Concrete

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

30-Day Traffic Diversion In Place For CC Road Works In Madhapur

Diversions in place from May 16 for cement concrete road works

Published

5 hours ago

May 22, 2026

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The Cyberabad Traffic Police issued a traffic advisory as road works begin for the laying of a cement concrete (CC) road from Jaya Shankar Statue to RRR Restaurant at Parvathnagar in Madhapur limits. The advisory indicated that traffic diversions will be in place for 30 days from May 16 to ensure the smooth flow of vehicles and to minimise congestion on the affected stretch. The measure aims to balance uninterrupted construction activity with the movement needs of commuters.

Traffic moving from Toddy Compound towards Parvathnagar village will be diverted at Parvathnagar junction towards Sunnam Cheruvu and the 100 feet road. Local motorists and public transport operators have been advised to follow the diversionary route as directed by traffic personnel on duty. Alternate routes and signage have been planned to mitigate delays and to manage peak hour congestion.

Police officials said the diversion had been planned to facilitate uninterrupted road works while maintaining traffic movement in the area. Commuters were urged to plan their travel accordingly and to cooperate with traffic staff managing the stretch. Authorities indicated that enforcement of diversions would be active and that violations could attract penalties.

The 30 day schedule is intended to allow contractors to complete the laying and curing phases with minimal interruption to vehicular flow. Residents and businesses in adjacent localities have been advised to factor the diversion into deliveries and travel plans. The traffic police promised continuous monitoring of the works and the operational diversions and emphasised that temporary inconvenience was necessary for longer term improvement of the road network. Traffic personnel will be stationed at key junctions and additional signage and temporary markings will be displayed to guide motorists and pedestrians through the revised alignments while public transport services will follow the diversion where feasible and operators have been asked to adjust timetables to minimise disruption.

Concrete

HeidelbergCement India Receives Consent For Khandwa Grinding Unit

Consent granted by Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board

Published

1 day ago

May 21, 2026

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HeidelbergCement India (HeidelbergCement India) has received regulatory consent to establish a cement blending and grinding unit at Village Dongaliya, Tehsil Punasa, District Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh. The consent was granted by the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and is dated 17 May 2026. The company disclosed the development in a filing made under Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.

The project plan envisages procurement of long term availability of fly ash and the allotment of land on lease for setting up the unit. The proposed facility is described as a blending and grinding installation which will process cementitious materials sourced from nearby operations and suppliers. Company filings state the measures required to secure raw material logistics and statutory compliance before commencing construction.

The addition of a grinding unit in Khandwa is intended to strengthen regional supply and improve logistical efficiency by reducing haulage distances for finished product. The unit is expected to complement existing capacities in central India and to offer flexibility in product mix through blending operations. The reliance on fly ash as a supplementary cementitious material will necessitate long term supply agreements with thermal power producers and coordination with waste utilisation policies.

The disclosure to the regulator and to the stock exchanges follows standard corporate governance practice and aims to keep investors apprised of capital expenditure initiatives. The company indicated that subsequent permits and clearances would be sought in accordance with applicable environmental and land use rules. The project is presented as part of HeidelbergCement India’s broader strategy to optimise capacity distribution and to respond to regional demand dynamics.

Concrete

PROMECON introduces infrared-based tertiary air measurement system for cement kilns

Published

2 days ago

May 20, 2026

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The new solution promisescontinuous, real-time tertiary air flow measurement in cement plant operations.

PROMECON GmbH has launched the McON IR Compact, an infrared-based measuring system designed to deliver continuous, real-time tertiary air flow measurement in cement plant operations. The system addresses the longstanding process control challenge of accurate tertiary air monitoring under extreme kiln conditions. It uses patented infrared time-of-flight measurement technology that operates without calibration or maintenance intervention.

Precise tertiary air measurement is a critical requirement for stable rotary kiln operation. The McON IR Compact is engineered to function reliably at temperatures up to 1,200°C and in the presence of abrasive clinker dust. Its vector-based digital measurement architecture ensures that readings remain unaffected by swirl, dust deposits or drift. Due to these conditions conventional measurement systems in pyroprocess environments are often compromised.

The system is fully non-intrusive and requires no K-factors, recalibration or periodic readjustment, enabling years of uninterrupted operation. This design directly supports plant availability and reduces the maintenance overhead typically associated with process instrumentation in high-temperature zones.

PROMECON has deployed the McON IR Compact at multiple cement facilities, including Warta Cement in Poland. Plant operators report that the system has aided in identifying blockages, optimising purging cycles for gas burners, and supplying accurate flow data for AI-based process optimisation programmes. The practical outcomes include more stable kiln operation, improved process control, and earlier detection of process disturbances.

On the energy side, real-time tertiary air data enables reduction in induced draft fan load and helps flatten process oscillations across the pyroprocess. This translates to lower fuel and energy consumption, fewer unplanned shutdowns, and a measurable reduction in NOx peaks. This directly reflects on the downstream cost implications for plants operating SCR or SNCR systems for emissions compliance.