Connect with us

Concrete

Strategic Capacity Enhancement

Published

on

Shares

Amarkant Pandey, Deputy General Manager (Process), Prism Johnson (Cement Division), Satna, presents a case study on capacity enhancement of clinker production in an existing kiln.

This case study outlines the strategic initiatives taken to enhance production capacity of Prism Johnson (Unit-2) from 8000 TPD to 9100 TPD. This would help the company to expand its market share, develop new products and fortify our position in the cement industry.
With a consistent increase in regional demand and a positive market outlook, it was imperative for Prism Johnson’s Unit-2 to augment its production capacity from 8000 TPD to 9100 TPD in FY 2020-21. This enhancement aligned with our commitment to provide high-quality cement products while maintaining operational efficiency.

Cement capacity and production
The production capacity of Prism Johnson’s Unit-2 in FY-21 was at 8000 TPD. The plant was operating close to full capacity, with production data indicating steady growth trajectory, and it was evident that the current capacity was reaching its limits, thereby necessitating the need for expansion.
New capacity: The project entailed increasing the production capacity from 8000 TPD to 9100 TPD, thereby accommodating the rising market demand.
Timeline: The project was anticipated to span across 60 days.
Technology and process improvements: To optimise efficiency, the capacity enhancement project incorporates state-of-the-art technologies and process improvements. These advancements aim to reduce energy consumption, enhance product quality and ensure sustainable production practices.
The following technical upgradations has been implemented in order to support the upgraded production:

  1. 1. Kiln feed transport bucket elevators 352.BE250 and BE340 were upgraded (to 723 tph) to increase kiln tonnage.
  2. 2. Preheater ID Fans (2) were retrofitted to suit 9100 TPD.
  3. 3. Kiln feed rotary valves, ID Fan motors and VFDs have been changed.
  4. 4. Cooler was upgraded from SF 5×6 to SF-CB 5×7 (177 to 206 m2 grate area).
  5. 5. Clinker crusher was changed from hammer to heavy duty roller breaker HRB MF-418.
  6. 6. Expansion of kiln riser duct and connection of TAD to calciner.
  7. The areas where major upgradations took place are highlighted in these figures:
    Risk assessment: Potential risks, including construction delays, regulatory approvals and associated delays, and market fluctuations, have been identified. A comprehensive risk mitigation strategy is in place to address and minimise these challenges.
    Performance evaluation: Kiln started operating in January 2023 following the upgrade. We encountered several problems with M/s FLS’s cooler hydraulics. In January and February of 2023, a new hydraulic system was installed to replace the entire one. Kiln has produced 9100 TPD of clinker since April 2023. The plant performance before and after upgrading is tabulated below.
    The chart indicates that an increase in clinker production resulted in a specific heat consumption reduction of around 5 Kcal/kg of clinker.
    Presently, kiln volumetric loading is about 7.0, which is significantly higher than what is specified in the design. Additionally, with enhanced clinker production, we are meeting all quality targets (C3S, litre weight, free lime, etc.) for the clinker.

Challenges
Crushed limestone size: Limestone size was in the higher side (+100mm to 5 per cent) and the gap between blow bar tip and lower grinding path was adjusted at 50mm previous the same was 70mm
Pile homogeneity: The homogeneity of the pile was the biggest challenge due to huge variation in the mine’s limestone quality (6 different sources of mines). We increased the stacker speed from 11m/s to 13m/s to get better homogeneity. Also, CBA was installed to control variation in input materials from mines and standard deviation of pile was reduced from 80 to 20.
Raw mills output: To fulfil raw meal requirements with increased kiln production, various modifications were done in the raw mill like replacement of old nozzle rings with new design nozzles etc.
Kiln burner replacement: Old duo flex burner replaced with Pyrojet burner to reduce frequent snowman formation, increase utilisation of high sulphur petcoke and enhance flame quality.

Conclusion
The capacity enhancement by modification from 8000 TPD to 9100 TPD is a strategic move for Prism Johnson. It positions the company to meet market demands efficiently, contribute to regional development, and ensure the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of our operations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amarkant Pandey, Deputy General Manager (Process), Prism Johnson (Cement Division),
Satna, holds an engineering degree in mechanical with specialisation in heat and power from Institution of Engineers (India). He has an in-depth understanding of cement manufacturing processes, including raw material preparation, clinker production and cement grinding. His responsibilities include process optimisation, quality control, production planning, etc.


Concrete

Molecor Renews OCS Europe Certification Across Spanish Plants

Certification reinforces commitment to preventing microplastic pollution

Published

on

By

Shares



Molecor has renewed its OCS Europe certification for another year across all its production facilities in Spain under the Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) voluntary initiative, reaffirming its commitment to sustainability and environmental protection. The renewal underlines the company’s continued focus on preventing the unintentional release of plastic particles during manufacturing, with particular attention to safeguarding marine ecosystems from microplastic pollution.

All Molecor plants in Spain have been compliant with OCS Europe standards for several years, implementing best practices designed to avoid pellet loss and the release of plastic particles during the production of PVC pipes and fittings. The OCS-based management system enables the company to maintain strict operational controls while aligning with evolving regulatory expectations on microplastic prevention.

The renewed certification also positions Molecor ahead of newly published European regulations. The company’s practices are aligned with Regulation (EU) 2025/2365, recently adopted by the European Parliament, which sets out requirements to prevent pellet loss and reduce microplastic pollution across industrial operations.

Extending its sustainability commitment beyond its own operations, Molecor is actively engaging its wider value chain by informing suppliers and customers of its participation in the OCS programme and encouraging responsible microplastic management practices. Through these efforts, the company contributes directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 14 ‘Life below water’, reinforcing its role as a responsible industrial manufacturer committed to environmental stewardship and long-term sustainability.

Continue Reading

Concrete

Coforge Launches AI-Led Data Cosmos Analytics Platform

New cloud-native platform targets enterprise data modernisation and GenAI adoption

Published

on

By

Shares



Coforge Limited has recently announced the launch of Coforge Data Cosmos, an AI-enabled, cloud-native data engineering and advanced analytics platform aimed at helping enterprises convert fragmented data environments into intelligent, high-performance data ecosystems. The platform strengthens Coforge’s technology stack by introducing a foundational innovation layer that supports cloud-native, domain-specific solutions built on reusable blueprints, proprietary IP, accelerators, agentic components and industry-aligned capabilities.

Data Cosmos is designed to address persistent enterprise challenges such as data fragmentation, legacy modernisation, high operational costs, limited self-service analytics, lack of unified governance and the complexity of GenAI adoption. The platform is structured around five technology portfolios—Supernova, Nebula, Hypernova, Pulsar and Quasar—covering the full data transformation lifecycle, from legacy-to-cloud migration and governance to cloud-native data platforms, autonomous DataOps and scaled GenAI orchestration.

To accelerate speed-to-value, Coforge has introduced the Data Cosmos Toolkit, comprising over 55 IPs and accelerators and 38 AI agents powered by the Data Cosmos Engine. The platform also enables Galaxy solutions, which combine industry-specific data models with the core technology stack to deliver tailored solutions across sectors including BFS, insurance, travel, transportation and hospitality, healthcare, public sector and retail.

“With Data Cosmos, we are setting a new benchmark for how enterprises convert data complexity into competitive advantage,” said Deepak Manjarekar, Global Head – Data HBU, Coforge. “Our objective is to provide clients with a fast, adaptive and AI-ready data foundation from day one.”

Supported by a strong ecosystem of cloud and technology partners, Data Cosmos operates across multi-cloud and hybrid environments and is already being deployed in large-scale transformation programmes for global clients.

Continue Reading

Concrete

India, Sweden Launch Seven Low-Carbon Steel, Cement Projects

Joint studies to cut industrial emissions under LeadIT

Published

on

By

Shares



India and Sweden have announced seven joint projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions in the steel and cement sectors, with funding support from India’s Department of Science and Technology and the Swedish Energy Agency.

The initiatives, launched under the LeadIT Industry Transition Partnership, bring together major Indian companies including Tata Steel, JK Cement, Ambuja Cements, Jindal Steel and Power, and Prism Johnson, alongside Swedish technology firms such as Cemvision, Kanthal and Swerim. Leading Indian academic institutions, including IIT Bombay, IIT-ISM Dhanbad, IIT Bhubaneswar and IIT Hyderabad, are also participating.

The projects will undertake pre-pilot feasibility studies on a range of low-carbon technologies. These include the use of hydrogen in steel rotary kilns, recycling steel slag for green cement production, and applying artificial intelligence to optimise concrete mix designs. Other studies will explore converting blast furnace carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide for reuse and assessing electric heating solutions for steelmaking.

India’s steel sector currently accounts for about 10–12 per cent of the country’s carbon emissions, while cement contributes nearly 6 per cent. Globally, heavy industry is responsible for roughly one-quarter of greenhouse gas emissions and consumes around one-third of total energy.

The collaboration aims to develop scalable, low-carbon industrial technologies that can support India’s net-zero emissions target by 2070. As part of the programme, Tata Steel and Cemvision will examine methods to convert steel slag into construction materials, creating a circular value chain for industrial byproducts.

Continue Reading

Trending News

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

 

Don't miss out on valuable insights and opportunities to connect with like minded professionals.

 


    This will close in 0 seconds