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Making Raw Materials Worthier

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Detlef Blümke, Managing Director, Loesche India, talks about the evolution and adaptation of grinding mills with the changing face of raw mix and alternative fuels.

Let us start at the beginning, somewhere around 1906, when Loesche India initiated coal fired power plants and mills. Since then, they have been developing new things and have been frontrunners in the vertical mills’ domain. They are inventors of raw mills for raw material grinding, vertical roller mills for raw material grinding and have been ahead of times with other manufacturers following their lead.
Energy and carbon dioxide are the major concerns in the current times. Loesche India is developing and trying to improve its product to accommodate the rising concerns of the environment. Europe, too, is very strict with its regulations as carbon reduction is a huge necessity there as well. This will ultimately imply the reduction of work. The resource is also critical as Loesche India is shutting down its coal fired power plants and looking forward to using nuclear powered or solar powered plants etc., which safeguard and protect the resources of nature. They are the inventors of hundreds of machines, which makes them responsible for cleaning up the world that we live in.
The company has partnered with multiple companies and have been working on processes like pyroprocessing, focussing on aspects like power reduction, process optimisation and carbon reduction. While it is not trying to compete with full line suppliers, it is looking for niche markets and focusing on
each product.

Finetuning the Operations
One of Loesche India’s subsidiaries in India is into transportation and has special transportation machinery that is not available anywhere. This ensures a smooth process because if that is interrupted, then it needs to be restarted and stopped, which leads to waste of energy. The company is working on a wide field of products and is moving ahead with new developments to increase capacities of its mills and to reduce the footprints of the plants.
It has acquired small portions of land in some areas, because it is not just about the investment, it is also about the protection of land. It is also working on replacing limestone in the clinker, which is clinker reduction, which leads to reduction in the consumption of power and carbon. This is the main focus.
Dr Loesche is 67 years old and his sons will be stepping in to take over the business. They are deeply inclined towards environment protection and building sustainability. The organisation has also started publishing its sustainability reports and are looking into it minutely to understand better paths to include sustainability into their machines and everyone’s lives as well.
Speaking of alternative fuels, at the celebration of 111 years of Loesche, it was announced that the company is using 100 per cent alternative fuels without any coal. At this stage, the machines have been optimised for the use of 60 to 70 per cent alternative fuels to 100 per cent alternative fuels. They have optimised the plant process for the same. Newer cements will keep getting developed by the producers, which will be further approved by the concerned authorities. Clay and slag are substitutes, which are alternative or supplementary materials. Loesche India’s raw mills are equipped to adapt to the changing raw materials for cement and will give optimised results for the same.

Role of Automation
They have onboarded subsidiaries and companies that conduct fluid simulations for their processes to understand if the results can be optimised and identify bottlenecks for a seamless flow. This way resistance can be eliminated, thus reducing the usage of power. They also provide their customers with gear boxes for our machines, so that preventive maintenance can be done for any damage that may be waiting to happen. They give a full package with machines, spare parts, documentation and software packages for self-learning for optimised results. They are far away from advanced artificial intelligence.
The acceptance of full automation in India is still not 100 per cent, but they are moving there. As the players are increasing their capacities and competition is rising, the industry will be inclined to automate their processes.
Loesche India has introduced an ambient system, especially for raw material grinding, which can reduce the footprint of grinding, can reduce CAPEX and operational cost as well. This system will be able to reduce at least 2kWH per tonne for the grinding. If the capacity is 600 or 900 tonnes, the savings are enormous. This is the company’s main focus to reduce energy and save the environment. It is no longer looking at capacities anymore, attractive plants are green now.
Loesche India has been in the Indian market for almost 40 years and is well reputed in India. It is constantly working towards keeping up with its innovations and inventions. Of course, the competition is strong, but that is a challenge that the company has happily accepted and is pushing the boundaries to become better, with machines that are more reliable and energy efficient as it continues to be a part of the cement industry in India.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Detlef Blümke, Managing Director, Loesche India Pvt Ltd.
, has been heading the India operations for the past four years and been with the company for almost 30 years.

Concrete

JK Lakshmi Advances LC3 Cement Expansion

Company highlights commercial production and research partnerships

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The meeting reviewed progress in limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) technology and its commercial adoption in India’s cement sector, focusing on low-carbon alternatives to conventional binders. JK Lakshmi Cement noted that limestone calcined clay cement can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 40 per cent compared with conventional cement and said this reduction supports industry decarbonisation. The company highlighted that it was among the first two cement manufacturers in India to move LC3 into commercial production after the Bureau of Indian Standards approved the technology as a cement standard.

Vinita Singhania said the transition of LC3 from research to commercial production reflected collaboration between industry, academia and international institutions. Maya Tissafi acknowledged JK Lakshmi Cement’s role in advancing LC3 adoption in India and its contribution in taking the technology from laboratory trials to commercial implementation. Both representatives underlined the growing relevance of sustainable construction materials as India expands infrastructure and urban development.

The meeting explored continued collaboration with Swiss research institutions such as EPFL, EMPA and ETH Zurich alongside Indian academic partners and development organisations. JK Lakshmi Cement has been associated with the LC3 initiative since 2014 and worked with EPFL, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, Development Alternatives and Technology and Action for Rural Advancement. The company conducted one of the earliest industrial trials of LC3 and recently announced commercial production of Green Pro LC3 cement from its Jaykaypuram plant in Rajasthan.

India remains the world’s second-largest cement producer and expansion of infrastructure, urbanisation and housing demand continue to support long-term sector growth, increasing interest in low-carbon technologies. The company reported an annual turnover of more than Rupees (Rs) 60 bn and current cement capacity of about 18 million (mn) tonnes (t) per annum, with a target of reaching 30 million (mn) tonnes (t) by 2030. Apart from grey cement, the company also makes ready-mix concrete, gypsum plaster, wall putty, primers, adhesives and fly ash blocks, and both sides concluded on the need for continued collaboration to develop sustainable construction solutions.

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Concrete

Burnpur Cement Reports Standalone Net Loss Of Rs 207.4 Million

Standalone net loss of Rs 207.4 mn in March 2026 quarter

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Burnpur Cement reported a standalone net loss of Rs 207.4 million (Rs 207.4 million) for the quarter ended March 2026. The company said the loss reflects its financial performance for the period and will be reflected in its results filed with regulators. The announcement followed routine quarterly reporting by the listed cement manufacturer. Burnpur Cement is a cement manufacturer operating in India and serving construction markets, with operations spanning production, distribution and sales across the domestic construction sector.

The March 2026 quarter result marks a weakening in profitability for Burnpur Cement as market conditions in the sector remained challenging. The company attributed the outcome to operational and market factors, while outlining measures to manage costs and working capital. The reported standalone loss of Rs 207.4 million will be central to assessments by analysts and investors, which will be weighed alongside sector trends and company guidance. Management indicated continued focus on stabilising operations and optimising production efficiency.

No further numerical details were included in the initial summary, and consolidated figures were not disclosed in the brief notice, constraining immediate analysis of underlying drivers. The firm reiterated that it will provide comprehensive results and explanatory notes in its annual filing and investor communications. Analysts will assess the full disclosures when detailed financial statements become available. The timing of those detailed filings will determine how soon stakeholders can access full data.

Investors and stakeholders were advised to review the filings and the company’s releases for complete information, including cash flow and segmental performance, before drawing investment conclusions. The company’s operations and future guidance will determine recovery prospects in subsequent quarters. Regulatory disclosures and investor communications will guide market interpretation of the quarter and inform analyst forecasts. Burnpur Cement remains subject to the regulatory reporting process applicable to listed entities.

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Concrete

Ramco Cements Campaign Wins Six Kyoorius Honours

Hard Worker campaign wins Grand Prix for Eco Plaster film

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The Ramco Cements Limited’s Hard Worker campaign has achieved a major milestone at the prestigious Kyoorius Creative Awards, winning six honours including the coveted Grey Elephant Grand Prix for the Eco Plaster film. The awards were announced and presented at the Kyoorius Creative Awards Night 2026 held on 23rd May 2026 at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.

Competing alongside some of the country’s leading brands and agencies, the campaign received recognition across multiple creative categories, reaffirming the power of authentic storytelling rooted in the lives of hardworking people. The Eco Plaster commercial, which highlighted the importance of water conservation through innovative construction solutions, emerged as the campaign’s biggest winner, securing most of the honours.

The campaign’s wins include: 
Grey Elephant (Grand Prix) – Eco Plaster 
Blue Elephant – Best Film – Eco Plaster
Blue Elephant – Best Direction – Eco Plaster
Blue Elephant – Best Music – Eco Plaster
Baby Elephant – Best Direction -Tortoise & Hare
Baby Elephant – Best Use of Humour – Eco Plaster

Established in 2014, the Kyoorius Creative Awards recognise and celebrate creative excellence across India’s advertising, marketing and communications industries. Presented by Zee Entertainment Enterprises and powered by the USA-based The Clio Awards, the awards are regarded among the country’s most respected creative honours.

Known for their ethical and neutral judging process, the Kyoorius Creative Awards evaluate work purely on merit through a non-hierarchical awards structure, without Gold, Silver or Bronze distinctions. The iconic Elephant symbolises memorable work that leaves a lasting impact on the industry.

The Hard Worker campaign by The Ramco Cements Limited was conceived around the insight that true strength and progress are built through everyday hard work. Through emotionally resonant storytelling, distinctive craft and culturally rooted narratives, the campaign connected strongly with audiences across markets. The integrated campaign was rolled out across television, digital platforms, outdoor media and extensive on-ground activations, helping strengthen the brand’s connect with consumers, engineers, masons and trade communities alike.

Commenting on the achievement, A V Dharmakrishnan, CEO of Ramco Cements, said: “Winning at the Kyoorius Creative Awards is a proud moment for all of us. The Hard Worker campaign was created as a tribute to the spirit of hardworking people who form the backbone of our industry and our nation. These recognitions reaffirm our belief that authentic, meaningful storytelling has the power to create a deep and lasting connection with people.”

Balaji K Moorthy, Executive Director – Marketing, Ramco Cements, added: “The Hard Worker campaign was built on a simple but powerful insight – that hard work deserves recognition and respect. We wanted the communication to feel rooted, emotional and culturally relevant while also pushing creative boundaries. Winning six honours, including the Grey Elephant Grand Prix, is a tremendous validation of the idea, the craft and the collaborative effort of everyone involved in the campaign.”

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