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How Mobil SHC™ 600 series is redefining gearbox performance for India’s cement industry.

Cement manufacturing runs on heavy rotating equipment operating continuously under high loads, elevated temperatures, and demanding duty cycles. Gearboxes sit at the centre of this, and when lubrication falls short, the consequences show up directly in energy consumption, maintenance costs and unplanned downtime.
The pressure on global supply chains today is real, and businesses across sectors are finding new ways to absorb it. For cement plants, that resilience starts at the most fundamental level — with every lubrication decision, every oil
drain interval, and every gearbox that either runs efficiently or does not. Mobil™ ensures the shop floor stays steady.
“In uncertain times, businesses need partners they can rely on without question. Mobil™’s commitment is straightforward – deliver products that perform, support teams that show up, and solutions that keep our customers productive. That has always been our promise, and it does not change with the times,” says Abhinav Jogi, General Manager – Commercial Marketing, South Asia Pacific, ExxonMobil Lubricants.

Built for the demands of heavy industrial equipment
Cement plants run some of the most demanding rotating equipment in any industrial setting, gearboxes operating continuously under high loads, severe temperatures and long duty cycles
with little tolerance for failure. Mobil SHC™ 600 Series is engineered specifically for this category of equipment.
Mobil SHC™ 600 Series synthetic lubricants can reduce energy consumption in gearboxes and circulating systems by up to 3.6 per cent*. They can also:
• Extend oil life by up to six times vs. conventional oil
• Offer similar seal and metals compatibility as conventional oils
• Operate in a wide range of applications
The series spans seven viscosity grades, from ISO VG 32 to ISO VG 1000, giving plants the flexibility to match the right grade to the right application. Mobil SHC™ 629, 630, 632, 634, 636, and 639 are approved by Siemens AG for use
in Flender gearboxes, an endorsement that
matters to plants running equipment built around that standard.

Three properties that translate into real operational gains
What separates Mobil SHC™ 600 Series from conventional gear oils comes down to three core properties:
• Superb high temperature thermal and oxidation resistance, which helps extend equipment’s high temperature operating capability
• High viscosity index and absence of wax, which helps maintain viscosity and film thickness even as temperatures climb
• Low traction coefficient, which helps reduce friction and increase efficiency in sliding mechanisms
On paper, these read as technical specifications. On the plant floor, they translate into gearboxes that run cooler, oil that lasts longer between changes, and energy that is not lost to friction it should never have had to overcome.

Proof from an Indian cement plant
These benefits are not theoretical. A cement manufacturer in Tamil Nadu was using a conventional mineral-based gear oil in a premium transmission gearbox. The oil could not handle the heavy load and friction inside the gearbox, causing it to break down faster than expected, and the plant was changing it every 2,000 hours, far more often than ideal. Using oil analysis, ExxonMobil identified that the oil’s viscosity had dropped and that
the gearbox was running hotter than it should, due to contamination.
Mobil recommended Mobil SHC™ 632, a PAO-based ISO VG 320 oil with greater viscometric properties and a low traction coefficient, delivering better film thickness at high temperatures and good flowability at low temperatures. Following the changeover, ExxonMobil’s Field Engineering Services also provided SIGNUM used oil analysis and thermal inspection to track the ongoing condition of both the equipment and the lubricant.
The results were measurable and significant**:
• 1 per cent increase in energy efficiency
• 3°C reduction in gearbox temperature
• Oil drain interval extended by four times
• Annual savings of INR 4,76,772
A 1 per cent efficiency gain may sound
modest in isolation, but on equipment that runs continuously, every day, every year, that margin compounds into meaningful savings, exactly the kind of return a plant can point to when justifying a lubricant decision.

What this means for India’s cement industry
As cement plants across India continue to face pressure on both energy costs and uptime, gearbox lubrication remains one of the most direct and controllable levers available. The results from this single Indian operation make the case clearly: the right lubricant does more than protect equipment, it actively improves the economics of running it.

Fill with Mobil™. Fill with Confidence.
For more information, visit www.mobil.in/business

*Energy efficiency relates solely to the performance of Mobil SHC 600 when compared to conventional (mineral) reference oils of the same viscosity grade in circulating and gear applications. The technology used allows up to 3.6 per cent efficiency compared to the reference when tested in a worm gearbox under controlled conditions. Efficiency improvements will vary based on operating conditions and application.
**This Proof of Performance is based on the experience of a single customer. Actual results can vary depending upon the type of equipment used and its maintenance, operating conditions and environment, and any prior lubricant used.
Exxon Mobil Corporation has numerous affiliates, many with names that include ExxonMobil, Exxon, Esso, and Mobil. For convenience and simplicity, those terms, and references to ‘corporation,’ ‘company,’ ‘ExxonMobil,’ ‘EM,’ and other similar terms are used for convenience and may refer to one or more specific affiliates or affiliate groups.

For more information, visit www.mobil.in/business

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Concrete

Cement Prices Likely to Rise Rs. 10-15 per Bag from Mid-October

Input costs and steady demand may drive cement price increases

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Cement manufacturers in India are likely to raise prices by Rs. 10-15 per bag from mid-October, as they seek to offset persistent increases in power and fuel costs. Emkay Research said its channel checks indicated a high probability of an increase from October 12, supported by the start of the busy construction season and favourable demand-supply conditions.

The sector had implemented similar rate adjustments of Rs. 10-15 per bag during the first quarter, but the increases were insufficient to cover higher operating costs. Prices also softened during July and August because of the monsoon, widening the gap between realisations and input expenses. Delayed plant expansion programmes have pushed clinker utilisation rates towards 79 per cent by FY28, helping to balance market fundamentals.

Emkay Research said steady volume offtake was supporting cement consumption, with non-trade demand driving activity across regional markets. Industry volumes are expected to grow by 7-8 per cent year on year during the first half of FY27, while demand momentum is projected to remain firm over the following 18 months. The outlook includes the busy construction season in the second half of FY27 and infrastructure activity linked to general elections in the first half of calendar year 2029.

The brokerage expects overall cement demand to record a compound annual growth rate of about 7 per cent between FY26 and FY28. However, elevated operating expenses are likely to continue weighing on profitability. Input costs have risen by Rs. 300-400 per t over the past six to seven months, with the full impact expected to become visible in second-quarter earnings and remain persistent through the second half of FY27.

Spot prices for petcoke and imported coal are approximately 20 per cent and 16 per cent above their second-quarter averages, at USD 175 per t and USD 150 per t, respectively. Packing costs have also increased, with polypropylene granule prices rising above Rs. 135 per kg. Emkay Research estimated that second-quarter earnings could decline by Rs. 200-250 per t sequentially because of higher fuel bills and negative operating leverage, and said the sector requires sustained price increases of about Rs. 10 per bag to offset cost inflation.

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Concrete

Nuvoco Marks 10 Years, Targets 35 MMTPA Capacity by FY28

Nuvoco celebrates a decade of growth, targeting 35 MMTPA cement capacity by FY28.

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Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Limited is celebrating a decade of operations under the theme ‘Dus Saal Bemisaal’, highlighting its expansion in India’s building materials sector. The company has grown from a single cement manufacturing facility into a diversified organisation operating across cement, ready-mix concrete (RMC) and modern building materials.
The company’s journey began in 2014 when its parent, Nirma Group, commissioned a 2 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) greenfield cement plant at Nimbol, Rajasthan. A major milestone followed in October 2016 with the acquisition of Lafarge India, significantly expanding its manufacturing footprint.
Nuvoco strengthened its market presence through the acquisition of Emami Cement, now NU Vista Limited, in 2020, followed by its public listing in 2021. In April 2025, the company added Vadraj Cement to its portfolio, strengthening its presence in western India.
Nuvoco has an operating cement capacity of 27 MMTPA and 14 manufacturing units, including the Kutch and Sachana facilities in Gujarat, which are in advanced stages of completion. It also operates 58 ready-mix concrete plants across India and offers a range of modern building materials.
The company aims to increase its cement capacity to 35 MMTPA by FY2027-28, representing approximately 15-fold growth over the decade.
Reflecting on the milestone, Hiren Patel, Chairman, Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Limited, said, “From our beginnings at Nimbol to the organisation we are today, every milestone has added a new chapter to Nuvoco’s journey and strengthened our belief in building for the long term.”
The company continues to focus on capacity expansion, operational efficiency, innovation and sustainability while strengthening its position in India’s construction materials market.

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Concrete

J&K Government Notifies City Gas Distribution Policy

Policy targets PNG and CNG expansion across all 20 districts

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Jammu and Kashmir government has notified the City Gas Distribution (CGD) Policy, 2026, following its approval by the Council of Ministers headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The policy sets out a phased framework for expanding Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) access for households, businesses, industries and the transport sector across the Union Territory.

CGD networks will be expanded in phases across all 20 districts, with the aim of bringing reliable natural gas closer to consumers and supporting a gradual shift from conventional fuels. The government said the policy is designed to improve energy access while creating an investor-friendly and time-bound environment for gas distribution projects.

The policy provides for single-window and time-bound clearances, streamlined procedures for setting up CNG stations and standardised norms for the Right of Way. These measures are intended to reduce procedural delays, simplify project implementation and facilitate investment in natural gas infrastructure.

It also prioritises gas connectivity for major industrial estates, including those in Kathua, Samba and Pulwama. Improved access to natural gas is expected to support industrial activity, enhance energy efficiency and help businesses manage fuel costs, while strengthening their competitiveness and encouraging investment in the clean-energy sector.

The policy is also expected to create opportunities for local employment, apprenticeships and skill development in the construction, operation and maintenance of gas distribution networks and related services. Abdullah described the measure as an important step towards cleaner growth, sustainable development and a modern energy ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it would expand reliable energy access and support industry and investment.

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