Concrete

SPECTRAFLOW, now in India

Published

5 years ago

July 1, 2021

admin

Cross belt analysers have been gaining popularity over years especially for the raw material analysis that goes for raw meal preparations. This leads to consistency of raw meal before clinkerisation takes place.

Ramco Cements, an independent Indian group, ordered a Crossbelt and Airslide analyzer from SpectraFlow analytics, for their new integrated plant at Kalvatala, to optimize the stability of their raw meal.

Ramco Cements Limited, founded in 1961, is a reputed cement manufacturer in India, headquartered in Chennai. Ramco Cements produces superior quality cement at their state-of-the art facilities including integrated cement plants and grinding units. The company is the fifth largest cement manufacturer in India and also produces Ready Mix Concrete and Dry Mortar products and operates one of the largest wind farms in the country.

About Ramco Cements Limited, Kalvatala plant:

Greenfield integrated cement plant is being setup at Kalvatala, Kolimigundla Mandal, Kurnool District. The foundation stone was laid in December 2018 and the plant shall be operational in first quarter of 2021. The project will include a Waste Heat Recovery System and a Thermal Power Plant.

FLS was chosen as the main equipment supplier and Ramco Project Team looked after specialized components themselves and choose SpectraFlow Analytics Crossbelt Analyzer for their stockpile and pre-blending management and SpectraFlow Airslide Analyzer for the raw meal optimization of their two raw mills.

SpectraFlow Installation for Quarry/Stockpile Optimization:

The SpectraFlow Crossbelt Analyzer is the online analyzer to be able to measure raw materials on belt conveyors. As raw materials from the quarry are processed through a crusher the raw material on the conveyor belt is statistically homogeneous and therefore the analytical results of the SpectraFlow Crossbelt Analyzer are accurate.

By using SpectraFlow Crossbelt analyzer and a site specific blending strategy at Kavalatala the high variation in the local raw materials shall be balanced out to increase consistency of the stockpile quality.

Summarized benefits are:

– No need of sampling. Sampling from conveyor belts is unrepresentative and slow for process optimization. Additionally, sampling is very work intensive regarding operation and maintenance.

– The analyzer together with a Pre-Blending control software from RAMCO SYSTEMS is fully automating the feed from the hoppers. The analyzer delivers the analytical results and according the setpoint the software is adjusting the feeders into the mixing stage

– The analyzer together with a Pre-Blending control software is informing the quarry/crusher operators of the current composition of the stockpile and accordingly the trucks can be coordinated to reach the setpoint of the stockpile.

– Stockpile quality will be homogeneous and on setpoint. That results in stable and low additive consumption at the raw mill.

– Stable feed from the stockpile leads to stable raw mill operation and fine raw meal/clinker quality.

SpectraFlow Installation for Raw Mill Optimization:

The SpectraFlow Airslide Analyzer is the online analyzer to be able to measure raw materials in airslides. As raw materials in airslides are very homogeneous and dry the analytical results of the SpectraFlow Airslide Analyzer are very accurate and based on these accurate results the raw mix control software can optimize the weight feeders before the raw mill in real time every minute. This results in very low LSF STDEV without the need of extensive sampling and laboratory efforts.

Kalvatala operates 2 Roller Press raw. The raw meal will feed to a joint airslide where the SpectraFlow Airslide analyzer will measure.

For the control of the weight feeders at the 2 raw mills Ramco will use control software from RAMCO SYSTEMS.

By using SpectraFlow an increase in the raw meal homogeneity will be achieved.

Summarized benefits are:

– Two raw mills can be controlled by one online analyzer.

– No need of intensive sampling. No automated sample transport system, no automated laboratory required.

– High cost reduction due to reduced laboratory usage (CAPEX, OPEX, man power,??

– The analyzer together with the control software is fully automating the raw material grinding. The analyzer delivers the analytical results and according the setpoint the software is adjusting the weight feeders of the additive bins.

– Adjustment of the weight feeders in real time every minute. No time delay due to sampling, sample preparation, ??/p>

– Lower LSF STDEV/better and more consistent raw mill quality

RAMCO SYSTEMS

SpectraFlow order

This SpectraFlow order is the 39^th order for the Cement Industry and the 1^st installation in India. This order raises the installed based in India to 2 analyzers (1 Crossbelt & 1 Airslide) and worldwide to 56 analyzers (31 Crossbelt & 25 Airslide).

SpectraFlow Analytics Ltd. Switzerland are the experts in providing online analysis for the cement and minerals industry without any radioactive sources nor neutron generators. The NIR technology used for the SpectraFlow Analyzers is not requiring any permits or licenses and there are no restrictions in buying, importing or maintaining the analyzers. This results in very low operating costs and high availability of the analyzers combined with highly accurate measurement results.

For further information, contact: Vijay Kumar Vemuri, Managing Partner, SPV Engineers, 2242, BHEL MIG,

Phase-I, Serilingampally, Hyderabad – 502032

M no. +91 8885744161, Email:vk.vemuri@spvengineers.com

Concrete

India’s Cement Sector Cuts Energy Use, but Worker Safety Worsens

iFOREST finds efficiency gains alongside water and safety concerns

Published

2 hours ago

November 2, 2026

admin

India’s cement sector has improved its energy and carbon efficiency, but rising groundwater use in water-stressed regions and deteriorating worker safety remain significant concerns, according to a report by the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology (iFOREST). The findings also highlighted weak policy implementation and gaps in sustainability reporting.

India, the world’s second-largest cement producer, uses about 2.54 gigajoules of energy per tonne (GJ/t), below the global average of 2.88 GJ/t. However, renewable sources accounted for only 5.1 per cent of the sector’s energy mix, indicating continued dependence on conventional sources.

The report assessed 18 cement companies against 107 Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting indicators for FY24 and FY25. The companies covered 87 per cent of India’s cement production. Carbon emissions intensity declined from 0.58 to 0.57 tonnes of carbon dioxide per tonne, but total emissions increased 4 per cent to 224.3 mn t, equivalent to about 6 to 7 per cent of India’s overall emissions.

Overall water withdrawal declined 9.5 per cent during the study period, while withdrawals in water-stressed areas, mainly in Rajasthan, increased by more than 20 per cent. Groundwater’s share of withdrawals in these areas rose from 27 per cent to 38 per cent, raising concerns about the sector’s impact on vulnerable water resources.

The sector employs about 228,000 people, including 63 per cent contractual workers, 3.1 per cent women and 0.07 per cent persons with disabilities. Women in key managerial roles earned 26.8 per cent less than men, while median pay for women workers fell 11.1 per cent in FY25 as men’s pay increased. Worker injuries rose 36.5 per cent to 359, and fatalities increased from 17 to 22, with workers accounting for more than 90 per cent of deaths.

iFOREST recommended cement-specific reporting guidance, standardised metrics, mandatory production disclosure and third-party verification. It also called for environmental, social and governance policies to be integrated into business strategies and implemented more effectively on the ground.

Concrete

Ambuja Cements Expects Volume Growth to Outpace Industry in H2

Ambuja Cements sees stronger trade and institutional demand in H2 FY27.

Published

2 hours ago

November 2, 2026

admin

Ambuja Cements expects its sales volumes to grow faster than the cement industry during the second half of fiscal year 2027, as it seeks a recovery in institutional demand after a weak first half. The Gautam Adani-owned company is aiming to rebuild volumes while protecting profitability.

The company reported a 90 per cent year-on-year decline in consolidated net profit attributable to owners of the parent to Rs. 1.93 bn for the quarter ended 30 September, from Rs. 17.74 bn a year earlier. The previous year’s profit included a reversal of income-tax provisions worth Rs. 16.97 bn. Revenue from operations rose marginally to Rs. 91.66 bn from Rs. 91.3 bn.

Trade volumes increased 8.6 per cent year-on-year in the September quarter, but weaker institutional sales left overall volumes broadly unchanged. Ambuja Cements expects both trade and institutional sales to turn positive in the third and fourth quarters. Trade sales are made through dealers and distributors, while institutional or business-to-business sales involve bulk supplies to infrastructure developers, government projects and real estate companies.

The company had earlier reduced institutional sales that did not generate adequate returns. It now plans to rebuild the business selectively, while continuing to prioritise trade sales and higher-value products. Trade accounted for 74 per cent of sales in the quarter, up six percentage points from a year earlier, while premium products increased to 37 per cent of trade sales from 35 per cent. Blended cement’s share rose to 82 per cent from 77 per cent.

Ambuja Cements commissioned 4.6 mn t of capacity during the quarter. Another 3.2 mn t at Bathinda in Punjab and Jodhpur has stabilised, with the facilities expected to ramp up in the second half. A further 2.4 mn t facility at Varkala in Bihar is scheduled for commissioning during the period. Higher fuel and logistics costs remain a challenge, while the company has realised a cement price increase of about Rs. 10 per bag in October and is targeting operating costs of Rs. 4,250 per t for the full year.

Concrete

JK Lakshmi Cement Begins Rs 110 Billion Assam Plant Project

The 2.5 MTPA integrated cement plant is expected to be completed by FY2029.

Published

2 days ago

October 31, 2026

admin

JK Lakshmi Cement has recently laid the foundation stone for Project Kamakshi, its first integrated cement manufacturing facility in Assam, marking its entry into Northeast India. The groundbreaking ceremony was held at Umrangso village in Dima Hasao district in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The project involves an investment of Rs 110 billion, including the mining lease, and will have an annual cement production capacity of 2.5 million tonnes, supported by a 1 million tonne clinkerisation unit. Scheduled for completion by FY2029, the facility is expected to generate employment for over 2,000 people while catering primarily to the growing Northeast market.

The integrated plant will feature dedicated railway sidings to facilitate efficient transportation of raw materials and finished cement, strengthening supply chain reliability and regional distribution.

Vinita Singhania, Chairperson and Managing Director, JK Lakshmi Cement, said, “”Project Kamakshi is the start of a long-term relationship with Assam and the wider North East. This is a region that is building fast, and it deserves quality cement made close to home. With this plant, we want to bring scale, jobs, and dependable supply to the region. At JK Lakshmi Cement, we believe that building a stronger India goes beyond infrastructure. It is also about growing together with the communities we serve.””

The investment aligns with the company’s strategy to expand into high-growth markets beyond its established presence in Northern, Western and Eastern India. The project is also expected to support regional economic development and infrastructure growth.

JK Lakshmi Cement aims to pursue its expansion plans while working towards its long-term target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2047.