Concrete

The market is moving towards a precast prestressing system.”

Published

1 year ago

October 19, 2023

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Rais Khan, CEO, Dynamic Precast, talks about catering to the changing demands of designers and architects with innovative solutions in precast shapes to take India’s construction industry onto the next level.

Tell us about the process of casting concrete in shapes.
In precast, with the help of mould, concrete and steel skeleton, any shape can be cast as required. It may be a designer flower pot, fountain, pole, pillars, drain, covers, garden benches, paving tiles, column, beam, roof, boundary wall or even a complete house. For precasting, the mould could be of cement, wood, Fibre Reinforced Plastics (FRP), aluminium and mild steel.
Concrete mix is prepared in a mixer and then poured in mould, and it vibrates on a vibrating table or by surface and needle vibrator. Demoulding process is done after some time or after complete setting in 24 hours.

Are concrete shapes made with a variety of concrete grades?
Yes. It depends on the product’s quality. As per standard of BIS precast products, cast in different concrete grades from M-10 to M-50 grade.

What are the standard sizes and shapes of precast made by your organisation?
We make paver blocks and chequered tiles as well as cable covers, which are smaller products. Other products are kerbstone, dividers SFRC frame cover, gratings of different sizes, drain with covers of any size, precast and prestressed wall panel with columns, hollow core slabs in heavy and light duty in imported semi-automatic plant, precast toilets, house, prestressed electric poles and spun pipes with septic tank, etc.

Explain the moulds used to make these shapes. Do you customise moulds if the requirement arises?
Always! As our products are for roads, infrastructure and housing, customers have different choices for size, shapes and shades. For that we customise the size and shape of moulds as per choice and selection of the customer. All designers and architects want innovation in their projects. We create as per their requirement.

What are the quality standards followed while making precast shapes?
We have a Quality Manual Plan in our system. Presently, a testing laboratory is active in our manufacturing premise. Regular tests for raw materials and concrete and quality checks are done here using tools, equipment and calibrated testing machines.
Quality checks in our factory starts from system update, raw materials, measurements and weighing process, compaction and ultimately in finished goods. The required curing process used for these products is standard. Channels and sections are not compromised with quality aspects. Quality fabrication is an important part, where we follow the standards.

How does automation and technology contribute towards this process and does that make it less labour intensive?
Automation and technology are very important for the precast industry. Today, there are labour crises in each industry, but in the precast industry, it is too much because of its heavy elements and mostly working in open areas.
While we have a lot of shaded areas in our production premises and many mobile and lifting equipment, it’s necessary to make the system more and more automated.

What are the major challenges you face in the process of making precast shapes and in their transportation?
Major challenges in this industry that we face are in making proper mould to make good quality products or elements as per required by the customer. Secondly, availability of proper raw materials and procurement of subsidiary materials are useful for quality. No doubt packing and transportation of finished products are tough jobs in the precast industry.

How do precast shapes help in the profitability of a construction activity?
In the construction industry, precast elements and products have a big contribution in speedy completion of projects. Projects get finished before time because of precast and prestressed elements. Columns, beams and slabs have a bigger role to play in fast construction and economic growth. In India, acceptability for precast housing is quite slow, but only this industry can fulfil the requirement of infrastructure and housing sector in the country.

What kind of innovations can be seen in the near future in your industry?
The market is moving towards a precast, prestressing system. Systems and equipment are becoming available in the market. High grade concrete and PC wire will change the scenario of this industry. We are preparing for mass housing elements for the middle and low class on a priority basis, especially in towns and rural sectors.

-Kanika Mathur

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Organisations valuing gender diversity achieve higher profitability

Aparna Reddy, Executive Director, Aparna Enterprises talks about company plans.

Published

20 hours 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.

Our key strategic priorities include:

Expanding operations in high-growth regions across Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, ensuring access to quality building materials nationwide
Investing in automation, AI-driven quality control systems and digital integration, enhancing efficiency and precision in manufacturing
Scaling up production capabilities in our RMC, tiles, uPVC and other divisions to meet the anticipated surge in demand.

To read the full article Click Here

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

Published

2 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.”

Concrete is the second most widely used material on Earth, and its decarbonisation is critical to achieving net-zero emissions across the global construction sector.

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.