Economy & Market

The client confidence we enjoy is enviable for this industry.

Published

5 years ago

October 14, 2021

admin

Ashok Malik

Managing Director, Indiana Conveyors

For over two decades now, Indiana Conveyors has been manufacturing bulk material handling equipment and systems. Today, Indiana is well known as a single source for complete bulk material handling equipment and systems. Ashok Malik, Managing Director, Indiana Conveyors, tells ICR what makes Indiana a favourite pick for its customers. Excerpts from the interview.

What is the product range offered by Indiana Conveyors for the cement market? Indiana Conveyors undertakes turnkey bulk material handling projects in various sectors including cement industry. We are engaged in design, manufacture, supply, installation and commissioning of various types of conveyors, primarily belt conveyors, screw conveyors, chain conveyors and bucket elevators. Besides these, we also include equipment like crushers, screens, weigh feeders, dust control systems and associated equipment to provide a total solution on turnkey basis. Indiana has also been very active in supplying crucial components like idlers and pulleys for conveyors both for replacement as well as new projects. We can integrate many other items such as weighing, flow aid devices, packing systems etc so that client can have a fully integrated system from a single source.

What sets Indiana Conveyors apart from the rest?

As with all products, the competition in this field is intense but what differentiates us is the overall satisfaction that our clients get, working with us. Not just the quality of our products and systems, but the total experience starting with our understanding of the clientÂ´s needs and offering the most cost effective solution to them, the quality of engineering followed by in-house manufacture of critical components. Our bought out items are sourced from the best, companies that we have been working with since many years. So we get the best deals and the benefits get transferred to our clients. Our project managers are always available to provide the latest updates and quick answers to any client queries. Our construction and erection site management is very proactive and we engage resourceful contractors to meet quality and schedule needs. Indiana is proud of having completed each and every project it was awarded and unfortunately, this is not something that you can say about many companies today.

Indiana is one of the leading companies in this field, having been in this business since more than four decades. Over the years, we have built strong credentials in many industries including cement. The Indiana brand has a strong recall and most consultants and project contractors immediately link us to material handling projects. Now with the advent of new companies in this field, clients are able to see the advantages of associating with Indiana.

According to the 12th Five- Year- Plan, the Indian cement industry will have to add another 150 MT of capacity till 2017. How do you plan to tap this opportunity?

Due to continuous improvement in systems that we implement, we are today, in a stronger position to support this industry. Over the years, we have expanded our engineering and project offices in Mumbai as also upgraded our manufacturing facilities in Jejuri, near Pune. The benefits of these added capacities on all fronts mean better pricing and shorter deliveries for projects. Indiana has increased visibility due to our direct approach and we have also been participating in pre-order budgeting exercises for our clients leading to a closer cooperation. I see that clients are more inclined to associate with us at the pre-tender stage as they are confident of our understanding of their project requirements and the pricing, thus leaving out uncertainties when the actual project takes off.

What are the challenges you foresee in the market?

Of late, slow moving projects have posed challenges. Unfortunately, due to factors beyond our control, and for reasons that exist at clientsÂ´ ends, some projects get stuck midway. Of course, we realise that many of the reasons emerge from government decisions. We keep a track of the actual movement of the project in order that we move in the same direction and in consonance with what the project needs. Besides, there are always challenges to meet the competitive price without sacrificing quality or diluting scope. Our designers are able to optimise costs due to value engineering and our project procurement department is able to meet our target prices and work within budgets. This is possible due to our all India presence giving us the advantage of being able to identify and approach the right source. Yes, margins have shrunk and we hope to recover these when the market is friendlier. We are working with most leading cement companies and equipment manufacturers and are confident of our future in this sector.

How do you assess availability of skilled technicians for your sector?

We have adequate skilled technicians in-house and normally do not depend on outside help in this category. However, with increased volumes, this could pose limitations and our plans include developing enough in-house skills by attracting more people at the shop level, creating an awareness and education programme, etc. Many of our key managers have been with us for more than a decade, some nearly three, and availability of such strong mentors is always a big advantage. In our manufacturing plant, we are able to source skilled workmen from the training institutes and put them through a structured training programme.

Is the overall equipment manufacturing industry in the cement sector still dependent on their foreign counterparts for technology development?

The Indian conveyor industry is well established with proven indigenous technology. There are few areas where Indian companies face any technological challenges, except specialised systems for long -distance conveying or enclosed conveying. Here too, the technology is there but plant owners feel comfortable with the backing of a foreign name. Many Indian companies including Indiana, have the capabilities to design and deliver such products on their own, given the vast knowledge pool and the working experience that our engineers have gained on such systems. I wish plant owners and consultants would modify their prequalification criteria to encourage more such companies to participate and I am confident they can derive benefits from such efforts. Of course, some areas like those related to large crushing plants, storage and distribution still do well with such joint venture participation by foreign technology suppliers.

Is it true that most plant and equipment failures are caused due to substandard quality of auxiliary equipments made by Indian companies?

This is a simplistic statement. Of course, there are good companies and bad ones and project owners get to work with companies they choose. Drawing a general conclusion can be very wrong. We must remember there are many small manufacturers who take chances to develop, or shall we say copy imported equipment based on a variety of inputs. They work at very low prices because that is what gets them the chance to develop the equipment in the first place. There is no institutional support to them in terms of technical scrutiny or control. But at the end of the day, their efforts do give clients equipment at low prices though not with comparable performance. On the other hand, there have been spectacular success stories of small companies who put their resources together to develop comparable products. So it is not just the end, but the process you adopt, the resources you employ and the overall management philosophy that guides such ventures.

What is the mantra behind the success of your company?

We focus on the job, and work hard to achieve our goals. Our engineers, workmen, contractors and business associates, all work with passion. The objective is to satisfy the customer, to exceed his expectations. The client confidence we enjoy is enviable for this industry.

Our designers are able to optimise

costs due to value engineering.

Concrete

Wonder Cement appoints Mahesh Singh as VP Corporate Brand Communication

Published

2 days ago

October 9, 2026

admin

Singh brings 20+ years of brand and marketing experience, and will lead integrated corporate brand communication initiatives at Wonder Cement

New Delhi

Wonder Cement, a leading cement manufacturer, has appointed Mahesh Singh as Vice President – Corporate Brand Communication. In his new role, he will oversee corporate brand strategy and communication, including digital and performance marketing, public relations, trade, events, exhibitions, sports and experiential marketing.

Singh brings over two decades of experience across marketing and communications, with roles spanning the automotive industry, agencies and entrepreneurship. He spent more than a decade with Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, working across integrated communication, media, digital, retail and consumer engagement. His stint also included helping build the company’s digital marketing capabilities.

He moved to dentsu X India as Vice President – Strategy & Planning, working across categories such as automotive, auto components, electric vehicles, FMCG, consumer electronics, BFSI, apparel and brand consulting. His responsibilities included media and marketing strategy, product launches, content, performance marketing and consumer activations.

Singh subsequently took an entrepreneurial route with Radiant Brands before joining Shriram Ltd (SPR Autotech) as Head – Marketing & Communications. There, his remit included brand and corporate strategy, communications, PR and ORM, retail identity, loyalty programmes and events.

At Wonder Cement, Singh will be responsible for bringing together the company’s corporate brand communication initiatives across digital, performance marketing, PR, trade, sports and experiential platforms. The role will focus on creating an integrated approach to communication across consumers, trade partners and other key stakeholders.

The appointment brings to Wonder Cement a marketer whose career has spanned the brand, agency and entrepreneurial sides of the communications ecosystem.

Wonder Cement, part of the RK Group, is a cement manufacturer with roots in Rajasthan and a focus on quality, trust and transparency. The company has grown to six manufacturing plants, and a cement capacity of 21.5 MTPA. With more than 2,000 employees and a network of over 5,000 dealers, its operations span manufacturing, distribution and customer engagement, with a focus on consistent product quality and efficient execution.

Concrete

JSW Cement commissions additional 1 MTPA grinding unit at Nagaur

Published

3 days ago

October 8, 2026

admin

With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA,
Mumbai

JSW Cement, one of India’s leading green cement producers and part of the diversified JSW Group, today announced the successful commissioning of an additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit at Nagaur, Rajasthan. The commissioning marks another significant milestone in the Company’s growth strategy.

With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA, while its total clinker manufacturing capacity, including clinker capacity at its joint venture, JSW Cement FZC, stands at 9.74 MTPA.

JSW Cement had commenced operations in North India in March 2026 with the Nagaur Integrated Plant, comprising a 3.30 MTPA clinkerisation unit and 2.50 MTPA cement grinding unit. With the commissioning of the additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit, the plant’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 3.50 MTPA, enhancing the company’s ability to cater to the growing cement demand across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the National Capital Region (NCR). The expansion has been funded through a strategic mix of equity and long-term debt.

During the quarter ended 30th September 2026, JSW Cement has also commissioned the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) at the Nagaur Integrated Plant.

Nilesh Narwekar, CEO, JSW Cement, said: “The commissioning of additional 1.00 MTPA grinding capacity at Nagaur is a key strategic priority for us and will accelerate JSW Cement’s expansion into North India. We look forward to servicing the growing needs of the region and contributing to the economic growth of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the NCR area. I am delighted to share that the company has commissioned this grinding unit within the expected timeline, showcasing our project execution capabilities. Further, the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) are expected to substantially reduce our production costs going forward.”

Concrete

UltraTech becomes first Indian cement firm to cross 2 GW green energy

Published

4 days ago

October 7, 2026

admin

UltraTech Cement has crossed 2 GW of captive green energy capacity, with renewables and waste heat recovery meeting 48 per cent of its power needs.

Mumbai

UltraTech Cement Limited has surpassed 2 GW of installed green energy capacity for captive use, becoming the first cement company in India to achieve the milestone. The Aditya Birla Group company commissioned 116.55 MW of wind capacity at its Inter-State Transmission System-connected wind-solar hybrid project in Barmer, Rajasthan, along with 10 MW of Waste Heat Recovery System capacity at Sarlanagar Cement Works in Karnataka.

With these additions, UltraTech’s cumulative installed green energy capacity has reached 2,024 MW. This includes 1,580 MW of renewable energy capacity and 444 MW of waste heat recovery capacity, together meeting around 48 per cent of the company’s current power requirements.

The company said the milestone reflects the progress of its long-term energy transition strategy. In FY27 so far, nearly one-third of UltraTech’s 76 manufacturing units in India have maintained green energy utilisation above 50 per cent of their electricity requirements, while five units have crossed 95 per cent.

K C Jhanwar, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement Limited, said, “Crossing the 2 GW green energy milestone is the result of a strategy we have pursued consistently over the past decade. Cement is an energy-intensive, hard-to-abate sector, and showing that reliability and growth can go hand in hand with a rapid shift to green energy sets a benchmark for the industry. With nearly half of our power needs now met through green energy, we are significantly less exposed to fossil fuel supply constraints and power price volatility. As we scale up renewables, waste heat recovery and battery storage across our operations, we are building an energy foundation for stable, long-term growth.”

UltraTech commissioned 430 MW of green energy capacity in FY26 and continues to expand its renewable energy and waste heat recovery portfolio.

The company is also progressively integrating Battery Energy Storage Systems across its operations to improve renewable energy utilisation and supply reliability.

In 2025, UltraTech operationalised what it described as India’s first on-site hybrid round-the-clock renewable energy project at Sewagram Cement Works in Gujarat. The project combines solar, wind and battery storage.

As part of its decarbonisation strategy, UltraTech said it has not invested in new captive thermal power capacity for either greenfield projects or brownfield expansions at its integrated units for more than a decade.

The company said its expanding green energy portfolio is helping reduce dependence on conventional grid electricity and fossil fuel-based power, while lowering exposure to fluctuations in coal and electricity prices.

UltraTech aims to increase green energy’s share in its total power mix to 85 per cent by 2030. As a member of RE100, it has also committed to meeting 100 per cent of its electricity requirement through renewable sources by 2050.

UltraTech Cement, the cement flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, has a total grey cement capacity of 210.1 MTPA and white cement and putty capacity of 3.5 MTPA. The company is also a signatory to the GCCA Climate Ambition 2050 and has committed to the GCCA Net Zero Concrete roadmap.