Concrete

Precast concrete allows for elaborate and customised designs

Published

3 years ago

October 19, 2023

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Aayush Patel, Director, Atul Projects India, discusses how precast concrete, when combined with automation and technology, has the potential to help India achieve its affordable housing goals.

What kind of precast concrete shapes do you use for residential buildings and commercial buildings?
We use a variety of precast concrete shapes to enhance structures in both residential and commercial construction. These include mouldings, rounded or modular features, grills, fins and projected pergolas for residential structures, all of which add to an appealing façade. Similarly, in commercial buildings, these components provide a professional and welcoming appearance that is consistent with the company’s identity. These adaptable precast concrete shapes play an important role in influencing the future of buildings by offering architectural projects with both aesthetic originality and durability.

What are the advantages of using precast concrete shapes as compared to other alternatives?
Using precast concrete shapes has various advantages over alternatives. One noticeable advantage is quicker construction due to off-site production, which saves significant time when compared to on-site curing. This technology allows for concurrent site preparation and assembly, which reduces labour needs. Furthermore, precast concrete allows for elaborate and customised designs that would be impractical otherwise. Precast elements, as opposed to cast-in-place concrete, are cured consistently in controlled factory settings, ensuring uniform quality. They also outperform steel constructions in terms of fire resistance and longevity. Precast concrete outperforms wood in terms of adaptability and durability. It reduces the need for substantial formwork and scaffolding, reducing waste and construction interruption.

Tell us about the quality standards you adhere to in selecting precast concrete shapes.
Our selection of precast concrete shapes is driven by strict quality requirements, emphasising precision work and achieving micro-finishes. In all aspects of our precast work, we prioritise exquisite craftsmanship and painstaking attention to detail. Our dedication to quality extends beyond surpassing basic criteria to achieving beautifully smooth surfaces on all of our goods. We ensure that each precast shape not only meets but exceeds industry requirements through a thorough review procedure, demonstrating our unwavering dedication to delivering the best level of workmanship available.

How do precast shapes help in the profitability of a construction activity?
Precast shapes add great value to construction activities by increasing profitability through faster processes and enhanced quality. These shapes are manufactured off-site under regulated conditions, decreasing material waste as well as labour and construction time. Various complicated shapes adapted to the project’s specifications can be achieved using Tensile Rubble Mould with grout and minimum diameter-wired reinforcement. This customisation lowers on-site modifications, optimising resource usage and eliminating costly errors. Furthermore, because of regular production circumstances precast shapes frequently display greater structural integrity and endurance. These elements work together to improve project efficiency, lower overall costs, and increase profitability in building endeavours.

What are the challenges you face in using precast shapes?
The use of precast shapes for multi-story elevations provides precise and diverse solutions for a variety of design objectives. However, it comes with obstacles such as extensive design and technical needs, communication barriers among multiple teams, assuring quality control, managing complex scheduling and sequencing, and dealing with limited on-site space and transportation restrictions. Overcoming these issues is critical for fully utilising the benefits of precast detailing in multi-story projects.

How do you incorporate sustainability in your construction process? How can precast concrete contribute towards affordable housing in India?
Sustainability is integral to our construction process, achieved through local material sourcing, energy-efficient designs, and waste reduction. We prioritise green certifications and eco-friendly practices to minimise our ecological impact from inception to completion. In the context of India’s affordable housing initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and MHADA, precast concrete holds immense potential. Its modular approach, based on factory-made components, ensures consistent quality and accelerates construction timelines. This aligns with the urgent need for rapid and cost-effective housing solutions. By minimising material wastage and labour costs, precast concrete offers an efficient way to deliver affordable housing projects on time. Its adaptability to various housing designs makes it suitable for large-scale housing ventures. As a result, precast concrete significantly contributes to India’s affordable housing goals by providing durable, affordable and quickly deployable housing units to address the housing needs of the population.

What kind of innovations do you hope to see in the future in the precast concrete shape industry?
In the realm of precast concrete shapes, we anticipate witnessing significant innovations that revolutionise the construction industry. We hope to see advancements in sustainable materials, leading to eco-friendly precast products that minimise environmental impact. Automation and robotics could streamline manufacturing processes, enhancing efficiency and precision. Integration of smart technologies might enable real-time monitoring and maintenance of precast structures, ensuring long-term durability. Additionally, developments in modular design and customisation could allow for more versatile and aesthetically pleasing architectural solutions. These innovations would not only contribute to rapid and high-quality construction in metropolitan areas but also promote sustainability and creativity in the field.

-Kanika Mathur

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Concrete

JSW Cement Commissions 1 MTPA Unit in Rajasthan

Rajasthan grinding capacity rises to 3.50 MTPA after commissioning

Published

2 days ago

October 9, 2026

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JSW Cement has commissioned an additional 1 MTPA cement grinding unit in Nagaur, Rajasthan, taking the company’s total cement grinding capacity to 25.1 MTPA. The commissioning was announced on Tuesday, October 6.

The company said the new unit had increased the total cement grinding capacity at its Rajasthan plant to 3.50 MTPA. The expansion adds to JSW Cement’s production infrastructure as it continues to build capacity across its operating network.

The company’s total clinker manufacturing capacity, including capacity at its joint venture JSW Cement FZC, stands at 9.74 MTPA. Clinker is an intermediate material used in cement production, and its availability supports the company’s grinding operations.

JSW Cement is also pursuing a proposed merger of its listed subsidiary Shiva Cement with the company. The scheme, approved by the boards of the respective companies, involves issuing five fully paid-up JSW Cement equity shares for every 41 shares held by Shiva Cement shareholders other than JSW Cement.

The arrangement remains subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. JSW Cement currently holds 66.23 per cent of Shiva Cement’s paid-up equity share capital, and the shares held by JSW Cement in the subsidiary will be cancelled under the proposal without any issue of JSW Cement shares against that holding.

The scheme has an appointed date of April 1, 2026, and the company has indicated that completion could take 12 to 14 months, depending on the receipt of approvals. These include clearances from stock exchanges, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the National Company Law Tribunal and other applicable authorities, along with approvals from shareholders and creditors where required. JSW Cement shares closed at Rs. 113.15 on the BSE, up Rs. 2.05, or 1.85 per cent.

Concrete

Wonder Cement appoints Mahesh Singh as VP Corporate Brand Communication

Published

2 days ago

October 9, 2026

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Singh brings 20+ years of brand and marketing experience, and will lead integrated corporate brand communication initiatives at Wonder Cement

New Delhi

Wonder Cement, a leading cement manufacturer, has appointed Mahesh Singh as Vice President – Corporate Brand Communication. In his new role, he will oversee corporate brand strategy and communication, including digital and performance marketing, public relations, trade, events, exhibitions, sports and experiential marketing.

Singh brings over two decades of experience across marketing and communications, with roles spanning the automotive industry, agencies and entrepreneurship. He spent more than a decade with Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, working across integrated communication, media, digital, retail and consumer engagement. His stint also included helping build the company’s digital marketing capabilities.

He moved to dentsu X India as Vice President – Strategy & Planning, working across categories such as automotive, auto components, electric vehicles, FMCG, consumer electronics, BFSI, apparel and brand consulting. His responsibilities included media and marketing strategy, product launches, content, performance marketing and consumer activations.

Singh subsequently took an entrepreneurial route with Radiant Brands before joining Shriram Ltd (SPR Autotech) as Head – Marketing & Communications. There, his remit included brand and corporate strategy, communications, PR and ORM, retail identity, loyalty programmes and events.

At Wonder Cement, Singh will be responsible for bringing together the company’s corporate brand communication initiatives across digital, performance marketing, PR, trade, sports and experiential platforms. The role will focus on creating an integrated approach to communication across consumers, trade partners and other key stakeholders.

The appointment brings to Wonder Cement a marketer whose career has spanned the brand, agency and entrepreneurial sides of the communications ecosystem.

Wonder Cement, part of the RK Group, is a cement manufacturer with roots in Rajasthan and a focus on quality, trust and transparency. The company has grown to six manufacturing plants, and a cement capacity of 21.5 MTPA. With more than 2,000 employees and a network of over 5,000 dealers, its operations span manufacturing, distribution and customer engagement, with a focus on consistent product quality and efficient execution.

Concrete

JSW Cement commissions additional 1 MTPA grinding unit in Rajasthan

The Nagaur expansion takes JSW Cement’s total grinding capacity to 25.10 MTPA.

Published

3 days ago

October 8, 2026

admin

JSW Cement has commissioned an additional 1 million tonne per annum (MTPA) cement grinding unit at its Nagaur Integrated Plant in Rajasthan. The commissioning takes the company’s total cement grinding capacity to 25.10 MTPA.

JSW Cement’s total clinker manufacturing capacity, including its joint venture JSW Cement FZC, now stands at 9.74 MTPA.

The company began operations in North India in March 2026 with the Nagaur Integrated Plant, comprising a 3.30 MTPA clinkerisation unit and a 2.50 MTPA cement grinding unit. With the latest expansion, the plant’s total grinding capacity has increased to 3.50 MTPA.

The additional capacity will cater to cement demand across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the National Capital Region (NCR). The expansion has been funded through a combination of equity and long-term debt.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2026, JSW Cement also commissioned an Alternate Fuel Handling System and a Waste Heat Recovery System (WHRS) at the Nagaur plant.

Nilesh Narwekar, CEO, JSW Cement, said the additional grinding capacity was a strategic priority for the company’s expansion in North India. He added that the Alternate Fuel Handling System and WHRS were expected to reduce production costs.