Concrete

Lubricants are indispensable

Published

1 year ago

June 14, 2024

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James (Jim) Holden, PE, Technical Director, Energy and Engineered Solutions, and Lisa Marston, Regional Technical Service Engineer, Cortec Corporation, discuss how lubricants play a crucial role in maintaining efficiency, preventing breakdowns and supporting sustainable practices in industrial operations.

What role do lubricants play in the lifespan of any machinery?
Holden: Any manufacturer of rotating equipment will specify the type of bearing and the type of lubricant to be used in their machinery. The main functions of the lubricant are to minimise friction between stationary and moving components and to extend the life of these components by preventing excessive wear and premature failures.

Which are the key areas in any machinery that should be protected by the grease or lubricants?
Holden: Anytime there is relative motion between two pieces of metal, such as bearings and shafts, a lubricant should be used. There are generally three categories of lubricants – lubricating oils, lubricating greases, and general-purpose penetrating lubricants. Each of these has different applications.

Tell us about your products that offer corrosion prevention in machinery. What makes them unique?
Marston: Cortec has products that serve various needs in lubricating systems. One major category of products is oil additives with contact and vapor phase corrosion inhibitors that are designed to provide enhanced corrosion protection in addition to the lubricating oil itself during long term storage and intermittent operating conditions for gearboxes, steam turbines, pumps, etc. Cortec also offers greases that are formulated with vapor phase corrosion inhibitors, some of which are derived from renewable resources. Additionally, Cortec manufactures general purpose lubricants with corrosion inhibitors that can be used on valve bushings, fasteners, and packing glands, as a few examples. The addition of contact and vapor phase corrosion inhibitors in these products ensures consistent corrosion protection throughout the equipment, even when components may not be in direct contact with the lubricant.

How often should lubricants of any kind be changed for effective functionality?
Holden: OEMs and/or lubricant suppliers will recommend operating cycles, how often to inspect the oil, and what tests to run to ensure the oil is healthy for continued operation of their equipment. As part of day-to-day operations, it is also typical to try to minimise the water content in the oils
through purification.

How can sustainability be incorporated in lubrication systems?
Marston: The two major ways that come to mind include:
1. Extending the life cycle of your oil and your equipment to avoid wasted capacity of the assets. This can be done by keeping the oils and systems clean, monitoring the health of the oils over time, and inspecting the equipment on a routine maintenance schedule.
2. Using environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors and lubricants where possible. Cortec offers several biobased products including EcoLine CLP, a multi-functional penetrant/lubricant made with 89 per cent USDA certified biobased content, and EcoLine Biobased Grease powered by Nano-VpCI which contains 86 per cent biobased content and is formulated from vegetable oils.

What are the advancements made in the field of lubricants that can positively impact productivity of heavy machinery?
Lubricants are indispensable for maintaining smooth machinery operation and preventing costly breakdowns. By reducing friction between moving parts, they minimise wear and tear, extending the lifespan of equipment. Additionally, lubricants absorb shocks, dampen noise, and mitigate corrosion, ensuring optimal performance even in challenging environments. With less friction comes reduced heat generation, further safeguarding against damage and enhancing overall efficiency. In essence, the strategic use of lubricants not only facilitates seamless operation
but also safeguards against unplanned downtime and unexpected expenses. We are looking forward to continued development of biobased and biodegradable alternatives to traditionally petroleum-based products, which are safer for handling and the environment.

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Concrete

Adani Cement to Deploy World’s First Commercial RDH System

Adani Cement and Coolbrook partner to pilot RDH tech for low-carbon cement.

Published

3 days ago

November 14, 2025

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Adani Cement and Coolbrook have announced a landmark agreement to install the world’s first commercial RotoDynamic Heater (RDH) system at Adani’s Boyareddypalli Integrated Cement Plant in Andhra Pradesh. The initiative aims to sharply reduce carbon emissions associated with cement production.

This marks the first industrial-scale deployment of Coolbrook’s RDH technology, which will decarbonise the calcination phase — the most fossil fuel-intensive stage of cement manufacturing. The RDH system will generate clean, electrified heat to dry and improve the efficiency of alternative fuels, reducing dependence on conventional fossil sources.

According to Adani, the installation is expected to eliminate around 60,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, with the potential to scale up tenfold as the technology is expanded. The system will be powered entirely by renewable energy sourced from Adani Cement’s own portfolio, demonstrating the feasibility of producing industrial heat without emissions and strengthening India’s position as a hub for clean cement technologies.

The partnership also includes a roadmap to deploy RotoDynamic Technology across additional Adani Cement sites, with at least five more projects planned over the next two years. The first-generation RDH will provide hot gases at approximately 1000°C, enabling more efficient use of alternative fuels.

Adani Cement’s wider sustainability strategy targets raising the share of alternative fuels and resources to 30 per cent and increasing green power use to 60 per cent by FY28. The RDH deployment supports the company’s Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-validated commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Concrete

Birla Corporation Q2 EBITDA Surges 71%, Net Profit at Rs 90 Crore

Stronger margins and premium cement sales boost quarterly performance.

Published

5 days ago

November 12, 2025

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Birla Corporation Limited reported a consolidated EBITDA of Rs 3320 million for the September quarter of FY26, a 71 per cent increase over the same period last year, driven by improved profitability in both its Cement and Jute divisions. The company posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 900 million, reversing a loss of Rs 250 million in the corresponding quarter last year.

Consolidated revenue stood at Rs 22330 million, marking a 13 per cent year-on-year growth as cement sales volumes rose 7 per cent to 4.2 million tonnes. Despite subdued cement demand, weak pricing, and rainfall disruptions, Birla Jute Mills staged a turnaround during the quarter.

Premium cement continued to drive performance, accounting for 60 per cent of total trade sales. The flagship brand Perfect Plus recorded 20 per cent growth, while Unique Plus rose 28 per cent year-on-year. Sales through the trade channel reached 79 per cent, up from 71 per cent a year earlier, while blended cement sales grew 14 per cent, forming 89 per cent of total cement sales. Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan remained key growth markets with 7–11 per cent volume gains.

EBITDA per tonne improved 54 per cent to Rs 712, with operating margins expanding to 14.7 per cent from 9.8 per cent last year, supported by efficiency gains and cost reduction measures.

Sandip Ghose, Managing Director and CEO, said, “The Company was able to overcome headwinds from multiple directions to deliver a resilient performance, which boosts confidence in the robustness of our strategies.”

The company expects cement demand to strengthen in the December quarter, supported by government infrastructure spending and rural housing demand. Growth is anticipated mainly from northern and western India, while southern and eastern regions are expected to face continued supply pressures.

Concrete

Ambuja Cements Delivers Strong Q2 FY26 Performance Driven by R&D and Efficiency

Company raises FY28 capacity target to 155 MTPA with focus on cost optimisation and AI integration

Published

7 days ago

November 10, 2025

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Ambuja Cements, part of the diversified Adani Portfolio and the world’s ninth-largest building materials solutions company, has reported a robust performance for Q2 FY26. The company’s strong results were driven by market share gains, R&D-led premium cement products, and continued efficiency improvements.

Vinod Bahety, Whole-Time Director and CEO, Ambuja Cements, said, “This quarter has been noteworthy for the cement industry. Despite headwinds from prolonged monsoons, the sector stands to benefit from several favourable developments, including GST 2.0 reforms, the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), and the withdrawal of coal cess. Our capacity expansion is well timed to capitalise on this positive momentum.”

Ambuja has increased its FY28 capacity target by 15 MTPA — from 140 MTPA to 155 MTPA — through debottlenecking initiatives that will come at a lower capital expenditure of USD 48 per metric tonne. The company also plans to enhance utilisation of its existing 107 MTPA capacity by 3 per cent through logistics infrastructure improvements.

To strengthen its product mix, Ambuja will install 13 blenders across its plants over the next 12 months to optimise production and increase the share of premium cement, improving realisations. These operational enhancements have already contributed to a 5 per cent reduction in cost of sales year-on-year, resulting in an EBITDA of Rs 1,060 per metric tonne and a PMT EBITDA of approximately Rs 1,189.

Looking ahead, the company remains optimistic about achieving double-digit revenue growth and maintaining four-digit PMT EBITDA through FY26. Ambuja aims to reduce total cost to Rs 4,000 per metric tonne by the end of FY26 and further by 5 per cent annually to reach Rs 3,650 per metric tonne by FY28.

Bahety added, “Our Cement Intelligent Network Operations Centre (CiNOC) will bring a paradigm shift to our business operations. Artificial Intelligence will run deep within our enterprise, driving efficiency, productivity, and enhanced stakeholder engagement across the value chain.”