Concrete

Moisture measurement in bulk solids including RMC

Published

5 years ago

December 21, 2021

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Time Domain Refractometry (TDR) is a method used to measure the dielectric constant (water content) of a material.

Time Domain Refractometry (TDR) is a method used to measure the dielectric constant (water content) of a material. Metal conductors or rods are used as wave guides for the transmission of the TDR-signal. The device generates a high-frequency-pulse (up to 1GHz) which propagates along the wave guides at the speed near to light, generating an electromagnetic field around the probe. At the end of the wave guides, the pulse is reflected to its source. The resulting transit time from picoseconds to nanoseconds and dielectric constant provide an accurate measurement of moisture content. The moisture content is calculated inside the device and is available at standard analogue outputs.

IMKO, a German company, which part of the Endress+Hauser Group has developed a patented measuring method called TRIME® TDR method. With this technology it is possible to measure the transit time with a resolution of 3 picoseconds. The TRIME® TDR method has been successfully used more than 30 years in the process industry.

The TRIME® TDR -technique has an ideal measuring frequency between 600MHz and 1.2GHz and the measuring field penetrates deep into the material. The electromagnetic pulses generated in the TRIME device are high enough and constant for good resolution and accuracy of measurement. In addition, disturbing influences such as electrical conductivity have nearly no effect. Precise moisture can be measured in temperatures up to 120°C. TRIME® TDR technology is used in Solitrend product which helps to increase product quality and reduce energy efforts due to precise moisture measurement.

The senor used in Solitrend is in direct contact with the material. Calibration is a simple linear equation. Measurement field adapts itself to the shape of material and is quite large. It is also undisturbed by dripping water, air and dirt. The probes are extremely rugged for exceptionally long operational life. It also replaces time consuming lab analysis and manual sampling with continuous online measurement.

Both In line as well as portable probes measurements are available.

Application

The building industry. Moisture measurement in Ready Mix Concrete.
In line moisture content measurement in bulk material or goods like wood chips, pellets, animal food etc.
The glass and ceramics industry like silica sand, moulding sand, ceramics mass.
Food Industry. Malting plants, Corn, Sludge drying, Fluid bed dryers (inlet/outlet).

Limitations of other methods

Capacitance method – This method works with single measuring frequencies between 5-80MHz. The dielectric constant is influenced both by moisture and salinity. It is very difficult to distinguish between the two influences and precise moisture measurements are difficult to achieve.

Microwave method – The frequencies of microwave techniques are generally higher than 2GHz. This technique leads to loss in resolution and accuracy of measurement having negative influence on the readings.

Conductance or Resistance method – This method have very low measuring frequencies of about 4kHz. There is a strong influence of different salinity of the bulk material on the measurement. The difference in salinity is caused by different mineral contents temperature. Another problem of resistance method is the low penetration depth of the measuring field.

Near-Infrared method (NIR)-This method shows a very lower penetration depth and, therefore, considerable influences of material surface and thickness.

Scan the QR code for more information or write to us on info.in.sc@endress.com.

Concrete

UltraTech to Deploy 600+ Electric Trucks by Dec 2026

Cement major expands green logistics to cut emissions across supply chain

Published

3 days ago

September 3, 2026

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UltraTech Cement Limited, an Aditya Birla Group company, plans to expand its electric vehicle fleet in logistics operations to more than 600 EV trucks by December 2026, strengthening its green transport initiatives.

The company has signed service agreements with leading EV prime mover manufacturers, including Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, IPLTech, Energy in Motion and Sany, along with their subsidiaries and logistics partners, for deploying electric trucks.

The expanded fleet will transport around five million MT of clinker and other key materials annually across Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Odisha. Once operational, the fleet is expected to reduce annual CO₂ emissions by over 1,17,000 tonnes and replace nearly 39 million litres of diesel consumption.

K C Jhanwar, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement Limited, said the company is extending sustainability beyond its manufacturing plants by adopting greener logistics solutions and decarbonising its value chain.

UltraTech has been among the early adopters of sustainable transport in the cement sector, introducing CNG trucks in 2021 and electric trucks in 2024. The company currently operates more than 850 trucks under its green logistics programme, including CNG and electric vehicles.

With a grey cement capacity exceeding 200 MTPA in India, UltraTech is integrating electrification across its logistics network, covering mine-to-plant movement and inter-plant transportation of clinker and other materials.

Concrete

UltraTech Cement expands green logistics with 600+ electric truck fleet

Published

3 days ago

September 3, 2026

admin

The e-truck fleet will be used to transport five million MT of clinker and other key materials with potential of over 1,17,000 tonnes of net annual CO₂ reduction, displacing the equivalent of 39 million litres of diesel per year.

Mumbai

UltraTech Cement Limited, an Aditya Birla Group company and the world’s largest cement company by sales volume and capacity outside China, has announced that it will scale up its electric vehicle fleet in its logistics operations to 600+ EV trucks by December 2026.

UltraTech has signed service contracts with leading EV prime mover manufacturers including Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, IPLTech, Energy in Motion and Sany, along with their subsidiaries and other third-party logistics providers, to deploy EV trucks.

The total fleet of 600+ EV trucks will transport about five million MT of clinker and other key materials per annum across Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Odisha. Once fully operational, this fleet of over 600 EV trucks will enable a net annual CO₂ reduction of more than 1,17,000 tonnes, displacing the equivalent of 39 million litres of diesel per year.

K C Jhanwar, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement Limited, said, “UltraTech is expanding sustainability beyond its plants by adopting greener logistics solutions. This large-scale transition to green logistics underscores our focus on decarbonising every link of our value chain and supports our commitment to achieving Net Zero.”

UltraTech has been a pioneer in advancing sustainable transport in the cement sector, being the first cement company to deploy heavy-duty electric trucks for long-haul transport of clinker and other materials at scale. The company was among the first in India to introduce green logistics, deploying CNG trucks in 2021 and electric trucks in 2024. UltraTech currently operates 850+ trucks as part of its green logistics operations, including CNG and electric trucks.

UltraTech, with a grey cement capacity of over 200 MTPA in India, operates one of the country’s most complex logistics networks. Its electrification strategy covers the entire supply chain—from mine-to-plant movement to inter-plant transport of clinker and other key materials.

The $ 10 billion UltraTech, the cement flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, has a total Grey Cement capacity of 205.5 MTPA and White Cement/Putty capacity of 3.2 MTPA. It is a signatory to the GCCA Climate Ambition 2050 and has committed to the Net Zero Concrete roadmap announced by GCCA.

Concrete

CarbonStrong Raises Rs 125 Million To Scale Low Carbon Cement Tech

To build capacity of 100,000 tonnes a year

Published

1 week ago

August 28, 2026

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CarbonStrong has raised Rs 125 million (125 mn) to scale a low carbon cement technology and build commercial production capacity. The startup was founded in 2022 by Harsh Jain and Vikramaditya Singh and has moved from customer trials to plans for industrial supply. The company said its material replaces up to 50 per cent of cement in concrete while reducing costs and improving durability.

CarbonStrong states the product is around 30 per cent cheaper than cement and compatible with existing concrete plants, reducing the need for new equipment and operational disruption. Trials and paid pilots have been conducted in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai with demonstration projects involving ready-mix firms and precast manufacturers. Compatibility with current workflows forms a central part of the commercial strategy, aiming to ease adoption by builders and contractors.

The funding will support construction of a facility with capacity of up to 100,000 tonnes (100,000 t) a year over the next two years to supply early customers commercially. The firm is also developing materials from steel slag, copper slag and mine tailings to expand its feedstock base, while noting the technical challenge of homogenising different waste streams. Recognition by HCL ClimaForce in 2026 and by the Avaana-Startup India-NITI Aayog AIM Grand Challenge in 2025 has underscored progress.

Industry adoption remains the principal test and will require consistent material performance, supply reliability and competitive economics. CarbonStrong projects the Indian market for cement substitutes could reach Rs 250 billion (250 bn) by 2030 and has set an ambition to produce 10 million tonnes a year by 2035 (10 mn t), a target far above its near term capacity. Moving from pilots to production demands capital, manufacturing discipline and customers willing to specify the material beyond demonstrations. The recent Rs 125 million raise is intended to fund the next phase of scale and to demonstrate that industrial waste can become a dependable input for lower carbon construction.