Concrete

Manufacturing process of Instamix Xpress is different as compared to wet concrete

Published

5 years ago

October 19, 2021

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Nuvoco came in the light when it acquired L&T?? ready-mix concrete business in 2008. Since then it has established itself not only as a cement producer but a player with innovative construction materials. It has successfully transformed itself from cement manufacturer to a building material supplier with a wide range of products. Prashant Jha, Chief of Ready Mixed Business, Nuvoco, speaks on one of the innovations he has recently launched.

Prashant Jha

Explain the idea behind introducing a new product during the pandemic. What is the market size, and what kind of growth do you expect from this product?

Through our interactions with customers and market studies, we observed that the construction industry is facing challenges of manufacturing concrete at the site due to the non-availability of superior quality raw materials like cement, sand, and aggregates. In the current scenario, the majority of small concrete work is done by mixing cement, aggregates, and water at the site. Then there is the issue of wastage of raw materials.

Most of the sites are still using the volumetric batching method, which generally results in poor quality concrete at site. Further due to the pandemic situation, there is a shortage of labour, moreover getting labour to do small jobs is generally a problem. All these factors resulted in an increased demand for well-graded pre-mix bag concrete. Although there are no published records, we are estimating the all India market size is more than 10,000 tonne per month, and it would be growing at 15 per cent per annum.

What is the manufacturing process ??is it the same as wet concrete? What is the batch size?

InstaMix Xpress is a pre-blended mixture of cement, sand, and aggregates with special admixtures, requiring only the addition of water before pouring the concrete. It is produced in a controlled environment and is fast, easy-to-use, and ready-to-pour in just three steps ??open, mix, and pour.

One needs to do is open the bag in a pan or mechanical mixer as per the requirement; add four to five litres of potable water per bag and mix the concrete uniformly; and finally, pour the preparation without making a mess. The manufacturing process of Instamix Xpress is entirely different as compared to wet concrete. In InstaMix Xpress, we have to ensure that there is 0 per cent moisture at any stage of production till packaging of the product. It is available in 50 kg special moisture-proof sealed bags, which are tested for quality. Batch size depends on the transit mixer capacity, which varies from 500 kg to 2,000 kg.

Is there any shelf life for the product?

Yes, it is good for use till three months of production.

Is the product covered under any BIS code? OR is the code in the draft stage?

No at this stage it is not covered under any BIS codes; however drafting of code for dry concrete is under process.

What has been the response from the users?

Initially, we have launched InstaMix Xpress in East and Northeast markets and the response is very encouraging. Structural consultants and contractors prefer to use the M-30 and M-40 grade of concrete, which is not possible to produce at the site and ready-mix concrete is not available in remote areas. InstaMix Xpress is an ideal solution as it is a pre-mixed, ready-to-use, bagged, dry concrete, which can be easily transported to these far-flung areas. Looking at the response, we are planning to launch this product in Northern and Western India very soon.

Does any other cement manufacturer cater the consumers with a similar product?

Yes, a few cement manufacturers tried to produce at the local level ready-mix plants but they were not able to control the quality of the product.

To what extent the strength will be compromised if more water is used or if the product is used beyond stipulated period?

It all depends on how much excess water has been added or how long InstaMix Xpress has been stored beyond the three months shelf life. We recommend using four to five litres of water per 50 kg bag (depending on the grade of concrete). If the product is used beyond the stipulated period, [definitely] the compressive strength will reduce from 10 to 50 per cent.

Concrete

Jammu Division Begins First Cement Rail Traffic to Anantnag

Cement Loading From Kathua for Anantnag to Begin on September 14

Published

5 days 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

5 days 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

1 week 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.