Concrete

Our belts are likely to give the best efficiency to plants

Published

3 years ago

October 19, 2023

admin

AP Singh, Executive Director, Continental Conveyors, discusses the role of conveyor belts in material transportation.

What is the role of the conveyor belt in the transportation of material for cement manufacturing?
The main role of conveyor belts in the cement manufacturing process is transportation of material. From transportation of raw materials to the loading of end products into the trucks, all materials are transported by conveyor belts only.

What are the grades of conveyor belt materials that you have and supply to cement plants?
There are many grades for the conveyor belt materials. The first one is the M-24 grade, which is widely used. These are general UT Belts. The second one is Super Heat Resistant (SHR) grade, which are heat resistant belts. The third kind or grade of material is Ultra Heat Resistant (UHR) material, which can resist heat up to 220OC to 250OC.
We also have belts made of chevron material, also known as wavy belts, that are used for loading bags of cement in the trucks during despatch.

How are the above mentioned belts used for different functions at a cement plant?
Basically, the basic concept is the same but the application is different. Any normal belt can sustain up to 70oC temperature. The SHR belts can sustain up to 150oC temperature of the material being transported, while, the UHR belts can sustain up to 220oC to 250oC. This kind of belt is usually used to transport clinker, which has a very high temperature.
Likewise, the function of the chevron belts and wavy top belts is to create an anti-slippage surface for smooth loading of bags of cementin trucks.
We design conveyor belts according to customer’s requirements.

Tell us about the quality standards maintained for the conveyor belts. How often do they need change for maintenance?
We have a process of quality checking for every belt that is manufactured at our end. The key to maintaining quality is inspection of every belt that is despatched from our company. Our
in-house laboratory helps us keep a check on quality maintenance.
Maintenance of the belts or requirement of change differs from plant to plant. If the establishment is good and follows all protocol, the requirement for changing the belts is less frequent. If the maintenance of systems and processes are not good, then the requirement of changing or getting maintenance done for the belts is high as they are made of softer materials and may be classified as one of the weakest materials in the cement plants.

What is the impact of the conveyor belts on the efficiency of cement plants?
With a properly maintained conveyor belt system and process following, our belts are likely to give the best efficiency to plants by performing their function with the right speed and accuracy.

Which are the most challenging installations and wear and tear points in a cement plant?
In mine areas, when raw material i.e., limestone or coal is transported, the lump sizes are large and have sharp edges which may lead to high wear and tear of the belts. Secondly, it is the hot clinker, which causes the most wear and tear of the belts.

Tell us about the changes and innovations happening that the cement industry can look forward to?
At Continental Conveyors, we are involved in regular research and development to make more material grades for belts based on the various applications and requirements of cement manufacturers.

–Kanika Mathur

Up Next

Revolutionising Material Movement

Don't Miss

Consistent flow of materials is a critical aspect

Concrete

India’s Core Sector Growth Eases to 4.8 Per Cent in August

Cement, electricity and iron ore offset declines in other sectors

Published

2 days ago

September 26, 2026

admin

India’s output across eight core industries grew 4.8 per cent year-on-year in August 2026, easing from the revised 5.0 per cent growth recorded in July, according to provisional data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The Index of Core Industries (ICI), which tracks eight key infrastructure sectors, accounts for a significant share of the Index of Industrial Production.

Cement production led the expansion with growth of 12.5 per cent, followed by electricity at 11.6 per cent and iron ore at 5.5 per cent. Steel output increased 3.4 per cent, while refinery products rose 2.6 per cent during the month. The ministry identified cement, electricity and iron ore as the main contributors to overall core sector growth in recent months.

The gains were partly offset by contractions in several sectors. Coal output declined 3.8 per cent year-on-year, while natural gas and crude oil production fell 4.9 per cent and 3.6 per cent, respectively. Fertiliser production recorded the sharpest decline, falling 12.4 per cent in August.

Cumulative growth in the ICI during April-August 2026 stood at 4.3 per cent, compared with 2.4 per cent in the corresponding period a year earlier. Steel output increased 4.1 per cent during the period, while cement and electricity production grew 10.3 per cent and 9.6 per cent, respectively.

Coal, natural gas, crude oil, refinery products and fertilisers recorded negative cumulative growth during April-August. Their contractions stood at 3.2 per cent, 4.4 per cent, 4.1 per cent, 1.4 per cent and 6.7 per cent, respectively. The ministry also revised the final ICI for July to 120.8 from the earlier provisional estimate of 121.2, resulting in a downward revision in the month’s growth rate to 5.0 per cent from 5.4 per cent.

Concrete

Jammu Division Begins First Cement Rail Traffic to Anantnag

Cement Loading From Kathua for Anantnag to Begin on September 14

Published

7 days ago

September 21, 2026

admin

Jammu Railway Division has placed an indent for the first movement of cement by rail within the division, linking Shaheed Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary Kathua Railway Station with Anantnag Railway Station. Loading for the consignment is scheduled to begin on September 14.

Concrete

Hard Worker Wins Three Honours at Kyoorius Design Awards

Ramco Cements’ brand secures Grand Prix and two Blue Elephant honours.

Published

7 days ago

September 21, 2026

admin

The Ramco Cements Limited’s construction chemicals brand, Hard Worker, has won three honours at the Kyoorius Design Awards 2026, including the Grand Prix – Grey Elephant in the Design in Action category.

The brand also secured two Blue Elephant honours, one for Design in Action and another for Packaging, recognising the design approach behind its brand identity and packaging.

Launched in 2025, Hard Worker entered the construction chemicals segment with the brand promise, “Hard-working products for hardworking people.” Its visual identity uses animals and birds to represent product benefits. The camel represents the water-retention capability of Hard Worker Eco Plaster, while the cheetah represents the speed and performance of Hard Worker Block Fix.

The visual language has been extended across packaging, retail, communication, literature, digital platforms and other brand touchpoints. Hard Worker uses bold colours, distinctive animal illustrations and simple visual storytelling to communicate product benefits across markets and audiences, including construction workers and applicators.

“For Hard Worker, design was never an afterthought. It was fundamental to how we wanted to build the brand. In a category that is largely functional, we wanted to create a brand that people could recognise, understand and remember instantly. The Kyoorius recognition is a wonderful validation of this design-led approach,” said Mr. AV Dharmakrishnan, CEO, The Ramco Cements Limited.

Mr. Balaji K. Moorthy, Executive Director – Marketing, Ramco Cements said “In a category where communication has traditionally been product-led and functional, we wanted Hard Worker to stand apart by making design an integral part of the brand experience. From the distinctive animal-led packaging to our communication across consumer and trade touchpoints, every element was designed to make the brand more memorable and the product benefits easier to understand.”

Within its first 12 months, Hard Worker crossed Rs 3.5 bn in sales. The latest recognition follows six honours secured by the brand’s campaign at the Kyoorius Creative Awards earlier in 2026, including the Grey Elephant Grand Prix for its Eco Plaster film.

The Kyoorius Design Awards recognise outstanding design work in India’s visual communications sector across multiple categories and platforms. The 2026 awards were announced on 12 September in Goa.

The Ramco Cements Limited is part of the Ramco Group and operates across cement and allied building-material solutions. Hard Worker is its construction chemicals brand, offering solutions across key construction applications.