Concrete
Zero Harm isn’t a target; it’s a mindset
Published
2 months agoon
By
admin
Ganesh W Jirkuntwar, Senior Executive Director and National Manufacturing Head, Dalmia Cement (Bharat), discusses how safety has evolved from a rulebook to a mindset, which is rooted in culture, powered by technology and driven by accountability.
In an industry as operationally intense as cement manufacturing, ensuring the safety of every individual on site is both a moral imperative and a business necessity. Over the past decade, this responsibility has evolved from mere regulatory compliance to a deeply ingrained cultural value. In this exclusive interview, Ganesh W Jirkuntwar, Senior Executive Director and National Manufacturing Head, Dalmia Cement (Bharat), offers a comprehensive look into how safety is being reimagined through leadership accountability, advanced technologies and a people-first mindset. From AI-driven surveillance to drone inspections and immersive training tools, Dalmia Cement is leading the change in making Zero Harm a lived reality.
How has the approach to safety evolved in cement manufacturing over the past decade?
We have moved from compliance to culture, safety is no longer a rule, it’s a value.” Over the last decade, Cement industry has undergone a significant transformation in how it approaches workplace safety. What was once a compliance-driven activity is now embedded into the organisation’s core values. Today, safety is viewed not merely as a regulatory requirement but as a foundational element of operational excellence.
This journey is being guided by a structured Safety Excellence framework developed in partnership with experts like Dupont, Ernst & Young etc. Industry has also strengthened leadership accountability, enhanced risk perception across the workforce and institutionalised global best practices such as HAZOP studies, fire risk assessments, and predictive maintenance protocols. More importantly, safety has become everyone’s business—from the shop floor to the boardroom.
What are the biggest safety risks unique to cement plants today?
Cement plants face uniquely high-risk conditions—our response must be equally specialised. Cement manufacturing is inherently complex, involving high temperatures, heavy mechanical equipment and continuous operations in challenging environments. Among the most pressing risks today are working at heights, confined space entry, hot material handling, and exposure to moving machinery. Moreover, with growing use of alternate fuels and increased logistics intensity, new risk layers have emerged—particularly around AFR handling and traffic safety inside plant premises.
Cement plants address these risks through a combination of behaviour-based safety practices and advanced technological interventions. The plants now utilise AI-based surveillance systems that detect PPE violations and unsafe proximity conditions in real time. Additionally, drones are being deployed for inspection of stacks and inaccessible areas, significantly reducing human exposure to hazardous zones.
How do you integrate safety protocols into daily plant operations?
At Dalmia, safety is embedded into daily work, not treated as a separate task. Integrating safety into day-to-day operations is critical to its sustainability. Every morning begins with structured toolbox
talks mandatorily attended by all workforce and ‘Suraksha Vartalaps’, where teams collectively identify job-specific risks. Across units, daily safety reviews are held as part of the operations rhythm, with real-time data and feedback feeding directly into corrective actions.
Digital tools like the ‘KAVACH’ and ‘Boots on Ground’ platform allow supervisors to log observations, track unsafe conditions and monitor action closures with location-tagged evidence. The Permit to Work (PTW) system is fully digitised, ensuring consistent protocols and visibility for all critical jobs. These practices ensure safety is not a standalone agenda, but rather, an integral part of the operating DNA.
What role does technology play in enhancing plant safety?
Technology is helping us see, think and act faster to prevent incidents before they happen. The company is making targeted investments in digital and AI-powered solutions to enhance safety outcomes. For instance, the KAVACH app provides employees and contractors a platform to report hazards, submit near-miss data, and access standard operating procedures (SOPs) on the go.
AI-enabled cameras now support behaviour recognition, enabling predictive analysis of unsafe conditions even before a violation occurs. Devices that track worker fatigue and proximity to moving equipment are currently under pilot. Combined, these systems create a proactive safety environment that acts as a second line of defence alongside
trained personnel.
Can you share key metrics or benchmarks you track to monitor safety performance?
We measure not just outcomes, but proactive behaviours that shape our safety culture. Safety performance at Dalmia Cement is tracked through a robust set of leading and lagging indicators. On one hand, traditional metrics like Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) and Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) provide insight into historical safety outcomes.
However, equal emphasis is placed on proactive indicators—such as the number of near misses reported, field safety observations completed, training hours delivered, development of model areas, safety culture feedback and audit closure rates. These metrics help gauge the health of the safety culture and promote early intervention.
How do you ensure contractor and third-party compliance with your safety standards?
Contractor safety is not just monitored—it is built into how we operate together. With a large portion of plant activities executed by third-party contractors, Dalmia Cement has instituted a comprehensive Contractor Safety Management (CSM) framework. All vendors undergo pre-qualification audits, safety inductions, and training based on job scope. Access to the plant is conditional on completion of digital gate passes tied to safety credentials.
On-site, contractors participate in daily toolbox meetings and are subject to random field audits. Monthly performance reviews and incident feedback loops ensure that contractor safety is not just a gate-level compliance, but a daily operating standard aligned with Dalmia’s own expectations.
What kind of training and awareness initiatives are most effective for your workforce?
Our training programmes don’t just inform—they transform behaviours. Continuous learning forms the backbone of Dalmia’s safety culture. The training model blends classroom sessions, vernacular e-learning modules, job simulations and field coaching to ensure relevance and retention. Inductions are now fully digitised with multilingual content, including animated SOP walkthroughs and scenario-based learning.
The company also fosters peer-led learning through Train-the-Trainer (TTT) modules and safety on wheel, and organises periodic safety competitions, awareness weeks and team-based risk hunts. These initiatives help employees and contractors alike to stay engaged and take ownership of safety beyond procedural knowledge.
How are you investing in next-generation safety equipment or systems?
We are building future-ready plants where safety is both smart and sustainable. Looking ahead, Dalmia Cement is accelerating investments in next-generation safety infrastructure. From robotic cleaning systems for Kilns, Silos and bins to AI-assisted hazard analytics, the company is shaping plants that can anticipate and act before incidents occur.
Smart fencing, geo-tagged field monitoring, and drone-based inspection tools are being piloted across multiple locations. These innovations are not just about compliance—they reflect the company’s vision to make safety an enabler of productivity and long-term resilience.
Zero Harm isn’t a target; it’s a mindset. At Dalmia Cement, safety is not confined to departments, dashboards or deadlines. It is a way of thinking that starts with leadership and permeates every individual’s daily routine. By aligning technology, training, and trust, the company is laying the foundation for workplaces where Zero Harm is not an aspiration—it’s a daily reality.

Concrete
Cement Margins Seen Rising 12–18 per cent in FY26
Healthy demand and GST cut to boost cement profits per tonne.
Published
2 days agoon
September 29, 2025By
admin
Concrete
Adani’s Strategic Emergence in India’s Cement Landscape
Published
2 weeks agoon
September 16, 2025By
admin
Milind Khangan, Marketing Head, Vertex Market Research, sheds light on Adani’s rapid cement consolidation under its ‘One Business, One Company’ strategy while positioning it to rival UltraTech, and thus, shaping a potential duopoly in India’s booming cement market.
India is the second-largest cement-producing country in the world, following China. This expansion is being driven by tremendous public investment in the housing and infrastructure sectors. The industry is accelerating, with a boost from schemes such as PM Gati Shakti, Bharatmala, and the Vande Bharat corridors. An upsurge in affordable housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) further supports this expansion. In May 2025, local cement production increased about 9 per cent from last year to about 40 million metric tonnes for the month. The combined cement capacity in India was recorded at 670 million metric tonnes in the 2025 fiscal year, according to the Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA). For the financial year 2026, this is set to grow by another 9 per cent.
In spite of the growing demand, the Indian cement industry is highly competitive. UltraTech Cement (Aditya Birla Group) is still the market leader with domestic installed capacity of more than 186 MTPA as on 2025. It is targeted to achieve 200 MTPA. Adani Cement recently became a major player and is now India’s second-largest cement company. It did this through aggressive consolidation, operational synergies, and scale efficiencies. Indian players in the cement industry are increasingly valuing operational efficiency and sustainability. Some of the strategies with high impact are alternative fuels and materials (AFR) adoption, green cement expansion, and digital technology investments to offset changing regulatory pressure and increasing energy prices.
Building Adani Cement brand
Vertex Market Research explains that the Adani Group is executing a comprehensive reorganisation and consolidation of its cement business under the ‘One Business, One Company’ strategy. The plan is to integrate its diversified holdings into one consolidated corporate entity named Adani Cement. The focus is on operating integration, governance streamlining, and cost reduction in its expanding cement business.
Integration roadmap and key milestones:
- September 2022: The consolidation process started with the $6.4 billion buyout of Holcim’s majority stakes in Ambuja Cements and ACC, with Ambuja becoming the focal point of the consolidation.
- December 2023: Bought Sanghi Industries to strengthen the firm’s presence in western India.
- August 2024: Added Penna Cement to the portfolio, improving penetration of the southern market of India.
- April 2025: Further holding addition in Orient Cement to 46.66 per cent by purchasing the same from CK Birla Group, becoming the promoter with control.
- Ambuja Cements amalgamated with Adani Cement: This was sanctioned by the NCLT on 18th July 2025 with effect from April 1, 2024. This amalgamation brings in limestone reserves and fresh assets into Ambuja.
- Subject to Sanghi and Penna merger with Ambuja: Board approvals in December 2024 with the aim to finish between September to December 2025.
- Ambuja-ACC future integration: The latter is being contemplated as the final step towards consolidation.
- Orient Cement: It would serve as a principal manufacturing facility following the merger.
Scale, capacity expansion and market position
In financial year-2025, Adani Cement, including Ambuja, surpassed 100 MTPA. This makes it one of the world’s top ten cement companies. Along with ACC’s operations, it is now firmly placed as India’s second-largest cement company. In FY25, the Adani group’s sales volume per annum clocked 65 million metric tonnes. Adani Group claims that it now supplies close to 30 per cent of the cement consumed in India’s homes and infrastructure as of June 2025.
The organisation is pursuing aggressive brownfield expansion:
- By FY 2026: Reach 118 MTPA
- By FY 2028: Target 140 MTPA
These goals will be driven by commissioning new clinker and grinding units at key sites, with civil and mechanical works underway.
As of 2024, Adani Cement had its market share pegged at around 14 to 15 per cent, with an ambition to scale this up to 20 per cent by FY?2028, emerging as a potent competitor to UltraTech’s 192?MTPA capacity (186 domestic and overseas).
Strategic advantages and competitive benefits
The consolidation simplifies decision-making by reducing legal entities, centralising oversight, and removing redundant functions. This drives compliance efficiency and transparent reporting. Using procurement power for raw materials and energy lowers costs per ton. Integrated logistics with Adani Ports and freight infrastructure has resulted in an estimated 6 per cent savings in logistics. The group aims for additional savings of INR 500 to 550 per tonne by FY 2028 by integrating green energy, using alternative fuel resources, and improving sourcing methods.
Market coverage and brand consistency
Brand integration under one strategy will provide uniform product quality and easier distribution networks. Integration with Orient Cement’s dealer base, 60 per cent of which already distributes Ambuja/ACC products, enhances outreach and responsiveness.
By having captive limestone reserves at Lakhpat (approximately 275 million tonnes) and proposed new manufacturing facilities in Raigad, Maharashtra, Adani Cement derives cost advantage, raw material security, and long-term operational robustness.
Strategic implications and risks
Consolidation at Adani Cement makes it not just a capacity leader but also an operationally agile competitor with the ability to reap digital and sustainability benefits. Its vertically integrated platform enables cost leadership, market responsiveness, and scalability.
Challenges potentially include:
- Integration challenges across systems, corporate cultures, and plant operations
- Regulatory sanctions for pending mergers and new capacity additions
- Environmental clearances in environmentally sensitive areas and debt management with input price volatility
When materialised, this revolution would create a formidable Adani–UltraTech duopoly, redefining Indian cement on the basis of scale, innovation, and sustainability. India’s leading four cement players such as Adani (ACC and Ambuja), Dalmia Cement, Shree Cement, and UltraTech are expected to dominate the cement market.
Conclusion
Adani’s aggressive consolidation under the ‘One Business, One Company’ strategy signals a decisive shift in the Indian cement industry, positioning the group as a formidable challenger to UltraTech and setting the stage for a potential duopoly that could dominate the sector for years to come. By unifying operations, leveraging economies of scale, and securing vertical integration—from raw material reserves to distribution networks—Adani Cement is building both capacity and resilience, with clear advantages in cost efficiency, market reach, and sustainability. While integration complexities, regulatory hurdles, and environmental approvals remain key challenges, the scale and strategic alignment of this consolidation promise to redefine competition, pricing dynamics, and operational benchmarks in one of the world’s fastest-growing cement markets.
About the author:
Milind Khangan is the Marketing Head at Vertex Market Research and comes with over five years of experience in market research, lead generation and team management.
Concrete
Precision in Motion: A Deep Dive into PowerBuild’s Core Gear Series
Published
2 months agoon
August 16, 2025By
admin
PowerBuild’s flagship Series M, C, F, and K geared motors deliver robust, efficient, and versatile power transmission solutions for industries worldwide.
Products – M, C, F, K: At the heart of every high-performance industrial system lies the need for robust, reliable, and efficient power transmission. PowerBuild answers this need with its flagship geared motor series: M, C, F, and K. Each series is meticulously engineered to serve specific operational demands while maintaining the universal promise of durability, efficiency, and performance.
Series M – Helical Inline Geared Motors: Compact and powerful, the Series M delivers exceptional drive solutions for a broad range of applications. With power handling up to 160kW and torque capacity reaching 20,000 Nm, it is the trusted solution for industries requiring quiet operation, high efficiency, and space-saving design. Series M is available with multiple mounting and motor options, making it a versatile choice for manufacturers and OEMs globally.
Series C – Right Angled Heli-Worm Geared Motors: Combining the benefits of helical and worm gearing, the Series C is designed for right-angled power transmission. With gear ratios of up to 16,000:1 and torque capacities of up to 10,000 Nm, this series is optimal for applications demanding precision in compact spaces. Industries looking for a smooth, low-noise operation with maximum torque efficiency rely on Series C for dependable performance.
Series F – Parallel Shaft Mounted Geared Motors: Built for endurance in the most demanding environments, Series F is widely adopted in steel plants, hoists, cranes, and heavy-duty conveyors. Offering torque up to 10,000 Nm and high gear ratios up to 20,000:1, this product features an integral torque arm and diverse output configurations to meet industry-specific challenges head-on.
Series K – Right Angle Helical Bevel Geared Motors: For industries seeking high efficiency and torque-heavy performance, Series K is the answer. This right-angled geared motor series delivers torque up to 50,000 Nm, making it a preferred choice in core infrastructure sectors such as cement, power, mining, and material handling. Its flexibility in mounting and broad motor options offer engineers’ freedom in design and reliability in execution.
Together, these four series reflect PowerBuild’s commitment to excellence in mechanical power transmission. From compact inline designs to robust right-angle drives, each geared motor is a result of decades of engineering innovation, customer-focused design, and field-tested reliability. Whether the requirement is speed control, torque multiplication, or space efficiency, Radicon’s Series M, C, F, and K stand as trusted powerhouses for global industries.

Cement Margins Seen Rising 12–18 per cent in FY26

Adani’s Strategic Emergence in India’s Cement Landscape

Precision in Motion: A Deep Dive into PowerBuild’s Core Gear Series

Driving Measurable Gains

Reshaping the Competitive Landscape

Cement Margins Seen Rising 12–18 per cent in FY26

Adani’s Strategic Emergence in India’s Cement Landscape

Precision in Motion: A Deep Dive into PowerBuild’s Core Gear Series

Driving Measurable Gains
