Concrete

BASF and NAC join hands to promote sustainable construction

Published

5 years ago

October 14, 2021

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BASF India and National Academy of Construction (NAC) have joined hands to launch skill development programmes and improve the employability of youth across the construction industry.

BASF India has signed a MoU with the National Academy of Construction (NAC), a vocational training institution established by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, India to launch a joint programme to upskill the workforce and increase mobility and employability across the construction industry. The programme will also promote the advantages of construction chemical solutions, which help increase the durability, improve resource efficiency and ensure climate protection.

Â´Improving sustainability in the construction industry in India requires a highly trained and knowledge-based workforce. Together with the extensive reach of NAC, BASF endeavours to boost the development of the construction industry by sharing knowledge on technologies, products and expertise with industry practitioners,Â´ said Dr. Raman Ramachandran, Chairman, BASF Companies in India Â´ Head South Asia. NAC is represented on the National Council for Vocational Training for one term. It has eight constituent units covering all sectors of the construction industry and has an experienced in-house faculty of 750 personnel as well as visiting faculty.

Â´The programme aims to enhance professionalism in the construction industry by improving the knowledge and ability of construction workers, engineers, contractors, managers and supervisors.Â´, said P K Agarwal, Director General of NAC.

Upen Patel, Business Director, Construction Chemicals, BASF, said, Â´In addition to enhancing the competency of the industry workstaff, the strategic partnership will offer an ideal platform for us to strengthen existing awareness about the varied benefits and advantages of using BASFÂ´s broad construction chemicals product portfolio, and to improve the energy efficiency, durability and speed of construction.Â´ As part of the agreement, BASF will assist NAC in developing the curriculum in three broad areas: Rehabilitation and repairs of buildings; Waterproofing and use of construction chemicals in buildings, and Use of admixtures in concrete. BASF will also take part in coaching around a hundred teachers from the NAC on both the theoretical as well as the practical aspects of selection and effective usage of construction chemicals. BASF, the industry partner in the initiative, is a leading chemical company with a large portfolio of products ranging from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas.

Concrete

Jammu Division Begins First Cement Rail Traffic to Anantnag

Cement Loading From Kathua for Anantnag to Begin on September 14

Published

4 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

4 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.