Concrete

We recently launched bigger capacity batching plants and concrete pumps.

Published

4 years ago

October 14, 2021

admin

Uhere is a big shift towards high-capacity machines and we are gearing up to cater to future demands at Universal, says Rajesh Kawoor, Vice President, (Concrete Business), Universal Construction Machinery. Excerpts from the interview.

What the present scenario as regards the RMC sector?

For quite some time, there have been no new projects and the overall market is quite sluggish; the RMC sector has also witnessed a slump and growth has been flat compared to last year. We donÂ´t expect anything positive at least for the next six months.

Some of the cement majors are trying to invest in more plants, especially in Tier two and Tier three cities. What are your comments?

Yes, they are trying to expand, taking into consideration the expected growth in the future. A lot of projects have already been sanctioned but the market is sluggish because the funds are not coming forth.

Have you come out with any new equipment launches for the RMC sector?

At Excon 2013, we launched bigger capacity batching plants. Earlier, we were doing only 20 and 30 cu m batching plants. So we have widened our product basket, introduced 60 cu m batching plants and will be coming out with 90 and 120 cu m batching plants. We have also launched bigger capacity concrete pumps machine capable of pumping more than 200 m.

From the OEMs` point of view, what are the basic challenges you face in terms of growth of the RMC sector?

The major challenge we face is in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, where the customer has to be educated about the latest machines and technology available. Since we have a pan- India network, we are already in the process of educating them and have also been successfully running a training centre in association with CIDC, where we train operators and technicians and make them skilled operators.

Has the current tax structure adversely impacted the setting up of new RMC plants?

For big projects, I donÂ´t think that is an issue. But yes, there is a negative impact, especially for small projects, as it is getting very difficult to put up their own batching plants. If they are buying from RMC players, then due to taxation, the costs escalate. The government needs to come out with some incentive schemes, especially for small customers.

What is the potential in the hiring segment for RMC equipment?

There is a huge potential especially for concrete pumps and transit mixers in the hiring segment. In matured overseas markets, the major buyers of RMC equipment is from the hiring sector, whereas in India, itÂ´s the other way around.

But now the trend is picking up because in the last couple of years, we have seen a lot of hiring companies showing interest. Even small players are also trying to invest money in the hiring sector.

At Universal, we help develop a lot of hiring companies. If some person is interested in starting a rental or hiring business, we train them, we explain to them how the business runs. We try to bring in more entrepreneurs into the hiring sector and we also tie up with hiring companies.

Concrete

BMC Cement Concretisation Cuts Pothole Repairs By 70 Per Cent

Project worth Rs 170 billion (Rs 170 bn) aims to concretise 1,900 km by 2027

Published

6 hours ago

April 13, 2026

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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s cement concretisation project, valued at Rs 170 billion (Rs 170 bn), has reduced expenditure on pothole repairs by 70 per cent over three years. Spending on repairs fell from Rs 2.02 billion in 2023–24 to Rs 1.56 billion in 2024–25 and then to Rs 890 million (Rs 890 mn) in 2025–26. The current tender is expected to be about Rs 440 million, representing a further 50 per cent reduction.

The project is being executed in two phases, with Phase I covering 307 km from October 2023 and Phase II covering 370 km from October 2024. The Indian Institute of Technology is auditing Phase II and will now also audit Phase I to ensure quality and accountability. Mumbai’s total road network spans approximately 2,050 km, of which about 1,200 km had been converted to cement concrete before 2022.

Since 2022 an additional 677 km were taken up for concretisation and nearly 71 per cent of that work, amounting to 481 km, has been completed. Municipal officials indicated that 10–15 per cent of the remaining work is expected to be completed by May 2026 and another 10 per cent by December 2026. The entire programme is scheduled for completion by May 2027, by which time nearly 1,900 km of Mumbai’s roads are expected to be fully concretised.

The administration has also developed a real time dashboard that displays detailed information about contracts, contractors and progress and citizens can access the latest updates online. The dashboard includes contact details for the civic officials and contractors responsible for particular roads to enhance transparency and accountability. The commissioner directed that ongoing works be completed by 31 May ahead of the monsoon to safeguard completion targets and minimise disruption.

Concrete

Shree Cement Approves Rs 1,800 Crore Meghalaya Plant

Integrated unit to be completed by quarter ending March 2028

Published

6 hours ago

April 13, 2026

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Shree Cement has approved the establishment of an integrated cement plant in Meghalaya, signalling a targeted capacity expansion to serve regional demand. The board cleared a unit at Village Daistong in East Jaintia Hills District with a clinker capacity of zero point nine five million tonnes per annum (mn t) and a cement capacity of zero point nine nine million tonnes per annum (mn t). The project was approved on April four, 2026 and is designed as a new addition to the company’s production network where it currently has no existing plant.

The company has earmarked an estimated investment of Rs 1,800 crore (Rs 18 billion (bn)) for the project, which will be financed through a mix of internal accruals and debt. Management has indicated a balanced financing strategy to preserve cash flows while supporting long-term growth and operational investment. The financing approach is intended to avoid over reliance on external borrowing and to maintain financial discipline during the build out.

The plant is expected to improve logistics efficiency and compress distribution distances to emerging demand centres in the north-east, potentially lowering transportation costs and lead times. By locating production closer to demand the company aims to strengthen market access and respond more effectively to regional construction activity. The project forms part of a broader strategy to diversify the production base across geographies and reduce concentration risk.

Execution is planned over a multi-year window with completion targeted by the quarter ending March 2028 and the company will proceed with construction and requisite regulatory clearances. The integrated design is intended to enhance operational control and production efficiency once operational. The decision follows a regulatory filing dated April four, 2026 and the disclosed details have not been independently verified.

Concrete

WCA Welcomes SiloConnect as associate corporate member

Published

11 hours ago

April 13, 2026

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The World Cement Association (WCA) has announced SiloConnect as its newest associate corporate member, expanding its network of technology providers supporting digitalisation in the cement industry. SiloConnect offers smart sensor technology that provides real-time visibility of cement inventory levels at customer silos, enabling producers to monitor stock remotely and plan deliveries more efficiently. The solution helps companies move from reactive to proactive logistics, improving delivery planning, operational efficiency and safety by reducing manual inspections. The technology is already used by major cement producers such as Holcim, Cemex and Heidelberg Materials and is deployed across more than 30 countries worldwide.