InstaMix, X-Con and Ecodure brands. Nuvoco also provides construction solutions under its Zero M range of modern building materials.