Concrete

Making Raw Materials Worthier

Published

3 years ago

April 7, 2023

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Detlef Blümke, Managing Director, Loesche India, talks about the evolution and adaptation of grinding mills with the changing face of raw mix and alternative fuels.

Let us start at the beginning, somewhere around 1906, when Loesche India initiated coal fired power plants and mills. Since then, they have been developing new things and have been frontrunners in the vertical mills’ domain. They are inventors of raw mills for raw material grinding, vertical roller mills for raw material grinding and have been ahead of times with other manufacturers following their lead.
Energy and carbon dioxide are the major concerns in the current times. Loesche India is developing and trying to improve its product to accommodate the rising concerns of the environment. Europe, too, is very strict with its regulations as carbon reduction is a huge necessity there as well. This will ultimately imply the reduction of work. The resource is also critical as Loesche India is shutting down its coal fired power plants and looking forward to using nuclear powered or solar powered plants etc., which safeguard and protect the resources of nature. They are the inventors of hundreds of machines, which makes them responsible for cleaning up the world that we live in.
The company has partnered with multiple companies and have been working on processes like pyroprocessing, focussing on aspects like power reduction, process optimisation and carbon reduction. While it is not trying to compete with full line suppliers, it is looking for niche markets and focusing on
each product.

Finetuning the Operations
One of Loesche India’s subsidiaries in India is into transportation and has special transportation machinery that is not available anywhere. This ensures a smooth process because if that is interrupted, then it needs to be restarted and stopped, which leads to waste of energy. The company is working on a wide field of products and is moving ahead with new developments to increase capacities of its mills and to reduce the footprints of the plants.
It has acquired small portions of land in some areas, because it is not just about the investment, it is also about the protection of land. It is also working on replacing limestone in the clinker, which is clinker reduction, which leads to reduction in the consumption of power and carbon. This is the main focus.
Dr Loesche is 67 years old and his sons will be stepping in to take over the business. They are deeply inclined towards environment protection and building sustainability. The organisation has also started publishing its sustainability reports and are looking into it minutely to understand better paths to include sustainability into their machines and everyone’s lives as well.
Speaking of alternative fuels, at the celebration of 111 years of Loesche, it was announced that the company is using 100 per cent alternative fuels without any coal. At this stage, the machines have been optimised for the use of 60 to 70 per cent alternative fuels to 100 per cent alternative fuels. They have optimised the plant process for the same. Newer cements will keep getting developed by the producers, which will be further approved by the concerned authorities. Clay and slag are substitutes, which are alternative or supplementary materials. Loesche India’s raw mills are equipped to adapt to the changing raw materials for cement and will give optimised results for the same.

Role of Automation
They have onboarded subsidiaries and companies that conduct fluid simulations for their processes to understand if the results can be optimised and identify bottlenecks for a seamless flow. This way resistance can be eliminated, thus reducing the usage of power. They also provide their customers with gear boxes for our machines, so that preventive maintenance can be done for any damage that may be waiting to happen. They give a full package with machines, spare parts, documentation and software packages for self-learning for optimised results. They are far away from advanced artificial intelligence.
The acceptance of full automation in India is still not 100 per cent, but they are moving there. As the players are increasing their capacities and competition is rising, the industry will be inclined to automate their processes.
Loesche India has introduced an ambient system, especially for raw material grinding, which can reduce the footprint of grinding, can reduce CAPEX and operational cost as well. This system will be able to reduce at least 2kWH per tonne for the grinding. If the capacity is 600 or 900 tonnes, the savings are enormous. This is the company’s main focus to reduce energy and save the environment. It is no longer looking at capacities anymore, attractive plants are green now.
Loesche India has been in the Indian market for almost 40 years and is well reputed in India. It is constantly working towards keeping up with its innovations and inventions. Of course, the competition is strong, but that is a challenge that the company has happily accepted and is pushing the boundaries to become better, with machines that are more reliable and energy efficient as it continues to be a part of the cement industry in India.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Detlef Blümke, Managing Director, Loesche India Pvt Ltd., has been heading the India operations for the past four years and been with the company for almost 30 years.

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Concrete

UltraTech Appoints Jayant Dua As MD-Designate For 2027

Executive named to succeed current managing director in 2027

Published

11 hours ago

March 10, 2026

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UltraTech Cement has appointed Jayant Dua as managing director (MD) designate who will take charge in 2027, the company announced. The appointment signals a planned leadership transition at one of the country’s largest cement manufacturers. The board has set a clear timeline for the handover and has framed the move as part of a structured succession plan.

Jayant Dua will be referred to as MD after assuming the role and will be responsible for overseeing operations, strategy and growth initiatives across the company’s network. The company said the designation follows established governance norms and aims to ensure continuity in executive leadership. The appointment is expected to allow a phased transfer of responsibilities ahead of the formal changeover.

The decision is intended to provide strategic stability as UltraTech Cement navigates domestic infrastructure demand and evolving market dynamics. Management will continue to focus on operational efficiency, capacity utilisation and cost management while aligning investments with long term objectives. The board will monitor the transition and provide further information on leadership responsibilities closer to the effective date.

Investors and market observers will have time to assess the implications of the announcement before the change is effected, and analysts will review the company’s outlook in the context of the succession. The company indicated that it will communicate any additional executive appointments or organisational changes as they are finalised. Shareholders were advised to refer to formal filings and company releases for definitive details on governance or remuneration.

The leadership change will be managed with attention to stakeholder interests and operational continuity, and the company reiterated its commitment to delivery on ongoing projects and customer obligations. Senior management will engage with employees and partners to ensure a smooth handover while maintaining focus on safety and compliance. Further updates will be provided through official investor communications in due course.

Concrete

Merlin Prime Spaces Acquires 13,185 Sq M Land Parcel In Pune

Rs 273 crore purchase broadens the developer’s Pune presence

Published

4 days ago

March 6, 2026

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Merlin Prime Spaces (MPS) has acquired a 13,185 sq m land parcel in Pune for Rs 273 crore, marking a notable expansion of its footprint in the city.

The transaction value converts to Rs 2,730 mn or Rs 2.73 bn.

The parcel is located in a strategic area of Pune and the firm described the acquisition as aligned with its growth objectives.

The deal follows recent activity in the region and will be watched by investors and developers.

MPS said the acquisition will support its planned development pipeline and enable delivery of commercial and residential space to meet local demand.

The company expects the site to provide flexibility in product design and phased development to respond to market conditions.

The move reflects an emphasis on land ownership in key suburban markets.

The emphasis on land acquisition reflects a strategy to secure inventory ahead of demand cycles.

The purchase follows a period of sustained investor interest in Pune real estate, driven by expanding office ecosystems and residential demand from professionals.

MPS will integrate the new holding into its existing portfolio and plans to engage with local authorities and stakeholders to progress approvals and infrastructure readiness.

No financial partners were disclosed in the announcement.

The firm indicated that timelines will depend on approvals and prevailing market conditions.

Analysts note that strategic land acquisitions at scale can help developers manage costs and timelines while preserving optionality for future projects.

MPS will now hold an enlarged land bank in the region as it pursues growth, and the acquisition underlines continued corporate appetite for measured expansion in second tier cities.

The company intends to move forward with detailed planning in the coming months.

Stakeholders will assess how the site is positioned relative to existing infrastructure and connectivity.

Concrete

Adani Cement and Naredco Partner to Promote Sustainable Construction

Collaboration to focus on skills, technology and greener practices

Published

4 days ago

March 6, 2026

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Adani Cement has entered a strategic partnership with the National Real Estate Development Council (Naredco) to support India’s construction needs with a focus on sustainability, workforce capability and modern building technologies. The collaboration brings together Adani Cement’s building materials portfolio, research and development strengths and technical expertise with Naredco’s nationwide network of more than 15,000 member organisations. The agreement aims to address evolving demand across housing, commercial and infrastructure sectors.

Under the partnership, the organisations will roll out skill development and certification programmes for masons, contractors and site supervisors, with training to emphasise contemporary construction techniques, safety practices and quality standards. The programmes are intended to improve project execution and on-site efficiency and to raise labour productivity through standardised competencies. Emphasis will be placed on practical training and certification pathways that can be scaled across regions.

The alliance will function as a platform for knowledge sharing and technology exchange, facilitating access to advanced concrete solutions, innovative construction practices and modern materials. The effort is intended to enhance structural durability, execution quality and environmental responsibility across developments while promoting adoption of low-carbon technologies and green cement alternatives. Companies expect these measures to contribute to longer term resilience of built assets.

Senior executives conveyed that the partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening quality and sustainability in construction and that closer engagement with developers will help integrate advanced materials and technical support throughout the project lifecycle. Leadership noted the need for responsible construction practices as urbanisation accelerates and indicated that the association should encourage wider adoption of green building norms and collaboration within the real estate and construction ecosystem.

The organisations said they will also explore integrated building solutions, including ready-mix concrete offerings, while supporting initiatives aligned with affordable and inclusive housing. The partnership will progress through engagements, conferences and joint training programmes targeting rapidly urbanising cities and growth centres where demand for efficient and environmentally responsible construction grows. Naredco, established under the aegis of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, will leverage its policy and advocacy role to support implementation.