Concrete

Weighing it Right

Published

2 years ago

April 10, 2023

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Rakesh Valeja, Director, Thames Side Sensors India, talks about the crucial role that weighing equipment plays at every stage of the cement manufacturing process.

Thames Side Sensors India provides weighing electronics for the cement industry. When there is manufacturing, there is a requirement of measuring and packing. Measuring happens at different parts of the cement manufacturing process.
Their equipment starts measuring from 300g to 1000 tonne capacity, thus, it can accommodate any weighing application in the cement industry. When raw material comes in from the mines, there is a requirement of weight bridges. When limestone comes to plant on conveyor belts, load needs to be measured there. In the weigh feeder application, raw material is weighed and at the end when the end product is packed that, too, is weighed and packed in respective bags. From raw material to when final packaging is out, their equipment is used in the cement industry at every stage.
Their system is one of the most accurate weighing systems worldwide and they have a presence in over 70 countries globally. Speaking about accuracy, their systems’ outputs are better than the industry standard. They also give excellent warranty support and due to their confidence in their products, they give a 5-year warranty, which is the highest amongst all competition in the market. Their customers also have confidence in the company and have shown their trust in them by making repeat purchases.

Improving Efficiency
Following are some of the important aspects of the systems provided by Thames Side Sensors India:
Their equipment gives the best in class accuracy, which leads the customer to avoid any losses. In this way, they help cement manufacturers save cost. The life of the equipment is 15-20 years, which reduces the need to replace and thus, giving a good return on investment.
They provide equipment use training to their customers.
Automation and technology part is executed by OEM partners. As the company supplies their load measurers through OEM system integrators. The OEM partners supply their tech and the company’s system as part of their package. They work on the system to integrate and interface their technology with the company’s product, which makes it suitable for the cement manufacturers.
If there’s reduced spillage and life of the product is high, it reduces environment pollution, need for replacement and money saving. This money saved can be put into making better innovations that will benefit the environment.
During the installation of silos, they need to provide dummy load measuring equipment. However, multiple processes like welding etc., are happening at that time, and so, the original load measurers cannot be installed. However, the company has come up with a product that can sustain harsh conditions and shock, and will not lead to any discrepancy in its readings.
All their products fall under the International Organisation of Legal Metrology (OILM) code of standards. Only after the approval from this organisation, the products are released for market consumption. The company also has the highest standards of accuracy. In this way, it is a win-win for all the customers.
Thames Side Sensors India is getting to know more and more partners and competitors in the market as well as cement manufacturers and marking their footprint. The industry, too, getting to know them. They are currently working with some of the big names of the cement industry and would continue to do so.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rakesh Valeja, Director, Thames Side Sensors India, is responsible for providing the overall direction to the company and planning activities for high-level management and clientele alike and ensuring that clients, shareholders, and employees are all satisfied with their experiences with the company.

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Jefferies’ Optimism Fuels Cement Stock Rally

The industry is aiming price hikes of Rs 10-15 per bag in December.

Published

3 weeks ago

December 4, 2024

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Cement stocks surged over 5% on Monday, driven by Jefferies’ positive outlook on demand recovery, supported by increased government capital expenditure and favourable price trends.

JK Cement led the rally with a 5.3% jump, while UltraTech Cement rose 3.82%, making it the top performer on the Nifty 50. Dalmia Bharat and Grasim Industries gained over 3% each, with Shree Cement and Ambuja Cement adding 2.77% and 1.32%, respectively.

“Cement stocks have been consolidating without significant upward movement for over a year,” noted Vikas Jain, head of research at Reliance Securities. “The Jefferies report with positive price feedback prompted a revaluation of these stocks today.”

According to Jefferies, cement prices were stable in November, with earlier declines bottoming out. The industry is now targeting price hikes of Rs 10-15 per bag in December.

The brokerage highlighted moderate demand growth in October and November, with recovery expected to strengthen in the fourth quarter, supported by a revival in government infrastructure spending.
Analysts are optimistic about a stronger recovery in the latter half of FY25, driven by anticipated increases in government investments in infrastructure projects.
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Steel Ministry Proposes 25% Safeguard Duty on Steel Imports

The duty aims to counter the impact of rising low-cost steel imports.

Published

3 weeks ago

December 4, 2024

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The Ministry of Steel has proposed a 25% safeguard duty on certain steel imports to address concerns raised by domestic producers. The proposal emerged during a meeting between Union Steel Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi, attended by senior officials and executives from leading steel companies like SAIL, Tata Steel, JSW Steel, and AMNS India.

Following the meeting, Goyal highlighted on X the importance of steel and metallurgical coke industries in India’s development, emphasising discussions on boosting production, improving quality, and enhancing global competitiveness. Kumaraswamy echoed the sentiment, pledging collaboration between ministries to create a business-friendly environment for domestic steelmakers.

The safeguard duty proposal aims to counter the impact of rising low-cost steel imports, particularly from free trade agreement (FTA) nations. Steel Secretary Sandeep Poundrik noted that 62% of steel imports currently enter at zero duty under FTAs, with imports rising to 5.51 million tonnes (MT) during April-September 2024-25, compared to 3.66 MT in the same period last year. Imports from China surged significantly, reaching 1.85 MT, up from 1.02 MT a year ago.

Industry experts, including think tank GTRI, have raised concerns about FTAs, highlighting cases where foreign producers partner with Indian firms to re-import steel at concessional rates. GTRI founder Ajay Srivastava also pointed to challenges like port delays and regulatory hurdles, which strain over 10,000 steel user units in India.

The government’s proposal reflects its commitment to supporting the domestic steel industry while addressing trade imbalances and promoting a self-reliant manufacturing sector.

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Concrete

India Imposes Anti-Dumping Duty on Solar Panel Aluminium Frames

Move boosts domestic aluminium industry, curbs low-cost imports

Published

3 weeks ago

December 4, 2024

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The Indian government has introduced anti-dumping duties on anodized aluminium frames for solar panels and modules imported from China, a move hailed by the Aluminium Association of India (AAI) as a significant step toward fostering a self-reliant aluminium sector.

The duties, effective for five years, aim to counter the influx of low-cost imports that have hindered domestic manufacturing. According to the Ministry of Finance, Chinese dumping has limited India’s ability to develop local production capabilities.

Ahead of Budget 2025, the aluminium industry has urged the government to introduce stronger trade protections. Key demands include raising import duties on primary and downstream aluminium products from 7.5% to 10% and imposing a uniform 7.5% duty on aluminium scrap to curb the influx of low-quality imports.

India’s heavy reliance on aluminium imports, which now account for 54% of the country’s demand, has resulted in an annual foreign exchange outflow of Rupees 562.91 billion. Scrap imports, doubling over the last decade, have surged to 1,825 KT in FY25, primarily sourced from China, the Middle East, the US, and the UK.

The AAI noted that while advanced economies like the US and China impose strict tariffs and restrictions to protect their aluminium industries, India has become the largest importer of aluminium scrap globally. This trend undermines local producers, who are urging robust measures to enhance the domestic aluminium ecosystem.

With India’s aluminium demand projected to reach 10 million tonnes by 2030, industry leaders emphasize the need for stronger policies to support local production and drive investments in capacity expansion. The anti-dumping duties on solar panel components, they say, are a vital first step in building a sustainable and competitive aluminium sector.