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1st IIEF lauds innovations in 5 categories

Published

5 years ago

July 1, 2021

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Industrial Products Finder (IPF), India?? largest circulated industrial magazine in its 49th year, virtually hosted First IPF Industrial Excellence Forum (IIEF) which comprised of two major segments??Conference and 5th IPF Industrial Excellence Awards, on January 15, 2021. During the event, 26 awards were presented, from five categories in various segments, in recognition to their achievements during the year.

IPF Industrial Excellence Forum 2021 was held in the grand presence of Devendra Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary & Development Commissioner (MSME) Ministry of Micro, Small, Medium 1stIIEF lauds innovations in 5 categories The first IPF Industrial Excellence Forum (IIEF) hosted conferences for discussing relevant topics like strategies to move ahead in the new normal and deliberated on SME readiness as manufacturing is growing in India due to the global move from China to India. While during the IPF Awards,the IIEF recognised new product innovations to upholding ??ake In India??

The IIEF was hosted virtually and received favourable industry response.

Enterprises, Government of India and Dr Ravi P Singh, Secretary General, Quality Council of India and Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist, CARE Ratings Ltd.

In his address, Guest of Honour, Devendra Kumar Singh speaking about technology adoption and assuring support to the MSME sector, he informed, ??oday adoption of technology is inevitable for companies in the fields like product design and compliance. Ministry of MSME is also empowering MSME sector with Udyam Registration after the adoption of the new criteria of classification of MSMEs. MSME sector can seek benefits from theschemes such as Incubation & Design Schemes, Schemes to support Capital Subsidy in Investment & Interest Subvention Scheme. Further, according to the newly announced schemes under AatmaNirbhar Bharat, schemes like Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS), Fund of Funds and Subordinate Debt scheme.??/p>

The second Guest of Honour, Dr Ravi P Singh, Secretary General, Quality Council of India deliberated on significance of quality of products and currentquality trends. Enlightening everyone on the quality,

he said, ??t is evident that the countries in Europe, the US and Japan have helped their industries to invest on quality. They are today known for quality globally. Industries have not realised completely that quality helps you build trust and sustain in the market.

In India, quality consciousness is changing and consumers are embracing the quality products.??/p>

Dialogue for future 2020 was certainly an unusual year for industries across the world (including India). There is no question that these unusual times will carry over into 2021.

Unusual does not necessarily mean bad; it just means different. Often hidden within those differences are opportunities. IPF hosted an engaging Panel Discussion themed at ??oard room Strategies to Face New Normal??

The panel discussion was moderated by Subodh Jindal, Global CEO, STEER Engineering. The panelists ??comprising S Sunil Kumar, Country President, Henkel India; Dr Babu Padmanabhan, Founder & MD, STEER Engineering; Indradev Babu, MD, UCAM Pvt Ltd & President, IMTMA(Indian Machine Tools Manufacturers Association) and Biswajyoti Mandal, VP & Head- Technology, Schaeffler India.

In his opening remarks, Jindal expressed, ??hile the economy is showing signs of revival in Q3 and Q4 of 2020, we continue to have issues like uncertainty in demand, supply side tantrums, labour availability, financial constraints to name a few. It all depends on how the top managements of the companies deal with the same.??/p>

Kumar shared the new way of approach that Henkel India experienced during the last 8 months.

He stated, ??ur whole process and operations changed. 8 months earlier, we were a company, primarily believed on face-to-face meetings with our clients.

Moving completely to the online platform was difficult.

We have managed to move to the new normal of online communication.??He also informed that the Henkel India heavily invested on training it employees.

Indradev opined that companies applied all that they have learned in the first 6 months after the first lockdown. He stated, ??here is a huge consumption of materials like steel, copper, aluminium and is

believed that it majorly accounts to China. While it is also leading to global cost increase. Further, it is also putting spanner in the works of the companies who want to supply and make up for their previous losses.??/p>

Dr Padmanabhan observed that the companies are moving from effort-based performance management to outcome(result)-based performance management.

Talking on the automation scenario being a threat to low-cost skilled labour in India, Dr Babu Padmanabhan, believes, ??pskilling and training of workforce by industry-government partnerships

will help to hasten human resources to be more ready for automation. Government policy framework to help capital investment needed for automation will have a far-reaching effect over the industry.??/p>

Mandal deliberated on having automation plan as a long term process and not a short-term process.

He stated, ??he pandemic has pushed automation as a matter of top priority in the business plans.

While you look at bringing automation into business processes and factory operations, every company should evaluate socio-economic impact of job losses and unemployability of unskilled labour and also should consider cost of installation. Upgrading systems can be managed in a phased manner, addressing the low-hanging fruit first and then move towards the journey. This comprises of a 5-10-year plan for any company.??/p>

Two engines are not firing India has seen some hope of revival in the late 2020 but has a challenge to continue such stride to reach pre-Covid level. Manufacturing industry has been hit due to lower production and drop in demand.

Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist, CARE Ratings, delivered a special address on the Indian economy and upcoming budget. He stated, ??or the first time Indian economy is shrinking after a long time and has registered negative growth. Except agriculture, all other sectors have suffered in their production.

Two major engines of investment and consumption are not firing. This has fractured SMEs leading to rise in unemployment bringing down consumption impairing investments.??/p>

SME Dialogue

The second Panel Discussion, with the theme of ??re Indian SMEs ready for the future??? deliberatedon issues like challenges & opportunities before SMEs in the changed world, tips to be a part of global supply chain, benefits of government policies, etc.

The discussion was moderated by Saikat Roy, Director – West, CARE Ratings while having on board eminent panellists such as Anil Saboo, President, IEEMA (Indian Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers Association) and MD, Elektrolites Power Pvt Ltd; Ashita Gupta, Chairperson SME Chapter, MAIT, and COO, Smile Electronics Ltd; Mahesh Desai, Chairman, EEPC India (Engineering Export Promotion Council of India), and MD & CEO of Meera & Ceiko Pumps Pvt Ltd; Neeti Sharma, Senior Vice President, TeamLease Services.

According to Saikat Roy, before the pandemic, budget 2020 had a fiscal deficit 3.5 per cent of GDP.

Based on the first advance estimates, CARE Rating has suggested that the fiscal deficit will move to 7.8 perc cent of GDP. Further on adding 1.1 lakh crore that accounts to GST shortfall and borrowing on behalf of states, this number will look like 8.4 per cent of GDP.

He shared current status of key sectors:

Current status of production in India

(Till Dec 2020)

Steel -19.4

Coal -2.6

Cement -19.5

Cumulative cargo handled at ports -10.5

Bank Credit to Manufacturing

industry (Nov 19 to Nov 20) -0.7

Power Consumption (Dec 2020) 5

Ashita Gupta stated, ??he 20 lakh crore package rolled out by the government, only 50 per cent of the SME sector availed that credit availability and benefited. Reason being 99 per cent of the industries

in India are micro industries These industries are ,not fighting for sustainability but for scale. NBFC cannot merely reach all such industries.??/p>

Mahesh Desai, Chairman, EEPC India (Engineering Export Promotion Council of India), and MD & CEO of Meera & Ceiko Pumps Pvt Ltd, said, ??he new mantra for SMEs is to produce quality

goods and services in quantity for local and also for global markets. They have to go Glocal (Global+Local).

We need more liberalisation with policies to attract FDI.??/p>

Certification of Indian products by international agencies will help find better global markets for exports and will build better markets for Indian products, believes Desai.

Anil Saboo observed 2020 as a year of transformation and learning. ??EEMA is focussing on 5 pillars such as localised manufacturing, digitalisation and innovation, global penetration, enhancing capability by international collaboration and focus on quality and productivity. Globally the electrical market is worth US $ 500 billion while India?? share is just less than 2 per cent. By adopting the above practices, India can increase its share by 2.5 per cent.??/p>

Neeti Sharma speaking about the labour migration, informed, ??abour shortage issue is on its verge of recovery. Industries have face challenges due to migration but remember Covid is not a passing shower rather a climate change. This change will bring structural reforms for productive and better paid jobs.??/p>

Speaking about upgrading workforce, she shared,??9 per cent of the current jobs will not exist after automation and digitisation enters industries. Training workforce is necessary for the future. However,machines will not replace jobs but will create jobs in some other industries.??/p>

Gagandeep Singh, Manager ??SME, Western Regional Office, National Stock Exchange of India Limited in a Special address deliberated on??Advantages of Listing for SMEs to raise funds?? Singh observes,

??romoters of the SMEs are regarded as ??ne man army??while with time Indian SMEs should consider decentralisation. Decentralised way of operations is a beautiful way which many listed SMEs haverealised and have become successful listing at NSE and BSE. SMEs should also leverage capital markets through listings. An SME can reach global investors and a small business located at remote locations can also source capital for their business. Around 500 companies have been listed on NSE and BSE and have raise Rs 5000 crore on both platforms.??/p>

This was followed by welcome address by Pratap Padode, Editor of IPF and Founder & President, FIRST Construction Council, and Unveiling of IPF Annual 2021. ??e are very pleased to inform that Industrial Products Finder has entered in its 50th year, since its establishment in 1972. India has close to 6.8 million Udyog Aadhar registered MSMEs and another 63 million MSMEs. This constitutes to almost 45 per cent of the manufacturing output, 94per cent of number of industrial units, 48 per cent of exports, 35 per cent of GDP and employ around 110 million people, making MSMEs largest source of employment after agriculture sector.

Concrete

Jammu Division Begins First Cement Rail Traffic to Anantnag

Cement Loading From Kathua for Anantnag to Begin on September 14

Published

9 hours ago

September 21, 2026

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Jammu Railway Division has placed an indent for the first movement of cement by rail within the division, linking Shaheed Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary Kathua Railway Station with Anantnag Railway Station. Loading for the consignment is scheduled to begin on September 14.

Concrete

Hard Worker Wins Three Honours at Kyoorius Design Awards

Ramco Cements’ brand secures Grand Prix and two Blue Elephant honours.

Published

9 hours ago

September 21, 2026

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The Ramco Cements Limited’s construction chemicals brand, Hard Worker, has won three honours at the Kyoorius Design Awards 2026, including the Grand Prix – Grey Elephant in the Design in Action category.

The brand also secured two Blue Elephant honours, one for Design in Action and another for Packaging, recognising the design approach behind its brand identity and packaging.

Launched in 2025, Hard Worker entered the construction chemicals segment with the brand promise, “Hard-working products for hardworking people.” Its visual identity uses animals and birds to represent product benefits. The camel represents the water-retention capability of Hard Worker Eco Plaster, while the cheetah represents the speed and performance of Hard Worker Block Fix.

The visual language has been extended across packaging, retail, communication, literature, digital platforms and other brand touchpoints. Hard Worker uses bold colours, distinctive animal illustrations and simple visual storytelling to communicate product benefits across markets and audiences, including construction workers and applicators.

“For Hard Worker, design was never an afterthought. It was fundamental to how we wanted to build the brand. In a category that is largely functional, we wanted to create a brand that people could recognise, understand and remember instantly. The Kyoorius recognition is a wonderful validation of this design-led approach,” said Mr. AV Dharmakrishnan, CEO, The Ramco Cements Limited.

Mr. Balaji K. Moorthy, Executive Director – Marketing, Ramco Cements said “In a category where communication has traditionally been product-led and functional, we wanted Hard Worker to stand apart by making design an integral part of the brand experience. From the distinctive animal-led packaging to our communication across consumer and trade touchpoints, every element was designed to make the brand more memorable and the product benefits easier to understand.”

Within its first 12 months, Hard Worker crossed Rs 3.5 bn in sales. The latest recognition follows six honours secured by the brand’s campaign at the Kyoorius Creative Awards earlier in 2026, including the Grey Elephant Grand Prix for its Eco Plaster film.

The Kyoorius Design Awards recognise outstanding design work in India’s visual communications sector across multiple categories and platforms. The 2026 awards were announced on 12 September in Goa.

The Ramco Cements Limited is part of the Ramco Group and operates across cement and allied building-material solutions. Hard Worker is its construction chemicals brand, offering solutions across key construction applications.

Concrete

Cement Firms to Invest Rs. 130 bn in Green Energy by FY28

Cement companies plan to expand clean energy capacity to 6 GW by FY28

Published

4 days ago

September 17, 2026

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India’s major cement companies are set to raise their clean energy capacity to 6 GW by March 2028 from around 4 GW at the end of March 2026, according to ratings agency ICRA. The planned expansion is expected to involve investments of Rs. 130 bn over the next two years.

The additional capacity could generate annual savings of Rs. 62 bn to Rs. 67 bn, resulting in an estimated payback period of 1.8 to 2.2 years. Cement is an emission-intensive industry, and leading producers have established net-zero roadmaps covering the next 15 to 20 years.

The calcination process accounts for 57 to 60 per cent of the sector’s total emissions, while fuel combustion contributes 27 to 30 per cent and electricity consumption accounts for 10 to 13 per cent. ICRA said the figures highlighted the need for a broad decarbonisation strategy involving green power, blended cement, alternative fuels and improvements in clinker efficiency.

Green energy is considered one of the most commercially attractive decarbonisation options because it can reduce emissions while lowering operating costs. Every 5 per cent increase in green power replacement can reduce power and fuel costs by Rs. 15 to Rs. 16 per tonne. A 25 per cent replacement level could therefore save Rs. 75 to Rs. 80 per tonne and expand operating margins by 140 to 160 basis points.

Cement producers are also assessing carbon capture, utilisation and storage, although high implementation costs, energy requirements and limited transport and storage infrastructure are expected to slow commercial adoption. The government has proposed Rs. 200 bn over five years to support deployment across key sectors. Meanwhile, companies are targeting thermal substitution rates of 10 to 15 per cent over the next three to five years, compared with the current industry level of around 6 per cent.