Concrete

Cement companies are investing in new age technologies

Published

3 years ago

April 21, 2022

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Arvind Kakru, Director Sales, Rockwell Automation, talks about the difference digitisation can make in the cement manufacturing and distribution processes, its long term impact and its contribution to the sustainability efforts of the industry as a whole.

How important is digital transformation in cement plants? How can it impact the business positively?

The cement plant of the future will have to focus on lower operating costs and higher asset values, which would mean higher energy efficiency, yield and throughput. The big levers for the cement plants would be carbon emission, yield and energy throughput, process utilisations, automations, and more.

The objective or the ultimate gains that people are looking at are demand driven production, streamline quality and compliance, data and knowledge driven efficiency, risk management and secure operation of the plant.

Tell us about the technology supporting the ‘Connected Cement Plant’.

You look at multiple levels in a particular program, one of the things is the devices operating on the shop floor or the manufacturing site. They have to be intelligent otherwise how will you get the data? So, we have to ensure that all of the data on the field level are intelligent devices, as in they have control over the process, they have sensors in place and have software connectivity which throws off the data on the larger enterprise level.

Data plays a huge role in bringing operational and productivity efficiency by connecting assets, people and information. How does your organisation make that happen through digital automation?

We start with smart devices, smart machines at some place, which enables the data to be thrown up at the enterprise level. Then the process automation and the package power overall which results in overall operation efficiency and modern technologies here improve the performance of process, equipment and people. A smart device we have a smart device and manufacturing overall connecting all the individual cells in a particular manufacturing environment and then taking it to larger manufacturing. Then looking at third party integration, market visibility which is from mining to market right where our consumers are and connected workforce.

What kind of innovative technological solutions for the cement plants can be expected in the future from your organisation?

We have been looking at some of the solutions already with some of the other industries where we have taken a lead. Cement did not used to be organised before and now that we see a lot of things coming in from the market point of view, regulatory point of view, sustainability point of view, helping people or cement manufacturers or the decision makers who focus aggressively on some of these things.

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Cement companies are investing in new age technologies

Concrete

Construction Costs Rise 11% in 2024, Driven by Labour Expenses

Cement Prices Decline 15%, But Labour Costs Surge by 25%

Published

2 days ago

November 19, 2024

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The cost of construction in India increased by 11% over the past year, primarily driven by a 25% rise in labour expenses, according to Colliers India. While prices of key materials like cement dropped by 15% and steel saw a marginal 1% decrease, the surge in labour costs stretched construction budgets across sectors.

“Labour, which constitutes over a quarter of construction costs, has seen significant inflation due to the demand for skilled workers and associated training and compliance costs,” said Badal Yagnik, CEO of Colliers India.

The residential segment experienced the sharpest cost escalation due to a growing focus on quality construction and demand for gated communities. Meanwhile, commercial and industrial real estate remained resilient, with 37 million square feet of office space and 22 million square feet of warehousing space completed in the first nine months of 2024.

“Despite rising costs, investments in automation and training are helping developers address manpower challenges and streamline project timelines,” said Vimal Nadar, senior director at Colliers India.

With labour costs continuing to influence overall construction expenses, developers are exploring strategies to optimize operations and mitigate rising costs.

Concrete

Swiss Steel to Cut 800 Jobs

Job cuts due to weak demand

Published

3 days ago

November 18, 2024

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Swiss Steel has announced plans to cut 800 jobs as part of a restructuring effort, triggered by weak demand in the global steel market. The company, a major player in the European steel industry, cited an ongoing slowdown in demand as the primary reason behind the workforce reduction. These job cuts are expected to impact various departments across its operations, including production and administrative functions.

The steel industry has been facing significant challenges due to reduced demand from key sectors such as construction and automotive manufacturing. Additionally, the broader economic slowdown in Europe, coupled with rising energy costs, has further strained the profitability of steel producers like Swiss Steel. In response to these conditions, the company has decided to streamline its operations to ensure long-term sustainability.

Swiss Steel’s decision to cut jobs is part of a broader trend in the steel industry, where companies are adjusting to volatile market conditions. The move is aimed at reducing operational costs and improving efficiency, but it highlights the continuing pressures faced by the manufacturing sector amid uncertain global economic conditions.

The layoffs are expected to occur across Swiss Steel’s production facilities and corporate offices, as the company focuses on consolidating its workforce. Despite these cuts, Swiss Steel plans to continue its efforts to innovate and adapt to market demands, with an emphasis on high-value, specialty steel products.

Concrete

UltraTech Cement to raise Rs 3,000 crore via NCDs to boost financial flexibility

UltraTech reported a 36% year-on-year (YoY) decline in net profit, dropping to Rs 825 crore

Published

3 days ago

November 18, 2024

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UltraTech Cement, the Aditya Birla Group’s flagship company, has announced plans to raise up to Rs 3,000 crore through the private placement of non-convertible debentures (NCDs) in one or more tranches. The move aims to strengthen the company’s financial position amid increasing competition in the cement sector.

UltraTech’s finance committee has approved the issuance of rupee-denominated, unsecured, redeemable, and listed NCDs. The company has experienced strong stock performance, with its share price rising 22% over the past year, boosting its market capitalization to approximately Rs 3.1 lakh crore.

For Q2 FY2025, UltraTech reported a 36% year-on-year (YoY) decline in net profit, dropping to Rs 825 crore, below analyst expectations. Revenue for the quarter also fell 2% YoY to Rs 15,635 crore, and EBITDA margins contracted by 300 basis points. Despite this, the company saw a 3% increase in domestic sales volume, supported by lower energy costs.

In a strategic move, UltraTech invested Rs 3,954 crore for a 32.7% equity stake in India Cements, further solidifying its position in South India. UltraTech holds an 11% market share in the region, while competitor Adani holds 6%. UltraTech also secured $500 million through a sustainability-linked loan, underscoring its focus on sustainable growth driven by infrastructure and housing demand.