Economy & Market

Logistic Challenges in India

Published

5 years ago

October 14, 2021

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The dwindling economy of the country has posed serious challenges to the logistics industry. Umesh Shetty, Executive Director, Allcargo Logistics, takes a look at the current market scenario and is optimistic that the right policy can give a much-needed boost to the cement sector.

India’s economy has seen some of the toughest times over the last two years in terms of its economic growth. All key macro-economic variables have been under tremendous stress, from domestic manufacturing, exports, heavy dependence on imports, especially fuel, inflation, currency fluctuation and the policy logjam. These challenges were severely fuelled by the global economic gloom and monetary crunch. Given India’s demographic and economic proximity to global markets, the country has faced major challenges in sustaining its past growth, too. In retrospect, it seemed impossible that India could get in this situation in such a short period of time, but that is what exactly has happened to the economy, contrary to all expectations.

However, the bright side of the story is that India’s opportunity is here to stay. The country is still the second largest developing market in Asia just after China. More than fifty per cent of its population is below the age of 35 years. Thus, this segment of the market is a huge base for consumption of domestic and global products. For instance, this is evident from the fact that mobile phones has seen the fastest penetration in the Indian market over the last few years with more than forty five per cent of the population owning a mobile phone. Over a hundred mobile companies are presently selling numerous varieties of handsets to Indian consumers. The growth of the automobile market, especially two and four- wheelers, has seen one of the most rapid rise in terms sales and market development. The real estate market is also one of the most important indicators of a country’s growth. In India, this segment has seen one of the fastest growth in terms of per unit cost of properties. Domestic consumption of property is the major chunk of this market. Although the real estate market is also facing a cyclic down curve, the demand and shortage of supply situation seems here to stay.

Typical of a developing economy, India’s high dependence on imports such as oil will be a factor prominent in our growth for decades to come, as the country utilises this raw material for producing finished products which are either exported as well as consumed domestically. Underlying in our economic environment are some of the core sectors which drive new growth, development, employment and investments, sectors such as power generations, exploration of oil and gas, alternative energy generations, development of urban infrastructure, development of ports and transportation mediums.

All policy decisions devoid of emphasis on these core sectors will always fall short of its objectives. These sectors have the potential to rejuvenate our economy into a hyper growth drive, if the policy machinery uses these sectors as an asset and initiate transparent effective plans to implement these projects into the economy.

Logistics infrastructure

This is India’s biggest challenge as well as the largest opportunity. One that is crucial to our economy and particularly for trade will be the logistics infrastructure of our country. It poses the biggest challenge to our sustained growth as well as the largest opportunity to rise as an economic powerhouse. The competitive economies of China, Singapore, Dubai or even European countries have always had the advantage of world class roads, rail connectivity, ports, warehouses, best in class supply chain, etc, while competing with BRIC economies. India has always had to play catch- up. Our economy is driven by the mindset that infrastructure is second fiddle rather than the most critical component of growth. But due to globalisation and integration of trade agreements, that mindset has seen rapid change over the last few years. Thus, today infrastructure development has become one of the topmost priorities of the government in kick-starting the economic engine again. This is evident from the fact that the Prime Minister’s office is aggressively pushing for infrastructure development plans to be implemented as a priority. Given India’s unique demography and over 7,000 odd kms of coastline, the country needs strategic infrastructure to propel growth and act as a catalyst to reduce the cost of doing business in India, as compared to other regional economies, especially China.

Cement industry

This is the driving force of India’s infrastructure. Our country’s growth story will not be complete unless we take into account the crucial ingredient of infrastructure development, which is cement. All the above core infrastructure projects would need cement as a basic material for managing and completing mega projects. Thus, policy framework for boosting growth for this particular sector is also crucial from a macro perspective. A report titled ‘Indian Cement Industry Outlook 2015` from RNCOS, a leading industry research and consultancy firm, has estimated that the total installed capacity of cement in India will increase with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around seven percent during 2012-13 to 2014-15. The production of cement has increased at 10 per cent CAGR over FY07-11. The market size of the industry is expected to grow to reach 550 MTPA by FY20. The cement companies in India are receiving full attention from the private equity firms for funding their business plans.

India’s cement sector currently stands at an overall capacity of 350 MTPA. As per the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12), the industry added 120 MT of new capacities and is expected to reach close to 470 MT by 2017. As per the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), the cement and gypsum products sector has attracted foreign direct investments worth US$ 2,656.29 million between April 2000 to June 2013.

During the 12th Five Year Plan period (2012-17) the industry is estimated to add a capacity of 150 MT. Giving impetus to the market, the Government of India plans to roll out public-private partnership (PPP) projects worth Rs 1 trillion (US$ 16.33 billion) over the next six months. The Principal Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) will monitor these projects.

New trends in supply chain

Coastal shipping could be the major medium of transportation. There are two critical challenges in front of the cement industry- the volatile fuel costs and protecting the environment. Given India’s unique demography, coastal shipping and inland waterway is the best and the most eco-friendly medium of transportation as compared to road or rail. Waterways emerge to be preferred options primarily due to the sub-optimal condition of our roads across the country.

Another important factor is the constant hike in fuel prices leading to frequent escalation of transport charges. Speaking about rail as a medium, the lack of integrated rail connectivity from sourcing locations to plants and then from plants to last mile distribution, is a considerable challenge for creating efficiencies in logistics of cement in India. This mode will be crucial in its ability to leverage the opportunity, given that it is expected that India needs about US$ 1 trillion from 2012-13 to 2016-17 to fund infrastructure such as ports, airports and highways to boost growth, thereby promising a good outlook for the industry. At Allcargo Logistics, we have already seen many of our coastal shipping customers preferring transportation of commodities like cement through waterways, to optimise their investment in these though economic conditions and also for the timely movement of their cargo.

Umesh Shetty, Executive Director, Allcargo Logistics,

Economy & Market

Leonard Unveils Dual-Head Robotic Arm for Hazardous Industrial Demolition

Published

1 day ago

October 30, 2026

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Leonard unveils Descender Duo, a dual-head robotic demolition arm designed to improve industrial safety and reduce shutdown time by up to 50 per cent.

Industrial robotics and refractory services specialist Leonard has launched Descender Duo, a dual-head robotic demolition arm designed to improve safety, accelerate maintenance and reduce shutdown times in hazardous industrial environments. The system made its debut at Lisahally Power Station in Northern Ireland, removing 25 tonnes of slag material within hours.

Developed for the cement, metals, waste-to-energy and petrochemical industries, Descender Duo enables remote-controlled refractory demolition, anchor cutting and welding, and refractory spraying inside boilers, calciners and silos. Its vertical-access design eliminates the need for personnel to enter confined, high-risk spaces during these operations.

Weighing less than two tonnes, the pre-assembled system requires an access opening of just 1.2 m². Supported by an external overhead hoist, it uses electrically operated hydraulic stabilising legs to secure itself inside vessels. The robotic arm offers 360-degree rotation and is suited to vessels approximately 9 m in diameter, with its operating reach extendable through strategically positioned access points.

Equipped with two independently controlled robotic heads, Descender Duo can perform identical or different tasks simultaneously, including refractory demolition, anchor cutting and spraying. Its remote-control system incorporates live camera feeds, allowing operators to monitor operations without entering hazardous environments.

According to Leonard, the technology can deliver time savings of up to 50 per cent compared with manual methods. Its ability to operate at temperatures exceeding 100°C allows maintenance to begin as early as 24 hours after burner shutdown. An all-electric power supply further supports cleaner and more cost-efficient operations.

First Deployment Demonstrates Shutdown Efficiency

The system was first deployed at Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor’s (BWSC) Lisahally Power Station in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The facility generates electricity from grade C waste wood, supplying approximately 40,000 homes and businesses.

Leonard and BWSC collaborated to develop a customised solution for the plant’s 26-metre furnace, where extensive external pipework created significant access challenges.

Mark Leonard, Managing Director, Leonard, said, “It required new thinking and rather than step away from the problem we were committed to solving it for the customer, with the customer. We’re relentless in our approach to tackling complex challenges, head-on. We took our years of cement plant experience, coupled with our working knowledge of the BWSC plant, and designed, engineered and tested a completely new vertical solution within just seven weeks from that initial conversation with the customer. That solution was the Descender Duo as we know it today.”

Traditionally, the furnace required a cooling period of up to 36 hours before preparatory work could begin, followed by manual slag removal using rope-access personnel. With Descender Duo, work commenced just 24 hours after shutdown, reducing downtime by up to one day.

The deployment removed 25 tonnes of slag within hours, eliminated the need for at least six workers to enter the hazardous furnace interior and saved 26 hours in the shutdown programme.

“The effectiveness exceeded expectation,” said Martin Doran, Plant Manager at Lisahally Power Station.

“When the Descender Duo concept was first discussed, we had to spend some time with the team from Leonard looking at how it was going to be moved into the furnace. Every site is different and that presented its own challenges, but nothing that the team couldn’t overcome. Once it was installed we were hugely impressed by its efficiency.”

Expanding Industrial Robotics Applications

Descender Duo joins Leonard’s existing portfolio of robotic maintenance solutions, including the Axis horizontal-access arm, Nano confined-space access arm, Charger cement mill media recharging system and Calibre cement mill media grading system.

Headquartered in Northern Ireland, Leonard provides robotic refractory demolition, installation, inspection and industrial maintenance services across the cement, metals, energy, biomass, glass and civil engineering sectors.

Formerly known as G Leonard, the company has more than 35 years of industry experience and operates across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

The latest innovation reinforces Leonard’s focus on replacing hazardous manual processes with robotic systems that improve workforce safety, enhance operational efficiency and minimise industrial downtime.

Concrete

Martin Engineering Appoints Ashwini Khunte as India General Manager

Published

2 days ago

October 30, 2026

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Martin Engineering names Ashwini Khunte India General Manager to strengthen operations and drive growth across key bulk material handling sectors.

Pune

Martin Engineering, a global provider of bulk material handling solutions, has appointed Ashwini Khunte as General Manager of its India business, strengthening its leadership as the company expands its presence across the country’s cement, mining, steel, power and infrastructure sectors.

Khunte brings more than a decade of experience with Martin Engineering, having joined its Indian operations in 2013 as a Design Engineer, shortly after the company established its presence in the country in 2012.

A mechanical engineer by qualification, she spent her initial five years developing bulk material handling solutions in collaboration with the company’s operations team. During this period, she gained extensive experience addressing operational challenges in the steel, cement and coal industries. She subsequently moved into project engineering, managing major engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) projects from initial enquiry to commissioning. Her responsibilities later expanded to overseeing Martin Engineering’s conveyor product portfolio in India, involving customer engagement, technical presentations and site visits across heavy industries.

In 2024, Khunte was promoted to Head of Sales & Marketing for the company’s Europe, Middle East, Africa and India (EMEAI) region. The position broadened her international market exposure and strengthened her strategic and commercial leadership capabilities.

Commenting on her appointment, Ashwini Khunte, General Manager, Martin Engineering India, said: “India represents a tremendous opportunity for Martin Engineering. The country’s continued investment in cement, mining, steel, power and infrastructure is creating increasing demand for safer, cleaner and more productive bulk material handling, and that’s exactly what we do. My priority will be to build on the strong foundations already established in India, while continuing to develop our people, strengthen customer relationships and bring practical solutions to the challenges faced by our industry.”

Robert Whetstone, Area Vice President – EMEAI, Martin Engineering, highlighted Khunte’s technical expertise, market understanding and leadership experience.

“Ashwini brings an exceptional combination of technical understanding, customer knowledge and commercial leadership. She has grown as Martin Engineering has grown, and has consistently demonstrated outstanding capability to transform her expertise into practical solutions. Her knowledge of the Indian market, together with her international experience, makes her ideally suited to lead our India business through its next stage of growth for years to come.”

Since establishing its Indian business in 2012, Martin Engineering has expanded its local workforce, manufacturing capabilities and dealership network. The company supplies conveyor products, transfer point solutions, material flow aids, training and technical support to bulk material handling industries. Khunte’s appointment positions the company to further strengthen customer relationships and expand its solutions portfolio in India’s growing industrial and infrastructure markets.

Concrete

Fornnax Wins AIRIA’s Special Export Award for Rubber Machinery in 2025-26

Published

2 weeks ago

October 19, 2026

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Fornnax Technology Pvt. Ltd. has been honoured with the Special Export Award – Rubber Machinery for 2025–26 by the All-India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA), in recognition of its highest exports of tyre recycling plants to the European region.

With more than a decade of experience in India’s tyre recycling industry, Fornnax has contributed to the development of advanced recycling technologies and infrastructure. The company currently holds a 90% market share in India’s domestic tyre recycling sector, while exports account for 30% of its business, spanning markets such as Europe, Australia and the GCC.

The award marks another milestone for Fornnax, whose tyre recycling lines and advanced shredding technologies are supporting the growth of the circular economy in India and international markets.

Commenting on the recognition, Mr. Jignesh Kundaria, Founder and Director of Fornnax, said:

“This honour from AIRIA is a reflection of an incredible journey we have undertaken over the years. When we started Fornnax, there was no established recycling industry in India to follow. We chose to build for the future instead. Today, when you see India’s tyre recycling sector, it has already transformed into a dynamic, high-growth industry and we are extremely proud to have played our part in building it.”

Unlike standalone equipment suppliers, Fornnax focuses on developing complete, high-capacity recycling infrastructure. Its integrated systems combine multiple stages of shredding and size reduction to enable efficient, continuous operations. This system-level engineering approach helps recycling operators improve throughput, equipment reliability and operational consistency.

The recognition reinforces Fornnax’s commitment to developing engineering technologies that contribute to a more efficient and circular recycling ecosystem.

Looking ahead, the company aims to expand its international presence while continuing to develop advanced shredding and recycling solutions to address the growing volumes and evolving requirements of the global recycling industry.

For more information, visit: www.fornnax.com