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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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.