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Krishnaraj Sreedharan, Head of Customer Service, Flender India, talks about latest innovations and modernisation of their product lines to help improve cement processes.

Tell us about the role of geared drives in cement plant machinery.
The manufacturing of cement involves an elaborate process, starting from the mining of necessary mineral resources to the processing of these minerals to obtain the final products with desired physical and chemical properties. In this process, rotary geared drive systems
play a crucial role in powering heavy-duty critical equipment that operates under harsh conditions and heavy loads. These systems are utilised for various applications such as crushing, grinding, melting, mixing and conveying.

Tell us about the portfolio of drive products that you offer to the cement industry.
Flender provides a wide range of mechanical power transmission products that are extensively used to drive various types of rotary equipment in the cement industry. Our product portfolio is primarily divided into gear units, couplings and drive systems. This comprehensive range includes standard catalog series products, application-specific standardised products and highly engineered products tailored to meet the specific requirements of individual projects.

As machinery in cement plants is advancing with time, how do you accommodate the change in drive components for the betterment of functionality in cement plants?
Over the years, as the cement manufacturing process and equipment have advanced, Flender has continuously invested in innovative product designs and the modernisation of existing product lines. We are committed to improving the energy efficiency and environmental friendliness of our products and manufacturing processes, while adhering to the highest quality standards and global sustainability goals.

How can Flender products and services help cement manufacturers achieve better productivity and energy efficiency?
The outstanding feature of Flender products has always been their high operational reliability, which ensures maximum equipment availability and delivers optimal output. With over a century of experience serving the industry and leveraging our extensive application knowledge pool, we have optimised our drive solutions to minimise transmission losses. Our wide range of products and sizes allows us to closely match the technical requirements of various applications, eliminating the risk of drive underutilisation. Our customer service team excels in providing comprehensive support, including reengineering, multi-brand retrofit, and repair services. We recognise the significance of optimising output and extending the operational life of equipment for our valued customers.

Which machinery of the cement plant is the most challenging and how do you overcome the challenge?
One of the most crucial and demanding drive applications in cement manufacturing is the pre and post clinkerisation grinding process, which involves high energy consumption and heavy impact loads. When it comes to grinding mill applications like Vertical Roller Mills, Tube Mills or High-Pressure Grinding Roll Mills, Flender drive solutions guarantee optimal equipment availability. Our proactive preventive maintenance measures, along with offline and online condition monitoring systems (CMS), effectively prevent unscheduled equipment downtime and facilitate utilisation of residual life of the drive components. These systems also provide plant operators with real-time information about the operational condition of the drive, enabling them to plan maintenance activities well in advance.

How often do you service and audit your installations at the cement plant?
Flender drive solutions for critical applications are equipped with factory-fitted CMS or can be easily adapted to accommodate monitoring equipment available at the installation site. At our Chennai plant location, we have established a remote condition monitoring hub that is connected to a significant number of our mill drive installations. Our dedicated team of experts provides real-time monitoring support, collects and analyses drive condition data and offers valuable insights and consultation to site maintenance teams. By leveraging proactive information, we assist in maximising equipment uptime and utilisation. Through our standard and customised maintenance programmes, we offer our customers a wide range of service solutions tailored to their specific operational needs. This enables us to effectively assist our customers in maintaining the largest global installed base of our products in the cement industry.

Tell us about the upcoming innovations from Flender that would be beneficial for cement plants?
Flender’s latest innovation introduces a product line of standard gear units that showcases a completely new design, surpassing the limitations of conventional gear engineering and manufacturing. This breakthrough is accompanied by a state-of-the-art advanced monitoring system, which is far superior to other solutions currently available in the industry.

Concrete

India Sets Up First Carbon Capture Testbeds for Cement Industry

Five CCU testbeds launched to decarbonise cement production

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The Department of Science and Technology (DST) recently unveiled a pioneering national initiative: five Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) testbeds in the cement sector, forming a first-of-its-kind research and innovation cluster to combat industrial carbon emissions.
This is a significant step towards India’s Climate Action for fostering National Determined Contributions (NDCs) targets and to achieve net zero decarbonisation pathways for Industry Transition., towards the Government’s goal to achieve a carbon-neutral economy by 2070.
Carbon Capture Utilisation (CCU) holds significant importance in hard-to-abate sectors like Cement, Steel, Power, Oil &Natural Gas, Chemicals & Fertilizers in reducing emissions by capturing carbon dioxide from industrial processes and converting it to value add products such as synthetic fuels, Urea, Soda, Ash, chemicals, food grade CO2 or concrete aggregates. CCU provides a feasible pathway for these tough to decarbonise industries to lower their carbon footprint and move towards achieving Net Zero Goals while continuing their operations efficiently. DST has taken major strides in fostering R&D in the CCUS domain.
Concrete is vital for India’s economy and the Cement industry being one of the main hard-to-abate sectors, is committed to align with the national decarbonisation commitments. New technologies to decarbonise emission intensity of the cement sector would play a key role in achieving of national net zero targets.
Recognizing the critical need for decarbonising the Cement sector, the Energy and Sustainable Technology (CEST) Division of Department launched a unique call for mobilising Academia-Industry Consortia proposals for deployment of Carbon Capture Utilisation (CCU) in Cement Sector. This Special call envisaged to develop and deploy innovative CCU Test bed in Cement Sector with thrust on Developing CO2 capture + CO2 Utilisation integrated unit in an Industrial set up through an innovative Public Private Partnership (PPP) funding model.
As a unique initiative and one of its first kind in India, DST has approved setting up of five CCU testbeds for translational R&D, to be set up in Academia-Industry collaboration under this significant initiative of DST in PPP mode, engaging with premier research laboratories as knowledge partners and top Cement companies as the industry partner.
On the occasion of National Technology Day celebrations, on May 11, 2025 the 5 CCU Cement Test beds were announced and grants had been handed over to the Test bed teams by the Chief Guest, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh in the presence of Secretary DST Prof. Abhay Karandikar.
The five testbeds are not just academic experiments — they are collaborative industrial pilot projects bringing together India’s top research institutions and leading cement manufacturers under a unique Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Each testbed addresses a different facet of CCU, from cutting-edge catalysis to vacuum-based gas separation.
The outcomes of this innovative initiative will not only showcase the pathways of decarbonisation towards Net zero goals through CCU route in cement sector, but should also be a critical confidence building measure for potential stakeholders to uptake the deployed CCU technology for further scale up and commercialisation.
It is envisioned that through continuous research and innovation under these test beds in developing innovative catalysts, materials, electrolyser technology, reactors, and electronics, the cost of Green Cement via the deployed CCU technology in Cement Sector may considerably be made more sustainable.
Secretary DBT Dr Rajesh Gokhale, Dr Ajai Choudhary, Co-Founder HCL, Dr. Rajesh Pathak, Secretary, TDB, Dr Anita Gupta Head CEST, DST and Dr Neelima Alam, Associate Head, DST were also present at the programme organized at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.

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Concrete

JK Lakshmi Adopts EVs to Cut Emissions in Logistics

Electric vehicles deployed between JK Puram and Kalol units

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JK Lakshmi Cement, a key player in the Indian cement industry, has announced the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) in its logistics operations. This move, made in partnership with SwitchLabs Automobiles, will see EVs transporting goods between the JK Puram Plant in Sirohi, Rajasthan, and the Kalol Grinding Unit in Gujarat.
The announcement follows a successful pilot project that showcased measurable reductions in carbon emissions while maintaining efficiency. Building on this, the company is scaling up EV integration to enhance sustainability across its supply chain.
“Sustainability is integral to our vision at JK Lakshmi Cement. Our collaboration with SwitchLabs Automobiles reflects our continued focus on driving innovation in our logistics operations while taking responsibility for our environmental footprint. This initiative positions us as a leader in transforming the cement sector’s logistics landscape,” said Arun Shukla, President & Director, JK Lakshmi Cement.
This deployment marks a significant step in aligning with India’s push for greener transport infrastructure. By embracing clean mobility, JK Lakshmi Cement is setting an example for the industry, demonstrating that environmental responsibility can go hand in hand with operational efficiency.
The company continues to embed sustainability into its operations as part of a broader goal to reduce its carbon footprint. This initiative adds to its vision of building a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.
JK Lakshmi Cement, part of the 135-year-old JK Organisation, began operations in 1982 and has grown to become a recognised name in Indian cement. With a presence across Northern, Western, and Eastern India, the company has a cement capacity of 16.5 MTPA, with a target to reach 30 MT by 2030. Its product range includes ready-mix concrete, gypsum plaster, wall putty, and autoclaved aerated fly ash blocks.

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Concrete

Holcim UK drives sustainable construction

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Holcim UK has released a report titled ‘Making Sustainable Construction a Reality,’ outlining its five-fold commitment to a greener future. The company aims to focus on decarbonisation, circular economy principles, smarter building methods, community engagement, and integrating nature. Based on a survey of 2,000 people, only 41 per cent felt urban spaces in the UK are sustainably built. A significant majority (82 per cent) advocated for more green spaces, 69 per cent called for government leadership in sustainability, and 54 per cent saw businesses as key players. Additionally, 80 per cent of respondents stressed the need for greater transparency from companies regarding their environmental practices.

Image source:holcim

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