Economy & Market

Green Cement Transformation

Published

11 months ago

November 20, 2025

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Asghar Raza, Senior GM – Strategic Customer and Segment Mining, Minerals and Metals Segment, Schneider Electric, discusses the transition towards a low-carbon future through intelligent electrification.

The cement industry is one of the largest sources of CO2 emissions, accounting for about 8 per cent of global CO2 output. However, increasing abatement pressures are prompting efforts to reimagine the business. Companies now have several options to decarbonise. Optimistically, analyses indicate that CO2 emissions could be reduced by up to 75 per cent by 2050. Of this, only about 20 per cent will come from operational advances such as energy efficiency improvements and process optimisation, while the remaining reduction will need to stem from technological innovation and new growth areas such as CCUS, new materials and process electrification.
Combining traditional and innovative levers will accelerate progress toward these goals. Our digital technologies for energy, process, and quality management and optimisation support customers in achieving their decarbonisation objectives by reducing CO2 emissions. We collaborate with our customers to create comprehensive decarbonisation roadmaps that guide their transition toward a low-carbon future.

New green production by design
We enable green-by-design production capacity through integrated power, process automation and software solutions.
Our solutions accelerate decarbonisation by supporting green technology transitions across the entire engineering and modelling process — from end to end — using advanced software tools for operational efficiency.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Green by Design has two key aspects:

Sustainable equipment design: We engineer our equipment with sustainability at the core — ensuring higher resource efficiency and minimal climate impact. For instance, we are transitioning towards SF6- free equipment.
System-level optimisation: We design entire systems to be fit-for-purpose, minimising resource consumption and improving overall process efficiency.

For a green cement plant, our solutions align with high-impact emission abatement levers. We support customers across the entire green lifecycle of the plant, including:

Implementation of AFR and fuels
Waste heat recovery systems (WHRS)
Asset performance management
CCUS deployment
Green energy sourcing
Process heat electrification

We continuously collaborate with partners and process OEMs on proof-of-concept (POC) and pilot projects in process heating, CCUS, WHRS and AFR technologies.

Greening existing capacity (brownfield)
We help customers decarbonise existing plants through optimised energy systems and a decarbonised supply chain.
Our fit-for-purpose MV/LV equipment design and energy efficiency consulting solutions deliver measurable impact.
The EcoStruxure Automation Platform features built-in libraries and function blocks that facilitate alternative fuel adoption with higher thermal substitution rates.
Our EcoStruxure Process Expert Solution with Advanced Process Control (APC) for waste heat recovery maximises energy recovery, optimises control and enhances operational efficiency — reducing downtime and improving asset performance.

Key achievements:

Close collaboration with technology vendors for greening existing cement facilities.
Five Schneider Electric factories recognised as Advanced Lighthouses by the World Economic Forum.

Energy supply strategy
Schneider Electric’s Energy Sustainability Consulting Services help customers optimise energy sourcing and monitor company-wide emissions for effective GHG management.

Key achievements and highlights:

Targeting 50 per cent CO2 emission reduction from our top 1,000 suppliers by 2025.
A Green Cement product made with alternative fuels can only be truly green if powered by renewable energy such as solar or wind. Given that integrated cement plants require over 50 MW of power each, renewable sourcing is essential.

Unrivalled expertise in energy management:

o 300,000+ sites powered by Schneider solutions
o €30 billion in managed energy spend
o 13 GW+ of corporate renewable PPAs since 2014

EcoStruxure Resource Advisor: A platform for tracking Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
Ranked No. 1 Energy-as-a-Service Solutions Provider by Navigant Research.

Process energy management
We optimise process energy use through the following:

Energy-efficient power system design: Includes SF6-free equipment, Altivar variable frequency drives, E-house solutions, and ETAP-based energy modelling with electrical digital twins.
Advisory services: Comprehensive energy assessments, modernisation, and performance enhancement using energy-efficient software and drives.
Leadership in power distribution: Expertise in low- and medium-voltage power design using digital twins and energy modelling.
Advanced Process Control (APC): Optimises pyro and grinding operations with proven energy savings.

Our AI-powered APC represents a step toward autonomous operations, featuring:

Soft sensors: Continuous monitoring of infrequent measurements for precision control.
Non-linear modelling and prediction: Neural network-based models (RBF ANN) that improve process accuracy and foresight.
Python scripting for online adaptation: Real-time optimisation under changing conditions.

In conclusion, achieving a low-carbon future for India’s cement industry demands not just intent but intelligent integration. Schneider Electric’s end-to-end decarbonisation solutions embody this approach. By enabling smarter, cleaner and more efficient operations across the entire cement value chain, we are helping cement producers accelerate their journey towards a greener planet.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Asghar Raza, Senior GM – Strategic Customer and Segment Mining, Minerals and Metals Segment, Schneider Electric, comes with over 20 years of experience, specialising in driving digital transformation, decarbonisation and sustainable industrial solutions.

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Fornnax Wins AIRIA’s Special Export Award for Rubber Machinery in 2025-26

Published

5 days ago

October 19, 2026

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Fornnax Technology Pvt. Ltd. has been honoured with the Special Export Award – Rubber Machinery for 2025–26 by the All-India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA), in recognition of its highest exports of tyre recycling plants to the European region.

With more than a decade of experience in India’s tyre recycling industry, Fornnax has contributed to the development of advanced recycling technologies and infrastructure. The company currently holds a 90% market share in India’s domestic tyre recycling sector, while exports account for 30% of its business, spanning markets such as Europe, Australia and the GCC.

The award marks another milestone for Fornnax, whose tyre recycling lines and advanced shredding technologies are supporting the growth of the circular economy in India and international markets.

Commenting on the recognition, Mr. Jignesh Kundaria, Founder and Director of Fornnax, said:

“This honour from AIRIA is a reflection of an incredible journey we have undertaken over the years. When we started Fornnax, there was no established recycling industry in India to follow. We chose to build for the future instead. Today, when you see India’s tyre recycling sector, it has already transformed into a dynamic, high-growth industry and we are extremely proud to have played our part in building it.”

Unlike standalone equipment suppliers, Fornnax focuses on developing complete, high-capacity recycling infrastructure. Its integrated systems combine multiple stages of shredding and size reduction to enable efficient, continuous operations. This system-level engineering approach helps recycling operators improve throughput, equipment reliability and operational consistency.

The recognition reinforces Fornnax’s commitment to developing engineering technologies that contribute to a more efficient and circular recycling ecosystem.

Looking ahead, the company aims to expand its international presence while continuing to develop advanced shredding and recycling solutions to address the growing volumes and evolving requirements of the global recycling industry.

For more information, visit: www.fornnax.com

Concrete

Wonder Cement appoints Mahesh Singh as VP Corporate Brand Communication

Published

2 weeks 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

2 weeks 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.”