Concrete

Leveraging Technology for Efficiency

Published

4 years ago

April 12, 2023

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Nischal Mehrotra, Vice President, Sales & Marketing LiuGong India, discusses the role of advanced engineering technology in developing efficient equipment for the cement industry.

Tell us about the equipment used at limestone quarries and coal mines that majorly supply to cement plants?
The equipment used in limestone quarries and coal mines can vary depending on the type of mining operation and the specific needs of the cement plant. However, some common types of equipment used in these industries include:

Drilling equipment: This includes drill rigs and drilling machines that are used to create holes in the ground to extract the limestone or coal.
Excavators: These are heavy-duty machines used to remove large amounts of soil, rock, and other materials from the ground.
Loaders: These are used to move materials, such as limestone and coal, from the ground to trucks or conveyors for transport to the cement plant.
Crushers: These are machines that break down large rocks into smaller pieces for easier transport and processing.
Conveyors: These are used to transport materials from one location to another, such as from the quarry or mine to the cement plant.
Bulldozers: These are used to level and shape the ground for mining operations and to move large quantities of material.
Blasting equipment: This is used to break up rock formations in the quarry or mine to make it easier to extract the limestone or coal.
Haul trucks: These are used to transport materials from the quarry or mine to the cement plant.

The equipment used in limestone quarries and coal mines that supply to cement plants can be quite diverse, but these are some common types that you might find in these industries.

What is the USP of your equipment that makes them the choice for operation by
any contractor?
The company provides a range of construction equipment and machinery for various applications, such as earthmoving, mining, road construction, and material handling. Here are some USPs of Liugong India machinery that make them a preferred choice for contractors:

Quality and reliability: Liugong India machinery is known for its quality and reliability. The company uses advanced technology and high-quality materials to manufacture its machines, ensuring they are durable and able to withstand tough working conditions.
Fuel efficiency: Liugong India machinery is designed to be fuel-efficient, which helps contractors save money on fuel costs. This is achieved through advanced engine technology and optimised machine design.
Versatility: Liugong India machinery is versatile and can be used for various applications, such as earthmoving, mining, and material handling. This makes it a preferred choice for contractors who need equipment that can perform
multiple tasks.
Low maintenance: Liugong India machinery is designed to require minimal maintenance, which helps reduce downtime and maintenance costs. The company also offers excellent after-sales support to ensure the machines are always in top condition.
Operator comfort and safety: Liugong India machinery is designed with operator comfort and safety in mind. The cabs are spacious and ergonomic, providing a comfortable working environment for the operator. The machines are also equipped with advanced safety features to prevent accidents and ensure operator safety.

Liugong India machinery is a preferred choice for contractors due to its quality, reliability, fuel efficiency, versatility, low maintenance, and operator comfort and safety.

How do you achieve cost efficiency and profitability in your operations?
Liugong India can achieve cost efficiency and profitability in its operations by focusing on the following strategies:

Manufacturing efficiency: Liugong India can focus on optimising its manufacturing processes to reduce costs and improve efficiency. This can be achieved through automation, lean manufacturing principles, and other process improvement strategies.
Supply chain management: Effective supply chain management can help Liugong India reduce costs and improve profitability. This can include optimising logistics, sourcing raw materials at competitive prices, and managing inventory levels.
After-sales support: Providing excellent after-sales support can help Liugong India improve customer satisfaction and retention. This can lead to repeat business and positive word-of-mouth recommendations, which can ultimately help improve profitability.
Product innovation: Liugong India can focus on developing innovative products that meet the changing needs of its customers. This can help the company differentiate itself from competitors and capture market share, leading to improved profitability.
Strategic partnerships: Liugong India can form strategic partnerships with other companies to improve its operations. For example, partnering with a logistics company can help reduce transportation costs, while partnering with a technology company can help improve manufacturing processes.

By focusing on these strategies, Liugong India can achieve cost efficiency and profitability in its operations. This will help the company remain competitive in the market and continue to grow its business.

What is the role of technology in achieving efficiency in your operations?

Technology plays a critical role in helping Liugong India achieve efficiency in its operations. Here are some examples of how technology is used by Liugong India to achieve efficiency:

Advanced engineering: Liugong India uses advanced engineering technology to design and manufacture its machines. This includes computer-aided design (CAD) software and simulations that allow engineers to optimise machine performance and reduce the need for physical prototyping.
Telematics: Liugong India machines are equipped with telematics systems that allow for remote monitoring and diagnostics. This helps to identify and address issues quickly, reducing downtime and improving machine performance.
Automation: Liugong India uses automation technology to improve manufacturing efficiency and reduce costs. For example, robots can be used for welding, painting, and other repetitive tasks, reducing the need for manual labor.
Fuel efficiency: Liugong India machines are designed with fuel-efficient engines and other features that help reduce fuel consumption. This not only saves money on fuel costs but also reduces the environmental impact of the machines.
Connectivity: Liugong India machines can be connected to the internet, allowing for real-time data sharing and analysis. This can help optimise machine performance, reduce downtime, and improve overall efficiency.

Technology plays a crucial role in helping Liugong India achieve efficiency in its operations. By leveraging advanced engineering, telematics, automation, fuel efficiency, and connectivity.

How do you ensure the delivery of quality product post mining or quarrying?
Liugong India ensures the delivery of quality products post-mining or quarrying by implementing the following measures:

Quality control: Liugong India implements rigorous quality control measures at every stage of the manufacturing process. This includes using high-quality materials, testing components before assembly, and conducting final inspections before the machines are shipped.
After-sales support: Liugong India provides excellent after-sales support to ensure its machines are always in top condition. This includes regular maintenance, repairs, and replacements of parts as needed.
Training and education: Liugong India provides training and education to its customers to
ensure they are able to operate the machines safely and effectively. This includes operator training, maintenance training, and troubleshooting support.
Customer feedback: Liugong India actively seeks feedback from its customers to identify areas for improvement and ensure that its machines meet their needs. This feedback is used to improve the design and functionality of the machines.
Warranty: Liugong India provides a warranty on its machines to ensure customers have peace of mind and are protected against manufacturing defects.

By implementing these measures, Liugong India ensures the delivery of quality products post-mining or quarrying. This helps to build trust with its customers and improve its reputation in the market.

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Martin Engineering Appoints Ashwini Khunte as India General Manager

Published

20 minutes ago

October 30, 2026

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Martin Engineering names Ashwini Khunte India General Manager to strengthen operations and drive growth across key bulk material handling sectors.

Pune

Martin Engineering, a global provider of bulk material handling solutions, has appointed Ashwini Khunte as General Manager of its India business, strengthening its leadership as the company expands its presence across the country’s cement, mining, steel, power and infrastructure sectors.

Khunte brings more than a decade of experience with Martin Engineering, having joined its Indian operations in 2013 as a Design Engineer, shortly after the company established its presence in the country in 2012.

A mechanical engineer by qualification, she spent her initial five years developing bulk material handling solutions in collaboration with the company’s operations team. During this period, she gained extensive experience addressing operational challenges in the steel, cement and coal industries. She subsequently moved into project engineering, managing major engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) projects from initial enquiry to commissioning. Her responsibilities later expanded to overseeing Martin Engineering’s conveyor product portfolio in India, involving customer engagement, technical presentations and site visits across heavy industries.

In 2024, Khunte was promoted to Head of Sales & Marketing for the company’s Europe, Middle East, Africa and India (EMEAI) region. The position broadened her international market exposure and strengthened her strategic and commercial leadership capabilities.

Commenting on her appointment, Ashwini Khunte, General Manager, Martin Engineering India, said: “India represents a tremendous opportunity for Martin Engineering. The country’s continued investment in cement, mining, steel, power and infrastructure is creating increasing demand for safer, cleaner and more productive bulk material handling, and that’s exactly what we do. My priority will be to build on the strong foundations already established in India, while continuing to develop our people, strengthen customer relationships and bring practical solutions to the challenges faced by our industry.”

Robert Whetstone, Area Vice President – EMEAI, Martin Engineering, highlighted Khunte’s technical expertise, market understanding and leadership experience.

“Ashwini brings an exceptional combination of technical understanding, customer knowledge and commercial leadership. She has grown as Martin Engineering has grown, and has consistently demonstrated outstanding capability to transform her expertise into practical solutions. Her knowledge of the Indian market, together with her international experience, makes her ideally suited to lead our India business through its next stage of growth for years to come.”

Since establishing its Indian business in 2012, Martin Engineering has expanded its local workforce, manufacturing capabilities and dealership network. The company supplies conveyor products, transfer point solutions, material flow aids, training and technical support to bulk material handling industries. Khunte’s appointment positions the company to further strengthen customer relationships and expand its solutions portfolio in India’s growing industrial and infrastructure markets.

Concrete

CII Calls for Greater Alternative Fuel Use in Cement Industry

Published

22 hours ago

October 29, 2026

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The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), through its Green Business Centre and Energy Efficiency Council, inaugurated the 16th Conference on Alternative Fuel and Raw Material Usage (AFR) in Goa on 27 October 2026. The two-day conference brought together more than 350 industry leaders, policymakers, waste management experts and technology providers to explore strategies for accelerating alternative fuel adoption in India’s cement industry.

Held under the theme ‘Preparation for Net-Zero: Alternative Fuels & Raw Material in Cement Manufacturing’, the conference focused on reducing dependence on conventional fuels, improving waste utilisation and strengthening circular economy practices across cement manufacturing operations.

E R Raj Narayanan, Chairman, AFR Conference 2026, and Business Head and Chief Manufacturing Officer, UltraTech Cement, highlighted the industry’s progress in alternative fuel adoption. He emphasised the need to scale implementation, strengthen supply chains and extend circularity beyond fuel substitution to alternative raw materials through technological innovation and industry collaboration.

Harish Adconkar, Managing Director, Goa Waste Management Corporation, highlighted Goa’s progress in scientific waste management and refuse-derived fuel (RDF) production. He stated that approximately 765,000 tonnes of RDF had been supplied to cement plants, contributing to an estimated displacement of 320,000–560,000 tonnes of coal. He emphasised the importance of consistent RDF offtake and stronger coordination between urban local bodies, waste management agencies and cement manufacturers.

Dr L P Singh, Director General, National Council for Cement and Building Materials, identified AFR as an important opportunity for decarbonisation and resource efficiency. Drawing parallels with the industry’s successful utilisation of fly ash, he stressed the need to address quality, technological and economic challenges to expand alternative fuel adoption.

Dr Sharad P Kale, Special Advisor to the Chief Minister of Goa and former Head of Technology Transfer and Collaboration at BARC, emphasised treating waste as a resource. He highlighted decentralised biodegradable waste processing, reduced food waste and improved resource recovery as essential measures for minimising landfill dependence.

Kiran Ananth, Executive Director, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Green Entrepreneurship, CII-Green Business Centre, noted that India’s cement production reached approximately 491 million tonnes in FY2025-26, while the industry’s thermal substitution rate (TSR) stood at 7.5 per cent, with around 7 million tonnes of alternative fuels utilised annually.

He added that the industry had invested over Rs 12 billion in co-processing infrastructure during the past six years. Improving RDF supply reliability and quality assurance would be crucial to maximising the utilisation of existing infrastructure and accelerating industrial decarbonisation.

The conference also featured discussions on advanced AFR co-processing technologies, waste pre-processing solutions and industrial best practices for improving fuel substitution and resource recovery.

A publication titled ‘From Waste to Kiln: Scaling the Use of MSW-Derived RDF in Indian Cement Plants’ was launched during the inaugural session. The report identified inconsistent RDF supply and quality as major barriers to achieving higher thermal substitution rates.

According to the publication, many cement kilns already possess the technical capability to achieve higher alternative fuel substitution. However, variations in RDF availability, moisture content, particle size and calorific value continue to limit utilisation. The report emphasised the need to strengthen waste segregation, pre-processing and aggregation systems to establish reliable RDF supply chains.

The conference’s second-day agenda includes discussions on innovative domestic and industrial waste management solutions, alternative raw materials for low-carbon cement and strategies to increase alternative fuel utilisation across India’s cement manufacturing sector.

Concrete

Sameera Group Enters Industrial and Logistics Real Estate

Rs. 1.5 bn project to support manufacturing and supply-chain firms

Published

2 days ago

October 28, 2026

admin

Sameera Group has entered the industrial and logistics real estate segment with a 450,000 sq ft development in Sriperumbudur, Chennai. The group will invest Rs. 1.5 bn in the project, expanding beyond residential plotted developments into business-to-business real estate.

The proposed park will serve light manufacturing, e-commerce, third-party logistics and other supply-chain businesses. Building plan approvals have been secured, with construction expected to begin shortly. The development is scheduled to become operational within 12 to 15 months.

Sameera Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Jayakumar Murugesan said the project marked the next stage of the company’s growth after nearly four decades in land acquisition and real estate development. He attributed the choice of Sriperumbudur to its industrial activity and growth prospects.

The Grade A development will include internal movement routes and shared infrastructure for modern manufacturing and logistics operations. The group is pursuing Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Platinum certification and plans to provide rooftop solar readiness, rainwater harvesting, wastewater recycling, energy and water monitoring, and electric vehicle charging facilities.

The project is being developed amid increased demand for industrial and warehousing space in Chennai. Knight Frank’s India Warehousing Market Report 2026 recorded 8.3 mn sq ft of warehousing transactions in the city during 2025, up 42 per cent from the previous year, with manufacturing accounting for 59 per cent of demand. The Sriperumbudur-Oragadam cluster contributed 77 per cent of transactions.

Sameera Group plans to develop 5 to 6 mn sq ft across a larger industrial and logistics portfolio over the next five years, involving an estimated investment of Rs. 18 bn. Land has been acquired for projects in Chennai, Hosur and Bengaluru. Established in 1982, the group has developed more than 900 acres, sold over 13,700 residential plots, and currently has 35 projects under development and 28 in its pipeline.