Economy & Market

The future is Smart Chemistry

Published

9 months ago

January 13, 2026

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Hans-Jürgen Scholz, Founder and CEO, AdoCem® Products, explores activating performance enhancers as a strategic lever that goes far beyond grinding efficiency and redefining cement economics through smart, application-driven GreenTech chemistry.

Activating performance enhancers are now enabling clinker reduction, strength optimisation, and carbon savings without heavy capital investment. In this interview, Hans-Jürgen Scholz, Founder & CEO, AdoCem® Products, explains how application-driven GreenTech chemistry is redefining cement economics beyond grinding efficiency.

How do activating performance enhancers change the economics of cement manufacturing beyond traditional grinding aids?
Traditional aids were about mill throughput; AdoCem®’s performance enhancers are about Total Cost Optimisation. While traditional aids reduce energy per ton, our activating range chemically intervenes in the hydration process. By enhancing early and late-age strength, we allow producers to significantly increase the “filler-to-clinker” ratio.
The economic shift is profound: you aren’t just saving pennies on electricity; you are saving dollars by replacing expensive clinker with cost-effective mineral components.

In your experience, how significantly can cement additives reduce clinker factor while protecting strength and quality consistency?
Clinker is the most expensive and carbon-intensive ingredient in cement. At AdoCem®, we have demonstrated that advanced additives can facilitate a 5 per cent to 10 per cent reduction in clinker factor without compromising the 28-day MPa requirements. We achieve “consistency” through specialised chemical stabilisers that buffer the variability of fly ash and slag, ensuring the final product meets BIS standards regardless of raw material fluctuations.

How should cement producers evaluate additive economics across power savings, composition costs, and CO2 reduction?
We encourage our partners to use the AdoCem® Triple-Bottom-Line Matrix:

Operational Alpha: Immediate power savings (kWh/t) and increased mill productivity.
Compositional Alpha: The direct savings from clinker substitution.
Regulatory Alpha: The long-term value of reduced CO2 footprints, which will soon dictate market access and “Green” pricing premiums.

Why is application knowledge as critical as chemistry in delivering measurable economic benefits?
Chemistry is only 50 per cent of the solution. The remaining 50 per cent is Application Engineering. Every mill has a unique thermal and mechanical profile. At AdoCem®, we don’t just “ship drums”; our technical teams conduct on-site audits to calibrate dosing systems and analyse particle size distribution (PSD). Without this application expertise, the best chemistry in the world remains an underutilised asset.

How do performance enhancers help cement plants remain competitive while meeting tightening sustainability targets?
The competitive landscape in India is shifting toward “Low-Carbon” leadership. Performance enhancers are the most cost-effective way to achieve this. Rather than heavy CAPEX investments in new kilns, plants can use AdoCem®’s Green-series additives to lower their carbon intensity immediately, allowing them to remain profitable while adhering to tightening ESG mandates.

Are Indian cement producers fully leveraging additives to optimise total production costs, or is potential still untapped?
The potential is largely untapped, particularly in the mid-tier segment. Many still view additives as a commodity “grinding aid” rather than a “performance engine.” There is significant room to leverage specialised chemicals for high-performance blended cements (PPC/PSC) that can compete with OPC in the infrastructure segment.

How do advanced additives influence the long-term economics of blended cements and alternative material usage?
As high-grade fly ash becomes scarce, the industry must turn to “challenging” materials like calcined clay or low-grade slag. Advanced additives act as the chemical bridge, neutralising the negative effects of these materials. AdoCem®’s R&D focuses on making these alternative materials economically viable, securing the supply chain for the next decade.

How will GreenTech-driven additive innovation redefine cement economics in a net-zero future?
The future is “Smart Chemistry.” We are moving toward bio-based molecules and AI-integrated dosing. In a net-zero future, AdoCem® envisions additives that adapt in real-time to clinker mineralogy, making zero-waste, ultra-low clinker cement the global economic standard.

– Kanika Mathur

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Wonder Cement appoints Mahesh Singh as VP Corporate Brand Communication

Published

2 days 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

3 days 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

4 days 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.