Concrete

In India, waste management is a complex issue

Published

1 year ago

April 18, 2025

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Jignesh Kundaria, Director and CEO, Fornnax Technology, discusses revolutionising waste management with cutting-edge shredding technology.

Fornnax Technology is driving sustainability in the Indian cement industry by providing advanced shredding and recycling solutions. By enabling efficient processing of alternative fuels and raw materials, the company helps cement plants reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions. Jignesh Kundaria, Director and CEO, sheds light on how they are supporting the industry’s goal of achieving a 30 per cent Thermal Substitution Rate (TSR) by 2030.

How does Fornnax Technology’s expertise in shredding and recycling equipment enhance operational efficiency and sustainability in the cement industry?
Fornnax Technology is accelerating the Indian cement industry’s goal of reaching up to 30 per cent by 2030 TSR from the current four to six per cent by setting up alternative fuels and raw materials and refuse derived fuel plants, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Our expertise in developing robust shredding and recycling machinery directly addresses this need.
By providing advanced solutions for processing AFR, we enable cement plants to efficiently utilise waste materials.
Our SR-MAX series primary and R-Max series secondary shredders, for example, are engineered to handle challenging waste streams, including contaminated municipal solid waste, transforming them into valuable alternative fuels for cement kilns.
This will not only enhance operational efficiency by optimising waste processing but also significantly contributes to sustainability by lowering greenhouse gas emissions and promoting a greener approach to cement production.
Essentially, we empower the cement industry to close the gap between current AFR usage and its potential, driving them towards a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future.

What role does advanced technology play in optimising waste recycling for cement production, and how does Fornnax ensure its solutions contribute to energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction?
Advanced technology is pivotal in optimising waste recycling for cement production. The cement industry’s carbon footprint is substantial, and technology offers the means to significantly reduce it.
At Fornnax, we are at the forefront of this innovation. Our inhouse expert research and development teams are focused on creating cutting-edge recycling solutions that address the specific challenges of waste processing in the cement sector with customised approach.
Our shredders, for instance, are specifically designed to efficiently process heterogeneous and unorganised waste materials and capable of operating for over 200 to 100 tonne per day ensuring consistent and high-quality outputs suitable for AFR and RDF Plants.
This extended operational capacity has given us a distinct advantage over many of our European, American and Chinese competitors.
We believe that innovative recycling technology is the key to providing effective and economical solutions, thus we constantly upgrade our technology as per the evolving regulations and industry standards, ensuring our solutions not only meet but exceed expectations for energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction.

How does Fornnax differentiate itself from competitors in providing tailored shredding and recycling solutions for cement plants, and what level of customisation do you offer to meet industry-specific requirements?
Fornnax distinguishes itself by offering a comprehensive range of modern, robust, and large-capacity recycling solutions that are specifically tailored to the unique needs of the cement industry.
Our deep understanding of the cement industry’s challenges, combined with our expertise in advanced shredding and recycling technologies, allows us to provide efficient and sustainable solutions.
We prioritise a customer-centric approach, embodied in our Customer-Based Product Development Process (CBPD). This involves close collaboration with clients to understand their specific pain points and develop solutions that meet their exact requirements.
We offer a high level of customisation – from the design and configuration of our shredders to additional features and services that enhance performance and efficiency.
Our highly qualified engineering team works closely with clients to address their specific needs, including production capacity, waste type, desired output size and power constraints.
This ensures that our machinery aligns perfectly with their distinct visions and operational requirements. We also provide robust after-sales support across India, ensuring prompt and timely resolution of any issues.

Can you share insights into any recent innovations by Fornnax that have the potential to transform waste management and alternative fuel processing in the cement industry?
Our recent launch of the SR-MAX2500 primary shredder at IFAT 2024 Mumbai marks a significant innovation with the potential to transform waste management and alternative fuel processing in the cement industry.
This hydraulic drive motor-powered shredder is specifically designed to efficiently shred challenging materials into manageable sizes. The application areas include municipal solid waste (MSW), industrial and commercial waste, bulky waste, construction and demolition debris, wood waste and more.
The SR-MAX2500 Primary Shredder is designed with ease of maintenance in mind, featuring specially designed knives with hard face multiple times for low-cost operations. Additionally, the replaceable cartridge assembly eliminates the need to change the full cutting chamber in case of a worn-out cartridge, reducing downtime and increasing overall efficiency.
In terms of the longevity, the SR-MAX2500 is built to last, boasting a completely hard-faced shaft knives assembly, hard-faced knives and replaceable wear plates to increase the durability of the cutting chamber. Furthermore, the hydraulic hoses are always connected to the motors, ensuring oil cleanliness and prolonging the lifespan of the motors. The heavy-duty, open-grate cartridge and static knives/fingers placement also ensure that abrasives, including aggregate, sand, soils and metal fragments, will fall directly through the cartridge, reducing wear and operating costs. This robust design ensures that the SR-MAX2500 will provide years of reliable service, even in the toughest operating conditions.
Therefore, by prioritising sustainability and aligning with the vision of achieving Net Zero emissions, we believe the SR-MAX2500 primary shredder has the potential to revolutionie waste management and alternative fuel processing in the cement industry, and we are excited to see the impact it will have.

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Concrete

UltraTech Cement FY26 PAT Crosses Rs 80 bn

Company reports record sales, profit and 200 MTPA capacity milestone

Published

2 days ago

April 29, 2026

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UltraTech Cement reported record financial performance for Q4 and FY26, supported by strong volumes, higher profitability and improved cost efficiency. Consolidated net sales for Q4 FY26 rose 12 per cent year-on-year to Rs 254.67 billion, while PBIDT increased 20 per cent to Rs 56.88 billion. PAT, excluding exceptional items, grew 21 per cent to Rs 30.11 billion.

For FY26, consolidated net sales stood at Rs 873.84 billion, up 17 per cent from Rs 749.36 billion in FY25. PBIDT rose 32 per cent to Rs 175.98 billion, while PAT increased 36 per cent to Rs 83.05 billion, crossing the Rs 80 billion mark for the first time.

India grey cement volumes reached 42.41 million tonnes in Q4 FY26, up 9.3 per cent year-on-year, with capacity utilisation at 89 per cent. Full-year India grey cement volumes stood at 145 million tonnes. Energy costs declined 3 per cent, aided by a higher green power mix of 43 per cent in Q4.

The company’s domestic grey cement capacity has crossed 200 MTPA, reaching 200.1 MTPA, while global capacity stands at 205.5 MTPA. UltraTech also recommended a special dividend of Rs 2.40 billion per share value basis equivalent to Rs 240.

Concrete

Towards Mega Batching

Optimised batching can drive overall efficiencies in large projects.

Published

3 days ago

April 28, 2026

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India’s pace of infrastructure development is pushing the construction sector to work at a significantly higher scale than previously. Tight deadlines necessitate eliminating concreting delays, especially in large and mega projects, which, in turn, imply installing the right batching plant and ensuring batching is efficient. CW explores these steps as well as the gaps in India’s batching plant market.

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Large-scale infrastructure and building projects typically involve concrete consumption exceeding 30,000-50,000 cum per annum or demand continuous, high-volume pours within compressed timelines, according to Rahul R Wadhai, DGM – Quality, Tata Projects.

Considering the daily need for concrete, “large-scale concreting involves pouring more than 1,000–2,000 cum per day while mega projects involve more than 3,000 cum per day,” says Satish R Vachhani, Advanced Concrete & Construction Consultant…

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Concrete

Andhra Offers Discom Licences To Private Firms Outside Power Sector

Policy allows firms over 300 MW to seek distribution licences

Published

4 days ago

April 27, 2026

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The Andhra Pradesh government will allow private firms that require more than 300 megawatt (MW) of power to apply for distribution licences, making the state the first to extend such licences beyond the power sector. The policy targets information technology, pharmaceuticals, steel and data centres and aims to reduce reliance on state utilities as demand rises for artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Approved applicants will be able to procure electricity directly from generators through power purchase agreements, a change officials said will create more competitive tariffs and reduce supply risk. Licence holders will use the Andhra Pradesh Transmission Company (APTRANSCO) network on payment of charges and will not need a separate distribution network initially.

Licences will be granted under the Electricity Act, 2003 framework, with the Central and State electricity regulators retaining authority over terms and approvals. The recent Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025 sought to lower entry barriers, enable network sharing and encourage competition, while the state commission will set floor and ceiling tariffs where multiple discoms operate.

Industry players and original equipment manufacturers welcomed the policy, saying competitive supply is vital for large data centre investments. Major projects and partnerships such as those involving Adani and Google, Brookfield and Reliance, and Meta and Sify Technologies are expected to benefit as capacity expands in the state.

Analysts noted India’s data centre capacity is forecast to reach 10 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and cited International Energy Agency estimates that global data centre electricity consumption could approach 945 terawatt hours by the same year. A one GW data centre needs an equivalent power allocation and one point five times the water, which authorities equated to 150 billion litres (150 bn litres).

Advisers warned that distribution licences will require close regulation and monitoring to prevent misuse and to ensure tariffs and supply obligations are met. Officials said the policy aims to balance investor requirements with regulatory oversight and could serve as a model for other states.