Economy & Market

Customisation is a cornerstone of our approach

Published

2 years ago

February 12, 2025

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Rajeev Manchanda, Director, Christian Pfieffer, talks about pioneering sustainable solutions in cement manufacturing with Kanika Mathur.

For over 70 years, CPG Group has been at the forefront of innovation in the cement industry, delivering customised, high-quality solutions for manufacturers worldwide. With a strong focus on technology, efficiency and sustainability, the company continues to revolutionise cement production. In this interview, we explore how CPG Group’s expertise, strategic collaborations and eco-friendly initiatives are shaping the future of the industry.

How does your company collaborate with the cement industry?
Our company, CPG Group, has been a prominent name in the cement industry for the last 70 years. We are known for manufacturing complete cement plants, including clinkerisation units, cement mills, raw mills, and pyro systems, among other components. Our operations are backed by four workshops where we produce approximately 80 per cent of the required machinery in-house. This enables us to maintain high standards of quality and precision, ensuring that the equipment meets the specific demands of the cement industry. Over the decades, we have built strong relationships with cement manufacturers, delivering solutions tailored to their needs and contributing to the industry’s growth and sustainability.

Do you customise your machinery based on the cement manufacturers’ requirements?
Absolutely. All our designs and manufacturing processes are tailored to the specific requirements of our clients. We do not rely on pre-designed equipment. Instead, we analyse the client’s needs, assess their operational challenges, and then design machinery to address those requirements effectively. Customisation is a cornerstone of our approach, as every cement manufacturer operates under unique conditions. By aligning our solutions with their specific goals and constraints, we ensure that our clients achieve optimal performance, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

How is technology helping improve your operations, and how is it helping the cement industry enhance theirs?
Technology plays a vital role in both our operations and those of the cement industry. We have established several collaborations with leading European companies to provide cutting-edge technology and services. These partnerships allow us to offer energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions to our clients. For example, we work closely with Semprotect to optimise the calorific value of clinkerisation plants, which significantly reduces coal consumption. By saving coal, we not only cut costs but also contribute to environmental preservation.
All our equipment is designed with the primary objectives of saving energy, minimising coal usage, and increasing production efficiency. Our approach involves replacing outdated systems with modern, optimised ones, which have consistently delivered substantial benefits to our clients. These improvements are aligned with our commitment to reducing the industry’s carbon footprint while enhancing operational efficiency.

Can you share an example where your company upgraded a system for a client and delivered significant results?
Recently, we upgraded a part of a cooler that was originally supplied by another vendor. By making specific modifications to the system, we managed to save 15 kilocalories per kilogram of clinker. This improvement directly reduced coal consumption, resulting in significant cost savings for the client. Additionally, it contributed to a reduction in environmental impact.
There are many such instances where we have enhanced production efficiency, reduced power consumption, and minimised coal usage for our clients. These projects underscore our expertise in delivering customised solutions that address the unique challenges faced by cement manufacturers. Such interventions not only benefit our clients financially but also align with broader environmental sustainability goals.

What is your perspective on sustainability in your operations and within the cement industry?
To me, sustainability means ensuring that systems and operations can run profitably over the long term. For our company, sustainability involves designing systems that help clients reduce production costs while improving efficiency and environmental performance. When businesses adopt such practices, they naturally achieve more sustainable operations.
Sustainability creates a win-win scenario: it benefits our clients by improving their profitability, it supports the environment by reducing emissions and resource consumption, and it strengthens the industry by promoting long-term viability. Our work in optimising energy usage, reducing coal consumption, and increasing production efficiency exemplifies this balanced approach to sustainability. It’s a comprehensive effort that positively impacts all stakeholders, including the country and the global environment.

What is your view on the net-zero mission, and how is your company contributing to it?
The net-zero mission is an ambitious but essential goal for the cement industry and beyond. At CPG Group, we are doing our part by focusing on reducing coal consumption, optimising power usage, and minimising pollution in cement production. For example, in our designs, we aim to significantly reduce the emission of pollutants. While earlier systems emitted 100 milligrams of particulate matter per cubic meter, we have progressively reduced this to 50 milligrams and now maintain levels as low as 10 milligrams.
Our efforts also extend to designing equipment and processes that minimise the environmental impact of cement production. Cement manufacturing is inherently a polluting process, but by incorporating innovative technologies, we aim to mitigate its effects. Achieving net zero will require joint efforts from all stakeholders, including manufacturers, suppliers, governments, and society at large.
It is a challenging journey that requires time, resources, and collaboration. While our contribution may seem small in the grand scheme of things, we believe that every step counts. By continuously improving our systems and designs, we are moving closer to a more sustainable future for the industry.

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Concrete

Wonder Cement appoints Mahesh Singh as VP Corporate Brand Communication

Published

1 week 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 at Nagaur

Published

1 week ago

October 8, 2026

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With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA,
Mumbai

JSW Cement, one of India’s leading green cement producers and part of the diversified JSW Group, today announced the successful commissioning of an additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit at Nagaur, Rajasthan. The commissioning marks another significant milestone in the Company’s growth strategy.

With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA, while its total clinker manufacturing capacity, including clinker capacity at its joint venture, JSW Cement FZC, stands at 9.74 MTPA.

JSW Cement had commenced operations in North India in March 2026 with the Nagaur Integrated Plant, comprising a 3.30 MTPA clinkerisation unit and 2.50 MTPA cement grinding unit. With the commissioning of the additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit, the plant’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 3.50 MTPA, enhancing the company’s ability to cater to the growing cement demand across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the National Capital Region (NCR). The expansion has been funded through a strategic mix of equity and long-term debt.

During the quarter ended 30th September 2026, JSW Cement has also commissioned the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) at the Nagaur Integrated Plant.

Nilesh Narwekar, CEO, JSW Cement, said: “The commissioning of additional 1.00 MTPA grinding capacity at Nagaur is a key strategic priority for us and will accelerate JSW Cement’s expansion into North India. We look forward to servicing the growing needs of the region and contributing to the economic growth of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the NCR area. I am delighted to share that the company has commissioned this grinding unit within the expected timeline, showcasing our project execution capabilities. Further, the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) are expected to substantially reduce our production costs going forward.”

Concrete

UltraTech becomes first Indian cement firm to cross 2 GW green energy

Published

2 weeks ago

October 7, 2026

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UltraTech Cement has crossed 2 GW of captive green energy capacity, with renewables and waste heat recovery meeting 48 per cent of its power needs.

Mumbai

UltraTech Cement Limited has surpassed 2 GW of installed green energy capacity for captive use, becoming the first cement company in India to achieve the milestone. The Aditya Birla Group company commissioned 116.55 MW of wind capacity at its Inter-State Transmission System-connected wind-solar hybrid project in Barmer, Rajasthan, along with 10 MW of Waste Heat Recovery System capacity at Sarlanagar Cement Works in Karnataka.

With these additions, UltraTech’s cumulative installed green energy capacity has reached 2,024 MW. This includes 1,580 MW of renewable energy capacity and 444 MW of waste heat recovery capacity, together meeting around 48 per cent of the company’s current power requirements.

The company said the milestone reflects the progress of its long-term energy transition strategy. In FY27 so far, nearly one-third of UltraTech’s 76 manufacturing units in India have maintained green energy utilisation above 50 per cent of their electricity requirements, while five units have crossed 95 per cent.

K C Jhanwar, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement Limited, said, “Crossing the 2 GW green energy milestone is the result of a strategy we have pursued consistently over the past decade. Cement is an energy-intensive, hard-to-abate sector, and showing that reliability and growth can go hand in hand with a rapid shift to green energy sets a benchmark for the industry. With nearly half of our power needs now met through green energy, we are significantly less exposed to fossil fuel supply constraints and power price volatility. As we scale up renewables, waste heat recovery and battery storage across our operations, we are building an energy foundation for stable, long-term growth.”

UltraTech commissioned 430 MW of green energy capacity in FY26 and continues to expand its renewable energy and waste heat recovery portfolio.

The company is also progressively integrating Battery Energy Storage Systems across its operations to improve renewable energy utilisation and supply reliability.

In 2025, UltraTech operationalised what it described as India’s first on-site hybrid round-the-clock renewable energy project at Sewagram Cement Works in Gujarat. The project combines solar, wind and battery storage.

As part of its decarbonisation strategy, UltraTech said it has not invested in new captive thermal power capacity for either greenfield projects or brownfield expansions at its integrated units for more than a decade.

The company said its expanding green energy portfolio is helping reduce dependence on conventional grid electricity and fossil fuel-based power, while lowering exposure to fluctuations in coal and electricity prices.

UltraTech aims to increase green energy’s share in its total power mix to 85 per cent by 2030. As a member of RE100, it has also committed to meeting 100 per cent of its electricity requirement through renewable sources by 2050.

UltraTech Cement, the cement flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, has a total grey cement capacity of 210.1 MTPA and white cement and putty capacity of 3.5 MTPA. The company is also a signatory to the GCCA Climate Ambition 2050 and has committed to the GCCA Net Zero Concrete roadmap.