Concrete

We help in reducing the carbon footprint

Published

2 years ago

April 12, 2023

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Anup Nair, Managing Director – India and South Asia, Martin Engineering, speaks about the key role their products play in making cement processes more efficient.

Tell us about the role that your products and technology play in the cement industry.
We are into bulk material handling products. In the cement industry, our products are used in two different areas – in the plants and at the mines. In the mines, there are conveyor belts that help move the bulk material and these conveyor belts need lot of maintenance. If the conveyor belt stops, the entire mine will stop. Our products improve the efficiency of the conveyors by a great extent. This is one part of our offerings.
The second one, which is a major influencer for the cement industry, is within the plant. Cement plants have kilns and preheats. A lot of material blockages happen in them. Our air cannons blast and push this material out. It helps in bringing down plant maintenance considerably. You don’t have to shut down the plant to deal with the blockages. This process is becoming more and more significant today as cement companies are using alternative fuels. So, more blasting is required.
Conventional compressors or blasting cylinders are available but compared to them, we have a greater advantage because we have the better technology. We help in reducing the carbon footprint and also give huge savings in energy. With our technology, not only is carbon footprint reduced but energy costs also come down.

Elaborate on how carbon footprint is reduced?
A conventional blasting requires a 300-litre tank, whereas our modern technology gives the same or more blasting force using a 70-litre tank. The compress is considerably reduced and this is important because compress making requires energy or electricity. When electricity or energy usage is reduced, carbon footprint is reduced, too. It can be said that one blaster reduces about 70,000 kg of carbon per year. So, a typical cement plant kiln requires about a hundred blasters. Now, you can imagine the reduction in carbon.

With such advantage of cost efficiency and reduction in carbon footprint,
shouldn’t all cement companies be looking at this product?
The cement companies are definitely looking at our product. Earlier they used to manage it manually and then they moved to traditional modes such as large tanks. Now they are turning to us for modern technology. Our products may be priced higher when compared to the conventional modes but once the traditional methods are removed and only our product is made to perform, the cost is recovered by energy saving itself. The cost of the product is realised in a year’s time. One year is the payback period.

What innovations should we expect from Martin Engineering in the near future?
At Martin Engineering, apart from the air blasters that I spoke about we also have nozzles for the cement industry. These nozzles come with a different type of technology, which gives all round blasting
inside the refractory areas. It also requires less maintenance and are much more efficient. These nozzles can also be replaced without stopping the equipment. So, it is both safe and economical for the cement manufacturer.
As far as innovations in our conveyor products are concerned, we have a remote monitoring system called N2, which enables the customer to sit anywhere in the world and oversee the progress on their mobile phone or device, like a live feed. This remote monitoring system uses the latest modern technology.

Are all these products and technologies exclusive to the cement industry?
No, we are very much present in the steel sector, too. We are also present in power plants, ports, food verticals such as sugar and several other industries. Wherever there’s a need for bulk material handling, Martin Engineering is present. And this is in India. In other countries, we are present in many applications such as quarry aggregates. In all the other sectors, too, our deliverables are focussed on cost efficiency and reduction of carbon footprint.

With regards to the cement industry in India, what kind of future do you envision over the next 10 years?
Our tagline is ‘Problem Solved Guaranteed.’ So, we are not just product sellers. We solve our customers’ problems and address their pain points. Today, the pain points are energy efficiency and carbon footprint, and we are solving them. We are looking at a long-term partnership with our customers as they will definitely require solutions that reduce costs and help them make their processes more modern and competitive. Our philosophy is well-matched with their philosophy in this regard.
We have a full-fledged plant in Pune, and we are moving ahead with ‘Make in India’ initiative.
We also have the capacity to expand in Pune. We are spreading out by adding more team members and with the help of our dealer network across the country. We are trying to be as close to our customers as possible.

-Kanishka Ramchandani

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1 day ago

February 22, 2025

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The building materials industry is projected to grow by 8-12 per cent over the next five years. How is Aparna Enterprises positioning itself to leverage this momentum and solidify its market presence?

The Indian construction and building materials industry is projected to witness significant expansion, with estimates suggesting an 8-12 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next five years. This growth is fuelled by rapid urbanisation, increased infrastructure investments and sustainability-focused policies. With India’s real-estate market expected to reach $ 1 trillion by 2030, the demand for high-quality building materials is at an all-time high.

The Government of India’s flagship programmes, such as PM Gati Shakti, the Smart Cities Mission and the Housing for All (PMAY-Urban) initiative, are key drivers of this surge. The infrastructure sector alone is expected to receive a budgetary push of over Rs 11 trillion in FY25, with enhanced capital expenditure allocation.

At Aparna Enterprises, we are proactively aligning with this momentum through capacity expansion, product diversification, and cutting-edge technological integration.

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Expanding operations in high-growth regions across Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, ensuring access to quality building materials nationwide
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Concrete

Global Start-Up Challenge Launched to Drive Net Zero Concrete Solutions

Innovandi Open Challenge aims to connect start-ups with GCCA members to develop innovations

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3 days ago

February 21, 2025

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Start-ups worldwide are invited to contribute to the global cement and concrete industry’s efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and combat climate change. The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) and its members are calling for applicants for the Innovandi Open Challenge 2025.

Now in its fourth year, the Innovandi Open Challenge aims to connect start-ups with GCCA members to develop innovations that help decarbonise the cement and concrete industry.

The challenge is seeking start-ups working on next-generation materials for net-zero concrete, such as low-carbon admixtures, supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), activators, or binders. Innovations in these areas could help reduce the carbon-intensive element of cement, clinker, and integrate cutting-edge materials to lower CO2 emissions.

Thomas Guillot, GCCA’s Chief Executive, stated, “Advanced production methods are already decarbonising cement and concrete worldwide. Through the Innovandi Open Challenge, we aim to accelerate our industry’s progress towards net-zero concrete.”

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Concrete

StarBigBloc Acquires Land for AAC Blocks Greenfield Facility in Indore

The company introduced NXTGRIP Tile Adhesives alongside its trusted NXTFIX and NXTPLAST brands.

Published

4 days ago

February 19, 2025

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StarBigBloc Building Material, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BigBloc Construction, one of the largest manufacturers of Aerated Autoclaved Concrete (AAC) Blocks, Bricks and ALC Panels in India has acquired land for setting up a green field facility for AAC Blocks in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Company has purchased approx. 57,500 sq. mts. land at Khasra No. 382, 387, 389/2, Gram Nimrani, Tehsil Kasrawad, District – Khargone, Madhya Pradesh for the purpose of AAC Blocks business expansion in central India. The total consideration for the land deal is Rs 60 million and Stamp duty.

StarBigBloc Building Material Ltd currently operates one plant at Kheda near Ahmedabad with an installed capacity of 250,000 cubic meters per annum, serving most part of Gujarat, upto Udaipur in Rajasthan, and till Indore in Madhya Pradesh. The capacity utilisation at Starbigbloc Building Material Ltd for the third quarter was 75 per cent. The planned expansion will enable the company to establish a stronger presence in Madhya Pradesh and surrounding regions. Reaffirming its commitment to the Green Initiative, it has also installed a 800 KW solar rooftop power project — a significant step toward sustainability and lowering its carbon footprint.

Narayan Saboo, Chairman, Bigbloc Construction said “The AAC block industry is set to play a pivotal role in India’s construction sector, and our company is ready for a significant leap forward. The proposed expansion in Indore, Madhya Pradesh aligns with our growth strategy, focusing on geographic expansion, R&D investments, product diversification, and strategic branding and marketing initiatives to enhance visibility, increase market share, and strengthen stakeholder trust.”

Bigbloc Construction has recently expanded into construction chemicals with Block Jointing Mortar, Ready Mix Plaster, and Tile Adhesives, tapping into high-demand segments. The company introduced NXTGRIP Tile Adhesives alongside its trusted NXTFIX and NXTPLAST brands, ensuring superior bonding, strength, and performance.

In May 2024, the board of directors approved fund-raising through SME IPO or Preferential issue to support expansion plans of Starbigboc Building Material subject to requisite approvals and market conditions, Starbigboc Building Material aims to expand its production capacity from current 250,000 cubic meters per annum to over 1.2 million cubic meters per annum in the next 4-5 years. Company is targeting revenues of Rs 4.28 billion by FY27-28, with an expected EBITDA of Rs 1.25 billion and net profit of Rs 800 million. In FY23-24, the company reported revenues of Rs 940.18 million, achieving a revenue CAGR of over 21 per cent in the last four years.

Incorporated in 2015, BigBloc Construction is one of the largest and only listed AAC block manufacturer in India, with a 1.3 million cbm annual capacity across plants in Gujarat (Kheda, Umargaon, Kapadvanj) and Maharashtra (Wada). The company, which markets its products under the ‘NXTBLOC’ brand, is one of the few in the AAC industry to generate carbon credits. With over 2,000 completed projects and 1,500+ in the pipeline, The company’s clients include Lodha, Adani Realty, IndiaBulls Real Estate, DB Realty, Prestige, Piramal, Oberoi Realty, Tata Projects, Shirke Group, Shapoorji Pallonji Group, Raheja, PSP Projects, L&T, Sunteck, Dosti Group, Purvankara Ltd, DY Patil, Taj Hotels, Godrej Properties, Torrent Pharma, GAIL among others.