Concrete

Our belts are likely to give the best efficiency to plants

Published

3 years ago

October 19, 2023

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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

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Concrete

UltraTech to Deploy 600+ Electric Trucks by Dec 2026

Cement major expands green logistics to cut emissions across supply chain

Published

14 hours ago

September 3, 2026

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UltraTech Cement Limited, an Aditya Birla Group company, plans to expand its electric vehicle fleet in logistics operations to more than 600 EV trucks by December 2026, strengthening its green transport initiatives.

The company has signed service agreements with leading EV prime mover manufacturers, including Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, IPLTech, Energy in Motion and Sany, along with their subsidiaries and logistics partners, for deploying electric trucks.

The expanded fleet will transport around five million MT of clinker and other key materials annually across Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Odisha. Once operational, the fleet is expected to reduce annual CO₂ emissions by over 1,17,000 tonnes and replace nearly 39 million litres of diesel consumption.

K C Jhanwar, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement Limited, said the company is extending sustainability beyond its manufacturing plants by adopting greener logistics solutions and decarbonising its value chain.

UltraTech has been among the early adopters of sustainable transport in the cement sector, introducing CNG trucks in 2021 and electric trucks in 2024. The company currently operates more than 850 trucks under its green logistics programme, including CNG and electric vehicles.

With a grey cement capacity exceeding 200 MTPA in India, UltraTech is integrating electrification across its logistics network, covering mine-to-plant movement and inter-plant transportation of clinker and other materials.

Concrete

UltraTech Cement expands green logistics with 600+ electric truck fleet

Published

16 hours ago

September 3, 2026

admin

The e-truck fleet will be used to transport five million MT of clinker and other key materials with potential of over 1,17,000 tonnes of net annual CO₂ reduction, displacing the equivalent of 39 million litres of diesel per year.

Mumbai

UltraTech Cement Limited, an Aditya Birla Group company and the world’s largest cement company by sales volume and capacity outside China, has announced that it will scale up its electric vehicle fleet in its logistics operations to 600+ EV trucks by December 2026.

UltraTech has signed service contracts with leading EV prime mover manufacturers including Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, IPLTech, Energy in Motion and Sany, along with their subsidiaries and other third-party logistics providers, to deploy EV trucks.

The total fleet of 600+ EV trucks will transport about five million MT of clinker and other key materials per annum across Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Odisha. Once fully operational, this fleet of over 600 EV trucks will enable a net annual CO₂ reduction of more than 1,17,000 tonnes, displacing the equivalent of 39 million litres of diesel per year.

K C Jhanwar, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement Limited, said, “UltraTech is expanding sustainability beyond its plants by adopting greener logistics solutions. This large-scale transition to green logistics underscores our focus on decarbonising every link of our value chain and supports our commitment to achieving Net Zero.”

UltraTech has been a pioneer in advancing sustainable transport in the cement sector, being the first cement company to deploy heavy-duty electric trucks for long-haul transport of clinker and other materials at scale. The company was among the first in India to introduce green logistics, deploying CNG trucks in 2021 and electric trucks in 2024. UltraTech currently operates 850+ trucks as part of its green logistics operations, including CNG and electric trucks.

UltraTech, with a grey cement capacity of over 200 MTPA in India, operates one of the country’s most complex logistics networks. Its electrification strategy covers the entire supply chain—from mine-to-plant movement to inter-plant transport of clinker and other key materials.

The $ 10 billion UltraTech, the cement flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, has a total Grey Cement capacity of 205.5 MTPA and White Cement/Putty capacity of 3.2 MTPA. It is a signatory to the GCCA Climate Ambition 2050 and has committed to the Net Zero Concrete roadmap announced by GCCA.

Concrete

CarbonStrong Raises Rs 125 Million To Scale Low Carbon Cement Tech

To build capacity of 100,000 tonnes a year

Published

7 days ago

August 28, 2026

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CarbonStrong has raised Rs 125 million (125 mn) to scale a low carbon cement technology and build commercial production capacity. The startup was founded in 2022 by Harsh Jain and Vikramaditya Singh and has moved from customer trials to plans for industrial supply. The company said its material replaces up to 50 per cent of cement in concrete while reducing costs and improving durability.

CarbonStrong states the product is around 30 per cent cheaper than cement and compatible with existing concrete plants, reducing the need for new equipment and operational disruption. Trials and paid pilots have been conducted in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai with demonstration projects involving ready-mix firms and precast manufacturers. Compatibility with current workflows forms a central part of the commercial strategy, aiming to ease adoption by builders and contractors.

The funding will support construction of a facility with capacity of up to 100,000 tonnes (100,000 t) a year over the next two years to supply early customers commercially. The firm is also developing materials from steel slag, copper slag and mine tailings to expand its feedstock base, while noting the technical challenge of homogenising different waste streams. Recognition by HCL ClimaForce in 2026 and by the Avaana-Startup India-NITI Aayog AIM Grand Challenge in 2025 has underscored progress.

Industry adoption remains the principal test and will require consistent material performance, supply reliability and competitive economics. CarbonStrong projects the Indian market for cement substitutes could reach Rs 250 billion (250 bn) by 2030 and has set an ambition to produce 10 million tonnes a year by 2035 (10 mn t), a target far above its near term capacity. Moving from pilots to production demands capital, manufacturing discipline and customers willing to specify the material beyond demonstrations. The recent Rs 125 million raise is intended to fund the next phase of scale and to demonstrate that industrial waste can become a dependable input for lower carbon construction.