Connect with us

Concrete

Manufactured sand gaining traction

Published

on

Shares

The state government should device a mechanism to ensure the quality of M-sand distributed in the state. Low quality material not only gives a low quality precast but also affects the durability of concrete, says Joseph Jacob, Director, POABS Group

The state government should device a mechanism to ensure the quality of M-sand distributed in the state. Low quality material not only gives a low quality precast but also affects the durability of concrete, says Joseph Jacob, Director, POABS Group

Manufactured sand or M-sand is gaining popularity among customers as many states have banned the use of river sand. What were the challenges?

M-sand is a registered trademark of POABS. This concept was launched in 2002, in Kerala. The company had some crusher plants and was looking at ways to use crusher dust/ crusher sand—the byproduct from the plants, in concrete. However, there were challenges like the shape of the dust and presence of varied percentages of microcytes. Use of these type of concrete dust can cause durability and load bearing (strength) issues. So, these were used as landfill or dumped. However, with the price of river sand moving upward, and the restriction on extraction of river sand led us to innovate and convert the crusher sand to usable manufactured sand. With the support of College of Engineering Trivandrum, we have established the first M-sand plant in Thiruvananthapuram. Till then the industry was dependent on river sand that is cylindrical in shape which blends well in the concrete mix.

With new concepts come new technologies. Can you describe the technologies being used in manufacturing sand?

The first plant was set up with wet technology. Crushed particles are first passed through a vertical shaft and then through a wet process. While the river sand is cylindrical in shape, crushed sand it is cubical. The cubical shape adds more strength to the concrete. The only challenge now remaining is the removal of microcytes. The Indian Bureau of standards permits use of 150 microns not exceeding 10 percent and 75 microns not exceeding 2 percent in the concrete mixture. When crush sand is washed, in the process we lose 300 and 600 microns. So, challenge was to retain the 300 and 600 microns and remove the 150 and 75 microns from the same lot.

What is your market in m-sand?

Till FY2009 -10, we held 50 percent market share in Kerala. Increase in number of palmers and import of m-sand from the neighboring states has impacted our market share. Also, there is no mechanism in Kerala to check the quality of m-sand distributed in the state. Cheap quality material is easily available in the market at lower rates, and that is chief competition.

What are the regulatory challenges?

There is no quality check for the m-sand coming from different places. The QC is possible only if it is produced locally. If the material is transported from other states, implementing QC check is very difficult. Once such low-grade m-sand is used in concrete, there are ways to check the strength but difficult to gauge durability.

Which segment is your major consumer RMC or retail? And what are your expansion plans?

We have our own RMC business arm. We do cater to both—RMC and the retailers. The demand for m-sand is growing is rising from states where local governments have imposed restrictions on river sand. Most South Indian and West Indian states have moved to m-sand now. Considering the opportunities, we are definitely looking at expanding. We are in advanced talks with some states, though it is too early to divulge details. Currently we operate only in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Renjini Liza Varghese

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Concrete

30-Day Traffic Diversion In Place For CC Road Works In Madhapur

Diversions in place from May 16 for cement concrete road works

Published

on

By

Shares



The Cyberabad Traffic Police issued a traffic advisory as road works begin for the laying of a cement concrete (CC) road from Jaya Shankar Statue to RRR Restaurant at Parvathnagar in Madhapur limits. The advisory indicated that traffic diversions will be in place for 30 days from May 16 to ensure the smooth flow of vehicles and to minimise congestion on the affected stretch. The measure aims to balance uninterrupted construction activity with the movement needs of commuters.

Traffic moving from Toddy Compound towards Parvathnagar village will be diverted at Parvathnagar junction towards Sunnam Cheruvu and the 100 feet road. Local motorists and public transport operators have been advised to follow the diversionary route as directed by traffic personnel on duty. Alternate routes and signage have been planned to mitigate delays and to manage peak hour congestion.

Police officials said the diversion had been planned to facilitate uninterrupted road works while maintaining traffic movement in the area. Commuters were urged to plan their travel accordingly and to cooperate with traffic staff managing the stretch. Authorities indicated that enforcement of diversions would be active and that violations could attract penalties.

The 30 day schedule is intended to allow contractors to complete the laying and curing phases with minimal interruption to vehicular flow. Residents and businesses in adjacent localities have been advised to factor the diversion into deliveries and travel plans. The traffic police promised continuous monitoring of the works and the operational diversions and emphasised that temporary inconvenience was necessary for longer term improvement of the road network. Traffic personnel will be stationed at key junctions and additional signage and temporary markings will be displayed to guide motorists and pedestrians through the revised alignments while public transport services will follow the diversion where feasible and operators have been asked to adjust timetables to minimise disruption.

Continue Reading

Concrete

HeidelbergCement India Receives Consent For Khandwa Grinding Unit

Consent granted by Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board

Published

on

By

Shares



HeidelbergCement India (HeidelbergCement India) has received regulatory consent to establish a cement blending and grinding unit at Village Dongaliya, Tehsil Punasa, District Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh. The consent was granted by the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and is dated 17 May 2026. The company disclosed the development in a filing made under Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.

The project plan envisages procurement of long term availability of fly ash and the allotment of land on lease for setting up the unit. The proposed facility is described as a blending and grinding installation which will process cementitious materials sourced from nearby operations and suppliers. Company filings state the measures required to secure raw material logistics and statutory compliance before commencing construction.

The addition of a grinding unit in Khandwa is intended to strengthen regional supply and improve logistical efficiency by reducing haulage distances for finished product. The unit is expected to complement existing capacities in central India and to offer flexibility in product mix through blending operations. The reliance on fly ash as a supplementary cementitious material will necessitate long term supply agreements with thermal power producers and coordination with waste utilisation policies.

The disclosure to the regulator and to the stock exchanges follows standard corporate governance practice and aims to keep investors apprised of capital expenditure initiatives. The company indicated that subsequent permits and clearances would be sought in accordance with applicable environmental and land use rules. The project is presented as part of HeidelbergCement India’s broader strategy to optimise capacity distribution and to respond to regional demand dynamics.

Continue Reading

Concrete

PROMECON introduces infrared-based tertiary air measurement system for cement kilns

Published

on

By

Shares

The new solution promisescontinuous, real-time tertiary air flow measurement in cement plant operations.

PROMECON GmbH has launched the McON IR Compact, an infrared-based measuring system designed to deliver continuous, real-time tertiary air flow measurement in cement plant operations. The system addresses the longstanding process control challenge of accurate tertiary air monitoring under extreme kiln conditions. It uses patented infrared time-of-flight measurement technology that operates without calibration or maintenance intervention.

Precise tertiary air measurement is a critical requirement for stable rotary kiln operation. The McON IR Compact is engineered to function reliably at temperatures up to 1,200°C and in the presence of abrasive clinker dust. Its vector-based digital measurement architecture ensures that readings remain unaffected by swirl, dust deposits or drift. Due to these conditions conventional measurement systems in pyroprocess environments are often compromised.

The system is fully non-intrusive and requires no K-factors, recalibration or periodic readjustment, enabling years of uninterrupted operation. This design directly supports plant availability and reduces the maintenance overhead typically associated with process instrumentation in high-temperature zones.

PROMECON has deployed the McON IR Compact at multiple cement facilities, including Warta Cement in Poland. Plant operators report that the system has aided in identifying blockages, optimising purging cycles for gas burners, and supplying accurate flow data for AI-based process optimisation programmes. The practical outcomes include more stable kiln operation, improved process control, and earlier detection of process disturbances.

On the energy side, real-time tertiary air data enables reduction in induced draft fan load and helps flatten process oscillations across the pyroprocess. This translates to lower fuel and energy consumption, fewer unplanned shutdowns, and a measurable reduction in NOx peaks. This directly reflects on the downstream cost implications for plants operating SCR or SNCR systems for emissions compliance.

Continue Reading

Video Thumbnail
â–¶

    SIGN-UP FOR OUR GENERAL NEWSLETTER


    Trending News

    SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

     

    Don't miss out on valuable insights and opportunities to connect with like minded professionals.

     


      This will close in 0 seconds