Technology

IT requirements of cement plants post-lockdown are changing

Published

6 years ago

January 7, 2020

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Meenu Singhal, Vice President, Schneider Electric India for Industry Automation Business

Covid-19 pandemic has triggered the need for more IT-enabled control systems in cement manufacturing factories. Your take on the probable shift towards IT in cement!

The IT requirements of cement plants post-lockdown are changing. I think, we would now see mass adap-tation of remote working, remote commissioning and remote servicing. The entire project management and implementation will also undergo a shift. What is in-person today will shift to mostly remote. Many industry segments are adapting to working from remote areas especially those in the technology/IT companies. However, this is not there in the cement or power or human resources sectors so far. There will be a paradigm shift with adaptation of IoT in workforce and process utilisation. When and how we approach these would be crucial in defining the success. Those who adapt faster and earlier will be better off than those who linger on the issue.

It’s worth adding two more points here: first is the aspects that focus on scalability, security of assets and cyber security. Second is experience of the workforce, of employees, vendors, customers and their go-to-market. Everything is going to see a paradigm shift from physical to digital as we move forward.

Remote commissioning means say 50 per cent of workforce at the site of installation and say 50 per cent remote. How would you address this challenge?
No doubt you need manpower at the site, but the majority of this manpower will start shifting to digital. So, there is core manpower which is needed to be at the plant. Such manpower will have to go through reskilling for IT. Which means we have to keep the reskilling element agile and adaptive to switching over to IoT platforms. These people within their own plants should be made more prescinded entities of the vendors to do the commissioning. Now majority of that support will shift to the remote, by using IT-enabled cameras, connected products such as circuit breakers, meters, drives, all the possible instrumentation products, including boxes. In a cement plant, the boxes are mission critical and the edge of the IoT network is a must.

On remote commissioning. Have you done any remote commissioning in lockdown period?
Yes, we have started doing that and we have rebuilt our own factory for digital FATs (Factory Assessment Tests). We are expecting a lot of improvement in this area as these are going to get implemented even as the lockdown continues.

Could you elaborate on your area of concentration of IT, hardware or software part?
It is a combination of demand – both for hardware and software implementations. There are instances where the demand was for remote implementation and commissioning, remote monitoring of devices, especially when they face the challenge to move their own people from one location to another.

Lockdown and the related challenges have created a demand for implementing changes in their processes, products, and designs. But how to make their applications connected. For that, remote monitoring, analytics can be made available. One can transfer the permission to local operators about what to do and how to do, so that they can be more effective and we can also troubleshoot the machine by remote control.

There has been a spike in the use of remote-sensing tools in cement. How do such applications work in cement plants?
Remote sensing and remote monitoring begins from handling of the raw materials, on to production, and goes through the entire supply chain. The improvement can be seen in terms of asset optimisation and process optimisation. The room for efficiency improvement can be anywhere between 1 to 2 per cent and 7 to 10 per cent. Remote sensing and remote monitoring have made maintenance much smoother. This also reduces the downtime by 4 to 5 per cent, which is significant cost-saving for a cement plant.

You might have revised your targets for the year, given the lockdown. What are your expectations in the current year?
We are conservatively optimistic about the demand for automation in the cement industry. New capacity enhancements probably have a lot of support. New projects, not repeated projects, might get hit in terms of investments or the modernisation.

BLURB
Lockdown and the related challenges have created a demand for implementing changes in their processes, products, and designs.

Technology

ARAPL Reports 175% EBITDA Growth, Expands Global Robotics Footprint

Affordable Robotic & Automation posts strong Q2 and H1 FY26 results driven by innovation and overseas orders

Published

3 weeks ago

October 15, 2025

admin

Affordable Robotic & Automation Limited (ARAPL), India’s first listed robotics firm and a pioneer in industrial automation and smart robotic solutions, has reported robust financial results for the second quarter and half year ended September 30, 2025.
The company achieved a 175 per cent year-on-year rise in standalone EBITDA and strong revenue growth across its automation and robotics segments. The Board of Directors approved the unaudited financial results on October 10, 2025.

Key Highlights – Q2 FY2026
• Strong momentum across core automation and robotics divisions
• Secured the first order for the Atlas AC2000, an autonomous truck loading and unloading forklift, from a leading US logistics player
• Rebranded its RaaS product line as Humro (Human + Robot), symbolising collaborative automation between people and machines
• Expanded its Humro range in global warehouse automation markets
• Continued investment in deep-tech innovations, including AI-based route optimisation, autonomy kits, vehicle controllers, and digital twins
Global Milestone: First Atlas AC2000 Order in the US

ARAPL’s US-based subsidiary, ARAPL RaaS (Humro), received its first order for the next-generation Atlas AC2000 autonomous forklift from a leading logistics company. Following successful prototype trials, the client placed an order for two robots valued at Rs 36 million under a three-year lease. The project opens opportunities for scaling up to 15–16 robots per site across 15 US warehouses within two years.
The product addresses an untapped market of 10 million loading docks across 21,000 warehouses in the US, positioning ARAPL for exponential growth.

Financial Performance – Q2 FY2026 (Standalone)
Net Revenue: Rs 25.7587 million, up 37 per cent quarter-on-quarter
EBITDA: Rs 5.9632 million, up 396 per cent QoQ
Profit Before Tax: Rs 4.3808 million, compared to a Rs 360.46 lakh loss in Q1
Profit After Tax: Rs 4.1854 lakh, representing 216 per cent QoQ growth
On a half-year basis, ARAPL reported a 175 per cent rise in EBITDA and returned to profitability with Rs 58.08 lakh PAT, highlighting strong operational efficiency and improved contribution from core businesses.
Consolidated Performance – Q2 FY2026
Net Revenue: Rs 29.566 million, up 57% QoQ
EBITDA: Rs 6.2608 million, up 418 per cent QoQ
Profit After Tax: Rs 4.5672 million, marking a 224 per cent QoQ improvement

Milind Padole, Managing Director, ARAPL said, “Our Q2 results reflect the success of our innovation-led growth strategy and the growing global confidence in ARAPL’s technology. The Atlas AC2000 order marks a defining milestone that validates our engineering strength and accelerates our global expansion. With a healthy order book and continued investment in AI and autonomous systems, ARAPL is positioned to lead the next phase of intelligent industrial transformation.”
Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Pune, Affordable Robotic & Automation Ltd (ARAPL) delivers turnkey robotic and automation solutions across automotive, general manufacturing, and government sectors. Its offerings include robotic welding, automated inspection, assembly automation, automated parking systems, and autonomous driverless forklifts.
ARAPL operates five advanced plants in Pune spanning 350,000 sq ft, supported by over 400 engineers in India and seven team members in the US. The company also maintains facilities in North Carolina and California, and service centres in Faridabad, Mumbai, and San Francisco.

Technology

M.E. Energy Bags Rs 490 Mn Order for Waste Heat Recovery Project

Second major EPC contract from Ferro Alloys sector strengthens company’s growth

Published

3 weeks ago

October 15, 2025

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M.E. Energy Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kilburn Engineering Ltd and a leading Indian engineering company specialising in energy recovery and cost reduction, has secured its second consecutive major order worth Rs 490 million in the Ferro Alloys sector. The order covers the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of a 12 MW Waste Heat Recovery Based Power Plant (WHRPP).

This repeat order underscores the Ferro Alloys industry’s confidence in M.E. Energy’s expertise in delivering efficient and sustainable energy solutions for high-temperature process industries. The project aims to enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions by converting waste heat into clean power.

“Securing another project in the Ferro Alloys segment reinforces our strong technical credibility. It’s a proud moment as we continue helping our clients achieve sustainability and cost efficiency through innovative waste heat recovery systems,” said K. Vijaysanker Kartha, Managing Director, M.E. Energy Pvt Ltd.

“M.E. Energy’s expansion into sectors such as cement and ferro alloys is yielding solid results. We remain confident of sustained success as we deepen our presence in steel and carbon black industries. These achievements reaffirm our focus on innovation, technology, and energy efficiency,” added Amritanshu Khaitan, Director, Kilburn Engineering Ltd

With this latest order, M.E. Energy has already surpassed its total external order bookings from the previous financial year, recording Rs 138 crore so far in FY26. The company anticipates further growth in the second half, supported by a robust project pipeline and the rising adoption of waste heat recovery technologies across industries.

The development marks continued momentum towards FY27, strengthening M.E. Energy’s position as a leading player in industrial energy optimisation.

Technology

NTPC Green Energy Partners with Japan’s ENEOS for Green Fuel Exports

NGEL signs MoU with ENEOS to supply green methanol and hydrogen derivatives

Published

3 weeks ago

October 15, 2025

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NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), a subsidiary of NTPC Limited, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan’s ENEOS Corporation to explore a potential agreement for the supply of green methanol and hydrogen derivative products.

The MoU was exchanged on 10 October 2025 during the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. It marks a major step towards global collaboration in clean energy and decarbonisation.
The partnership centres on NGEL’s upcoming Green Hydrogen Hub at Pudimadaka in Andhra Pradesh. Spread across 1,200 acres, the integrated facility is being developed for large-scale green chemical production and exports.

By aligning ENEOS’s demand for hydrogen derivatives with NGEL’s renewable energy initiatives, the collaboration aims to accelerate low-carbon energy transitions. It also supports NGEL’s target of achieving a 60 GW renewable energy portfolio by 2032, reinforcing its commitment to India’s green energy ambitions and the global net-zero agenda.