Concrete

Innovation & efficiency to drive market

Published

3 years ago

December 21, 2021

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Prashant Jha, Chief Ready-Mix Business,Nuvoco Vistas Corp

Can you elaborate on the learnings for RMC segment from the standstill period of the global pandemic?

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the construction industry. The suspension of construction activities has led to delays in delivery, especially in China, India and Singapore, in the Asia-Pacific region, causing a decline in the demand for ready-mix concrete in construction operations.

There are two sides to every coin and RMC segment has learned from this difficult phase:

Work with optimum manpower
Keep limited resource
Raw materials management
Use energy in an optimal way
Risk analysis in terms of sales etc.
Virtual platform for meetings and training to cut travel costs.

What new innovations has the segment seen in the last two years?

Nuvoco has introduced several innovations in the concrete segment like structural light-weight concrete, called Structural Xlite. Typical concrete has a density of 2,400 kg per cm3, but Xlite has a density of around 800 to 1,600 kg per cm3. We have also developed radiation-proof concrete solutions for cancer hospitals. There are also types of concrete that can tolerate running water and extreme cold temperatures.

To make working with concrete easier with lesser manpower, Nuvoco has developed wet concrete that can just be poured on the site without the need of water. This concrete has retention of up to eight hours, while normal concrete usually has a retention period of four hours. This product addresses the concerns of typically narrowed bylanes with a requirement of small quantities of concrete.

What has been the the improvement in efficiency and overall?

RMC is advantageous for projects with a scarcity of labour, where smaller quantities of concrete or intermittent placing is required. The commonly used ready-mix concrete called Transit Mix prevents issues associated with slump loss or early hardening of concrete.

How do you see the market panning out in the next two years?

The recovery of the construction sector and strong growth opportunities in residential and infrastructure construction projects is expected to boost demand for construction materials. Currently, RMC capacity is close to 45 million cm3. With a boost to infrastructure and government initiatives such as Housing for All, we expect a growth of 7-10% in the next five years.

What is Nuvoco’s roadmap for the next three years?

In the short-term, we will focus on further strengthening our position in the building materials space. We will cater to the demand for cement and building materials which is likely to rebound as the country emerges from the pandemic. We expect the demand to be driven by the state and centre-level government initiatives to boost affordable housing.

We are optimistic about positive business growth in the long term and will continue to strengthen our market share by focusing on strategic interventions and drive to incorporate newer ideas. We will step up our efforts to deliver innovative products to our customers.

Nuvoco will also continue to work towards preserving natural resources and working towards our vision of ‘building a safer, smarter and sustainable world’.

Concrete

India Sets Up First Carbon Capture Testbeds for Cement Industry

Five CCU testbeds launched to decarbonise cement production

Published

2 weeks ago

May 21, 2025

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The Department of Science and Technology (DST) recently unveiled a pioneering national initiative: five Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) testbeds in the cement sector, forming a first-of-its-kind research and innovation cluster to combat industrial carbon emissions.

This is a significant step towards India’s Climate Action for fostering National Determined Contributions (NDCs) targets and to achieve net zero decarbonisation pathways for Industry Transition., towards the Government’s goal to achieve a carbon-neutral economy by 2070.

Carbon Capture Utilisation (CCU) holds significant importance in hard-to-abate sectors like Cement, Steel, Power, Oil &Natural Gas, Chemicals & Fertilizers in reducing emissions by capturing carbon dioxide from industrial processes and converting it to value add products such as synthetic fuels, Urea, Soda, Ash, chemicals, food grade CO2 or concrete aggregates. CCU provides a feasible pathway for these tough to decarbonise industries to lower their carbon footprint and move towards achieving Net Zero Goals while continuing their operations efficiently. DST has taken major strides in fostering R&D in the CCUS domain.

Concrete is vital for India’s economy and the Cement industry being one of the main hard-to-abate sectors, is committed to align with the national decarbonisation commitments. New technologies to decarbonise emission intensity of the cement sector would play a key role in achieving of national net zero targets.

Recognizing the critical need for decarbonising the Cement sector, the Energy and Sustainable Technology (CEST) Division of Department launched a unique call for mobilising Academia-Industry Consortia proposals for deployment of Carbon Capture Utilisation (CCU) in Cement Sector. This Special call envisaged to develop and deploy innovative CCU Test bed in Cement Sector with thrust on Developing CO2 capture + CO2 Utilisation integrated unit in an Industrial set up through an innovative Public Private Partnership (PPP) funding model.

As a unique initiative and one of its first kind in India, DST has approved setting up of five CCU testbeds for translational R&D, to be set up in Academia-Industry collaboration under this significant initiative of DST in PPP mode, engaging with premier research laboratories as knowledge partners and top Cement companies as the industry partner.

On the occasion of National Technology Day celebrations, on May 11, 2025 the 5 CCU Cement Test beds were announced and grants had been handed over to the Test bed teams by the Chief Guest, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh in the presence of Secretary DST Prof. Abhay Karandikar.

The five testbeds are not just academic experiments — they are collaborative industrial pilot projects bringing together India’s top research institutions and leading cement manufacturers under a unique Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Each testbed addresses a different facet of CCU, from cutting-edge catalysis to vacuum-based gas separation.

The outcomes of this innovative initiative will not only showcase the pathways of decarbonisation towards Net zero goals through CCU route in cement sector, but should also be a critical confidence building measure for potential stakeholders to uptake the deployed CCU technology for further scale up and commercialisation.

It is envisioned that through continuous research and innovation under these test beds in developing innovative catalysts, materials, electrolyser technology, reactors, and electronics, the cost of Green Cement via the deployed CCU technology in Cement Sector may considerably be made more sustainable.

Secretary DBT Dr Rajesh Gokhale, Dr Ajai Choudhary, Co-Founder HCL, Dr. Rajesh Pathak, Secretary, TDB, Dr Anita Gupta Head CEST, DST and Dr Neelima Alam, Associate Head, DST were also present at the programme organized at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.

Concrete

JK Lakshmi Adopts EVs to Cut Emissions in Logistics

Electric vehicles deployed between JK Puram and Kalol units

Published

2 weeks ago

May 21, 2025

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JK Lakshmi Cement, a key player in the Indian cement industry, has announced the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) in its logistics operations. This move, made in partnership with SwitchLabs Automobiles, will see EVs transporting goods between the JK Puram Plant in Sirohi, Rajasthan, and the Kalol Grinding Unit in Gujarat.

The announcement follows a successful pilot project that showcased measurable reductions in carbon emissions while maintaining efficiency. Building on this, the company is scaling up EV integration to enhance sustainability across its supply chain.

“Sustainability is integral to our vision at JK Lakshmi Cement. Our collaboration with SwitchLabs Automobiles reflects our continued focus on driving innovation in our logistics operations while taking responsibility for our environmental footprint. This initiative positions us as a leader in transforming the cement sector’s logistics landscape,” said Arun Shukla, President & Director, JK Lakshmi Cement.

This deployment marks a significant step in aligning with India’s push for greener transport infrastructure. By embracing clean mobility, JK Lakshmi Cement is setting an example for the industry, demonstrating that environmental responsibility can go hand in hand with operational efficiency.

The company continues to embed sustainability into its operations as part of a broader goal to reduce its carbon footprint. This initiative adds to its vision of building a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.

JK Lakshmi Cement, part of the 135-year-old JK Organisation, began operations in 1982 and has grown to become a recognised name in Indian cement. With a presence across Northern, Western, and Eastern India, the company has a cement capacity of 16.5 MTPA, with a target to reach 30 MT by 2030. Its product range includes ready-mix concrete, gypsum plaster, wall putty, and autoclaved aerated fly ash blocks.

Concrete

Holcim UK drives sustainable construction

Published

3 weeks ago

May 13, 2025

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Holcim UK has released a report titled ‘Making Sustainable Construction a Reality,’ outlining its five-fold commitment to a greener future. The company aims to focus on decarbonisation, circular economy principles, smarter building methods, community engagement, and integrating nature. Based on a survey of 2,000 people, only 41 per cent felt urban spaces in the UK are sustainably built. A significant majority (82 per cent) advocated for more green spaces, 69 per cent called for government leadership in sustainability, and 54 per cent saw businesses as key players. Additionally, 80 per cent of respondents stressed the need for greater transparency from companies regarding their environmental practices.

Image source:holcim