Concrete

Equipment India Awards 2024!

Published

2 years ago

November 23, 2024

Roshna

The titans of the construction equipment industry were honoured at the 12th BKT Equipment India Awards 2024.

On October 10, 2024, Mumbai played host to the much-anticipated 12th BKT Equipment India Awards 2024, an event that recognised and celebrated the outstanding achievements within the construction equipment sector. The grand ceremony took place at Jio Convention Centre and was among the highlights of the India Construction Festival, which gathered industry leaders, manufacturers and financiers from across the nation to honour innovation and excellence in this vital sector.
The inaugural addresses set a reflective tone for the evening, emphasising the importance of collaboration and information sharing within the industry. In his opening speech, Pratap Padode, Founder, First Construction Council, remarked, “At Equipment India, we have always tried to enhance the standard of the industry. During this 17th year of our existence, we still find that companies are trying to hide behind a veil as far as the disclosure of factual data is concerned.” His emphasis on transparency resonated with the audience, highlighting the critical need for the construction equipment sector to adopt best practices for data sharing, akin to those seen in the automobile industry.
For his part, Vipin Sondhi, Chairman, RAHSTA Committee, and former MD and CEO, JCB India and Ashok Leyland, also shared optimistic insights, stating, “Today, we celebrate not just the figures but the remarkable individuals behind them – the innovators, manufacturers and teams that push the boundaries of what’s possible.” He highlighted the impressive growth of equipment sales, which saw a 26 per cent increase during FY2023-24, reflecting strong market recovery and renewed confidence.
The 12th BKT Equipment India Awards not only celebrated the achievements of key players in the construction equipment sector but also served as a reminder of the collective effort required to drive the industry forward. The event reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the industry’s ongoing evolution, ensuring that India remains a significant player in the global construction equipment market. With the industry poised to grow at a CAGR of 12 per cent, reaching $25 billion by the end of the decade, the evening left attendees inspired and motivated to continue pushing boundaries in their respective fields.
A significant highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Equipment India Person of the Year 2024 award to Jaideep Shekhar, Managing Director, Terex India. Under his astute leadership, the company has achieved remarkable growth, marked by innovation and a commitment to excellence. The jury praised his strategic vision, which has not only propelled the company’s success but also contributed positively to the broader industry landscape.
Receiving the award, Shekhar expressed heartfelt gratitude, stating, “I’m deeply grateful to the jury and Equipment India for this remarkable honour. This award reflects not only my contributions but also the dedication and hard work of my team. I have been associated with the industry for more than 25 years and this award motivates me to keep pushing boundaries and to lead the growth
with integrity.”
The award presentation was made all the more special by the presence of previous winners of the Equipment India Persons of the Year, including Vipin Sondhi, former MD and CEO, JCB India (Equipment India Person of the Year 2013); Sandeep Singh, Managing Director, Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery (Equipment India Person of the Year 2015); and Dimitrov Krishnan, Managing Director, Volvo Construction Equipment India (Equipment India Person of the Year 2013).
The event also witnessed the recognition of numerous companies across various categories, showcasing the best of the best in the construction equipment sector. Indeed, as the industry gears up for future challenges, the awards stood as a testament to resilience, creativity and the unwavering spirit of collaboration. Together, the participants are set to build a brighter tomorrow for the construction equipment industry in India, fostering innovation and sustainable practices that will serve the nation for years to come.

Winners of the 12th BKT Equipment India Awards

Equipment India Person of the Year 2024:Jaideep Shekhar, Managing Director, Terex IndiaGreen Factory of the Year: Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery
Best After-Sales Service Provider: Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery
Concrete Pumps: Schwing Stetter India
Truck Cranes: Sany Heavy Industry India
Asphalt Plants: Ammann India
Asphalt Finishers: Ammann India
Batching Plants: Schwing Stetter India
Crawler Cranes: Sany Heavy Industry India
Piling Rigs: Sany Heavy Industry India
Rigid Dump Trucks: Caterpillar India
Motor Graders: Caterpillar India
Mini Excavators: Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery
Crawler Excavators: Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery
Mobile Cranes: Action Construction Equipment
Crawler Dozers: BEML
Skid-Steer Loaders: Doosan Bobcat India
Wheel Loaders: LiuGong India
Self-Loading Concrete Mixers: AJAX Engineering
Tower Cranes: Action Construction Equipment
Compaction Equipment: Case Construction
Mobile Cranes: Action Construction Equipment

“I congratulate ASAPP Info Global on the outstanding success of the conference and award shows! It was a privilege to be part of such an insightful session with industry leaders.”
– Sanjay Koul, President- India and South East Asia and Managing Director, Timken India

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Lokesh Lays Stone For Rs 31 Billion Cement Unit In Kadapa

Line-2 expansion to make Kadapa a major cement hub

Published

4 days ago

July 20, 2026

admin

Andhra Pradesh Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the Line-2 expansion of Dalmia Bharat Cement at Chinnakomerla village in Mylavaram Mandal in Kadapa district. The project carries an investment of Rs 31 billion (bn) and is slated for completion by the third quarter of the financial year 2028. The expansion is intended to boost industrial growth and employment generation across the Rayalaseema region.

Once commissioned, the Kadapa facility will become Dalmia Bharat’s largest integrated cement manufacturing ecosystem in southern India, creating over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs and opening new business avenues for regional micro, small and medium enterprises and transport operators. Lokesh said the expansion signalled growing corporate confidence in the state and reflected the practical ease of doing business that secured repeat investment.

He placed the project within the government’s wider economic targets and recalled the Yuvagalam padayatra commitment to generate two million (mn) jobs within five years, noting that the state would cultivate talent while industry created opportunities. Lokesh highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s competitive pursuit of major manufacturing accounts, mentioning past successes and a personal initiative to engage global investors when persuading them to anchor expansion in the state.

The plant will leverage Kadapa’s abundant limestone reserves to scale production and sustainability. Clinker capacity is planned to rise from two point five million tonnes per annum (mn tpa) to six point one mn tpa, while overall cement output will increase from three point six mn tpa to nine point six mn tpa. The unit is designed to operate on over eighty per cent renewable energy and deploy waste heat recovery, zero liquid discharge, water recycling and advanced AI systems to optimise efficiency. Industries Minister TG Bharat, BC Welfare Minister S. Savitha and Jammalamadugu MLA C. Adinarayana Reddy attended the ceremony.

Concrete

Cement Prices to Stay Flat in Q2 FY27 as Costs Squeeze Margins

HDFC Securities warns monsoon slowdown and higher fuel costs

Published

7 days ago

July 17, 2026

admin

HDFC Securities has said the cement industry is unlikely to register a sequential increase in prices in Q2 FY27 as monsoon-related demand moderation coincides with rising fuel and packaging costs that will squeeze margins. The brokerage observed that price gains remained modest, with increases of two to three per cent quarter-on-quarter across regions, and noted subdued offtake in May with improvement in June as a delayed monsoon supported construction activity. The brokerage added that modest pricing gains so far have been insufficient to offset the input cost escalation.

The report stated that input cost pressures intensified in Q1 FY27 owing to the West Asia conflict, which pushed up coal and pet coke prices and is expected to keep fuel costs elevated, with a likely peak in Q2 FY27. It assessed that total variable costs, including packing, could rise by around Rs 150 per t quarter-on-quarter and that lower offtake and seasonal operating deleverage could further raise operating expenditure by about Rs 50 per t quarter-on-quarter.

Overall, cement prices were estimated to remain flat in Q2 FY27 as monsoon-led demand weakness offsets limited upside in realisation, and rising fuel costs alongside seasonal deleverage were expected to compress industry margins by over Rs 100 per t quarter-on-quarter to below Rs 880 per t. The brokerage indicated that the combined impact of energy inflation and higher packing expenditure would be the principal drivers of margin contraction in the near term. HDFC Securities projected a recovery in margins in H2 FY27 should the West Asia turmoil subside and energy and packing costs cool off.

The brokerage expressed optimism on long-term demand fundamentals and said improving realisation together with an anticipated cost cool-off should support a margin rebound from H2 FY27 onward, underpinning favourable industry prospects over the medium term. Its outlook rests on monsoon normalisation and a decline in imported fuel prices in the second half of the fiscal year.

Concrete

Dalmia Bharat Begins Rs 31 Bn Green Cement Unit in Kadapa

New Andhra Pradesh plant to add 9.6 MTPA cement capacity by FY28

Published

1 week ago

July 16, 2026

admin

Dalmia Bharat Limited recently laid the foundation stone for its second manufacturing unit at Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh. The company will invest Rs 31 billion in developing the next-generation integrated cement manufacturing facility.

The foundation-laying ceremony was attended by Nara Lokesh, Andhra Pradesh Minister for Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Real-Time Governance and Human Resources Development, along with Puneet Dalmia, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dalmia Bharat, senior government officials and company representatives.

Scheduled to be commissioned by the third quarter of FY28, the Kadapa unit will become Dalmia Bharat’s largest integrated manufacturing facility in southern India. It will have a clinker production capacity of 6.1 million tonnes per annum and a cement manufacturing capacity of 9.6 million tonnes per annum.

The facility is designed to produce what the company describes as one of the world’s greenest cements. It is also expected to generate approximately 1,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities while supporting local MSMEs, transporters, contractors and service providers.

Lokesh said the investment reflected Dalmia Bharat’s confidence in Andhra Pradesh and aligned with the state’s objective of promoting sustainable industrialisation, job creation and technology-led economic growth.

Puneet Dalmia said the project represented the company’s long-term vision of developing low-carbon cement manufacturing assets. He added that the facility would establish new benchmarks in operational efficiency and sustainability while supporting India’s infrastructure and environmental goals.

Dalmia Bharat will also expand its regional community development programmes in education, healthcare, skill development and welfare through its DIKSHa and Gram Parivartan initiatives.

The company currently has an installed cement manufacturing capacity of 54.7 million tonnes across 19 manufacturing units in 12 states. It is also the first cement company globally to commit to the RE100, EP100 and EV100 initiatives.