Technology

Digitisation gives visibility to demand and supply

Published

4 years ago

April 1, 2022

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Raj Pradhan, Global Delivery Head – Building & Construction Materials Vertical, BirlaSoft, speaks about the scope of digital technologies for cement companies for a gamut of solutions from cost optimisation and yield improvement to energy profiling and carbon footprint.

What is the need for automation in the cement industry?
Cement industry is typically a work force and raw material driven industry for decades. Person dependency in this industry is huge and automation can bring independent processes and scope for improvement. In the current competitive market where increase in price is not helping much, the only option left to improvise the margins is through market share and optimisation of cost, which can be achieved through automation.

With the rising demand of cement, how can digitisation of processes help optimise productivity and production?
Digitisation brings a complete near real time visibility of end to end processes which helps in taking timely decisions to avoid any down time and allows best possible utilisation of resources. As an example, cyclone jam due to SO2 layering in preheating/pyro equipment, which leads to process inconsistency and clinker quality degrades can be avoided with the help of digitisation. There are multiple possible issues, which can be analysed early and corrective actions can be taken before occurrence with the conversion of factories into smart factories.

How can an Information and Technology (IT) driven strategy for a cement business help in getting financial gains?
There are multiple areas where IT can help in getting financial gains to a cement business.
For example:
a. Growth in sales (top line) by utilisation sales team towards getting additional network rather serving existing dealer network
b. Cost optimisation by identifying probable dynamic set of parameters responsible for deviation in critical process performance indicators and generate role based actionable insights which can help taking corrective action during the process rather though a quality check post completion of process
c. Optimisation of supply chain by making complete process paper less

Give details about the challenges in business identified in the cement sector and solutions developed by your firm for them.
The challenges in a cement plant are divided into three groups. We have intelligent assets as solutions that cover the journey of smart manufacturing to overcome these challenges.
• Predictive Maintenance – Bearing failures, gearbox and bearing failure of grinding equipment, shaft wear, tear and shearing for crusher equipment, seal failure for hydraulic pumps, supporting roller shaft failure of kiln
• Predictive Process Quality – Cyclone jam due to SO2 layering in preheating-pyro equipment, degree of calcination, C3S quality parameter consistency from mines to kiln
• Proactive Process Monitoring – Actionable insights for Smart Processing / Real time energy report monitoring
Challenges in the sales department are because of time spent by sales to serve the existing dealer network rather than getting additional dealers to the network. We have channel partner connect as
a solution which covers the order to cash process for dealers without involving sales teams to serve existing dealers.
Challenges in the supply chain are getting addressed through our solution, which involves on-board transporters and drivers as part of the process to improvise the delivery experience.
At Birlasoft, we focus on industry domain and with that focus we have building and construction material as sub-vertical. This gives us an edge to understand and solve the problem of our customers in this industry.

Tell us about the impact of digitisation on the supply chain and logistics of cement. What solution would you recommend for the same?
Digitisation is helping to improvise TLC as well as opening the doors for small transporters in the local market. A company should think to utilise the competitive market of transporter as well rather only depending on contracted transporters. This will help in agility in delivery specially during secondary distribution which are shorter in distance. Also, digitisation gives visibility to demand and supply balance, which helps in reducing warehouse and handling cost.

What is the scope of Internet of Things (IoT) in the cement business?
Scope of IoT is huge in the cement business. Connected equipment in a smart plant gives multiple data parameters which enables the cement makers to derive productivity and process improvement through analytics.

Share your thoughts on the future of digitisation and automation in the cement industry.
Companies will invest to utilise digital technologies for cost optimisation, yield improvement, market capturing and also for achieving the target of energy profiling (consumption and CO2 emission) and
carbon footprint

-Kanika Mathur

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3 weeks ago

October 15, 2025

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Affordable Robotic & Automation Limited (ARAPL), India’s first listed robotics firm and a pioneer in industrial automation and smart robotic solutions, has reported robust financial results for the second quarter and half year ended September 30, 2025.
The company achieved a 175 per cent year-on-year rise in standalone EBITDA and strong revenue growth across its automation and robotics segments. The Board of Directors approved the unaudited financial results on October 10, 2025.

Key Highlights – Q2 FY2026
• Strong momentum across core automation and robotics divisions
• Secured the first order for the Atlas AC2000, an autonomous truck loading and unloading forklift, from a leading US logistics player
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Global Milestone: First Atlas AC2000 Order in the US

ARAPL’s US-based subsidiary, ARAPL RaaS (Humro), received its first order for the next-generation Atlas AC2000 autonomous forklift from a leading logistics company. Following successful prototype trials, the client placed an order for two robots valued at Rs 36 million under a three-year lease. The project opens opportunities for scaling up to 15–16 robots per site across 15 US warehouses within two years.
The product addresses an untapped market of 10 million loading docks across 21,000 warehouses in the US, positioning ARAPL for exponential growth.

Financial Performance – Q2 FY2026 (Standalone)
Net Revenue: Rs 25.7587 million, up 37 per cent quarter-on-quarter
EBITDA: Rs 5.9632 million, up 396 per cent QoQ
Profit Before Tax: Rs 4.3808 million, compared to a Rs 360.46 lakh loss in Q1
Profit After Tax: Rs 4.1854 lakh, representing 216 per cent QoQ growth
On a half-year basis, ARAPL reported a 175 per cent rise in EBITDA and returned to profitability with Rs 58.08 lakh PAT, highlighting strong operational efficiency and improved contribution from core businesses.
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Net Revenue: Rs 29.566 million, up 57% QoQ
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Milind Padole, Managing Director, ARAPL said, “Our Q2 results reflect the success of our innovation-led growth strategy and the growing global confidence in ARAPL’s technology. The Atlas AC2000 order marks a defining milestone that validates our engineering strength and accelerates our global expansion. With a healthy order book and continued investment in AI and autonomous systems, ARAPL is positioned to lead the next phase of intelligent industrial transformation.”
Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Pune, Affordable Robotic & Automation Ltd (ARAPL) delivers turnkey robotic and automation solutions across automotive, general manufacturing, and government sectors. Its offerings include robotic welding, automated inspection, assembly automation, automated parking systems, and autonomous driverless forklifts.
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3 weeks ago

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M.E. Energy Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kilburn Engineering Ltd and a leading Indian engineering company specialising in energy recovery and cost reduction, has secured its second consecutive major order worth Rs 490 million in the Ferro Alloys sector. The order covers the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of a 12 MW Waste Heat Recovery Based Power Plant (WHRPP).

This repeat order underscores the Ferro Alloys industry’s confidence in M.E. Energy’s expertise in delivering efficient and sustainable energy solutions for high-temperature process industries. The project aims to enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions by converting waste heat into clean power.

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With this latest order, M.E. Energy has already surpassed its total external order bookings from the previous financial year, recording Rs 138 crore so far in FY26. The company anticipates further growth in the second half, supported by a robust project pipeline and the rising adoption of waste heat recovery technologies across industries.

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NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), a subsidiary of NTPC Limited, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan’s ENEOS Corporation to explore a potential agreement for the supply of green methanol and hydrogen derivative products.

The MoU was exchanged on 10 October 2025 during the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. It marks a major step towards global collaboration in clean energy and decarbonisation.
The partnership centres on NGEL’s upcoming Green Hydrogen Hub at Pudimadaka in Andhra Pradesh. Spread across 1,200 acres, the integrated facility is being developed for large-scale green chemical production and exports.

By aligning ENEOS’s demand for hydrogen derivatives with NGEL’s renewable energy initiatives, the collaboration aims to accelerate low-carbon energy transitions. It also supports NGEL’s target of achieving a 60 GW renewable energy portfolio by 2032, reinforcing its commitment to India’s green energy ambitions and the global net-zero agenda.