Concrete

The Economics of Bulk Transportation

Published

2 years ago

April 7, 2023

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Anup Nair, Managing Director, Martin Engineering Company India, discusses the importance of advanced solutions for transporting bulk materials to minimise impact on the environment and maximise cost efficiency.

In terms of the problems that cement manufacturing organisations face while transporting bulk materials and the solutions provided by Martin Engineering India, the challenges lie in in
two areas:
In a manufacturing plant, the kilns get blocked when the bulk material is moving through. Martin Engineering Air Cannons accompanied by Smart Nozzles ensure smooth flow and consume much less air compared to other methods thereby reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint.
In the mines, the conveyors face various problems like the spillage and carryback etc. Martin Engineering is a global leader in conveyor products such as belt cleaners and other solutions including innovative remote monitoring systems.

Safer Work Environment
Their products ensure that the workers in the plant and mines need not go frequently to the high risk equipment, such as conveyors, as they are maintained trouble free by reducing spillage, carryback, conveyor swaying etc. This risk is further reduced by the remote monitoring systems. The Martin Smart Series Nozzles come with a thermo safety shield that ensures the safety of the workers while replacing the nozzles with the plant still in operation.
Their equipment enhances productivity by reducing the downtime and increasing the intervals of shutdown. This is possible with the products of innovative design. The profitability is increased by high improvement in efficiency thereby reducing manpower required for cleaning, monitoring etc., and by reducing the energy consumption and carbon footprint as mentioned earlier.
The products also keep the plant machinery clean and efficient. This ensures lesser wear and tear of the plant machinery. For example, belt cleaners ensure there is no carry back in the conveyors that eventually lead to conveyor wear and tear.

Innovating for the Future
Martin Engineering’s tagline is ‹problem solved guaranteed,› therefore they ensure that the pain points faced by the customers are resolved using their products.
In India, manpower used to be available at lower cost. This situation helped the customers use manual methods. This led to a delay in employing modern methods such as the ones offered by Martin Engineering in India compared to other developed countries where the manpower availability was always a challenge.
Today, the company has introduced a remote monitoring system named N2. This helps the customers monitor the health condition of the equipment on their mobile phones. Also, the smart series nozzles that they manufacture ensures an innovative method of keeping the inner areas of the refractories clean. The company wishes to further these advanced methods to more of their customers this year.
As the Indian market matures, Martin Engineering will introduce more and more innovative products from their stable that ensures increase in safety and efficiency, which would lead to substantial reduction in energy consumption and carbon footprint. This would help their customers gain a competitive edge.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Anup Nair, MD, Martin Engineering Company Pvt Ltd, comes with 30 years of experience in the capital/construction equipment industry as a management professional.

Related Topics:Anup Nair cement manufacturing organisations Economics of Bulk Transportation Martin Engineering Company India

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Published

2 days ago

November 6, 2024

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Major cement manufacturers reported a decline in margins for the September quarter, primarily due to lower prices, which led to decreased sales realization.

With the exception of three leading cement producers—UltraTech Cement, Ambuja Cement, and Dalmia Bharat—smaller companies, including Nuvoco Vistas Corp, JK Cement, Birla Corporation, and Heidelberg Cement, experienced a drop in both topline and sales volume during the second quarter of the current fiscal year.

The industry encountered several challenges, including an extended monsoon season, flooding, and a slow recovery in government demand, all contributing to weak overall demand.

Despite these challenges, power, fuel, and other costs largely remained stable across the industry. The all-India average cement price was approximately Rs 348 per 50 kg bag in June 2024, which represented an 11 per cent year-on-year decrease to Rs 330 per bag in September, although it saw a month-on-month increase of 2 per cent.

In the first half of FY25, cement prices declined by 10 per cent year-on-year, settling at Rs 330 per bag. This decline was notable compared to the previous year’s average prices of Rs 365 per bag and Rs 375 per bag in FY23, as reported by Icra.

Leading cement manufacturer UltraTech reported a capacity utilization rate of 68 per cent, with a 3 per cent growth in volume. However, its sales realization for grey cement declined by 8.4 per cent year-on-year and 2.9 per cent quarter-on-quarter during the July-September period.

In response to a query regarding cement prices during the earnings call, UltraTech’s CFO Atul Daga indicated that there had been an improvement in prices from August to September and noted that prices remained steady from September to October. He mentioned that the prices had risen from Rs 347 in August to approximately Rs 354 currently.

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Published

3 days ago

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Steel companies in India are facing a significant challenge as they contend with an inventory crisis valued at approximately Rs 89,000 crore. This situation has arisen due to a notable increase in steel imports, which has put pressure on domestic producers struggling to maintain sales in a competitive market.

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The financial impact of this inventory crisis is profound, affecting cash flows and profitability for many steel firms. With domestic demand remaining volatile, the pressure to reduce prices has increased, further complicating the situation for manufacturers who are already grappling with elevated production costs.

Industry experts are urging policymakers to consider measures that can support local steel producers, such as imposing tariffs on imports or enhancing trade regulations. This would help to protect the domestic market and ensure that Indian steel companies can compete more effectively.

As the steel sector navigates these challenges, stakeholders are closely monitoring the situation, hoping for a turnaround that can stabilize the market and restore confidence among investors. The current dynamics emphasize the need for a robust strategy to bolster domestic production and mitigate the risks associated with excessive imports.

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Published

3 days ago

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As India aims to boost its steel output to meet domestic demand and support infrastructure projects, this partnership signifies a crucial step toward achieving those goals. Both companies are committed to leveraging their expertise to develop a state-of-the-art facility that will produce high-quality steel products while minimizing environmental impact.

This initiative also reflects the increasing collaboration between Indian and international firms to enhance industrial capabilities and foster economic growth. The MoU sets the stage for a promising future in the Indian steel sector, emphasizing innovation and sustainability as key drivers of success.