Concrete

Revolutionary Belt Cleaning

Published

12 months ago

November 20, 2025

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Ashwini Khunte, Regional Head – Sales and Marketing, Martin Engineering, discusses conveyor maintenance with advanced belt cleaning technology, which delivers durability, efficiency and safety for cement plants.

In every cement plant, a conveyor belt system forms the critical artery that moves material from raw feed to end product. That means conveyor performance is key to productivity and profitability.
Given that a cement plant can have well in excess of 100 conveyors, keeping belts running efficiently demands that they are well-maintained and remain free from carry-back, spillage and build-up that would otherwise cause excess wear and unscheduled down time.
Conveyors are also among the most dynamic and hazardous machinery within any processing plant, and manually inspecting and maintaining each component of a conveyor belt system across a wide area can also be time-consuming, labor intensive and, crucially, involves significant exposure to risk.
Even though the entire cement operation depends on conveyor performance, the importance of clean belts to overall productivity is rarely understood or prioritized by busy plant maintenance teams. Fortunately help is at hand, with specialists from Martin Engineering in available to help Indian cement producers to identify the root causes of their pain points and recommend innovative solutions that are proven to work.
As the world leader in bulk handling solutions, Martin Engineering recently marked 80 years of product innovation, engineering expertise and global growth. The company’s flagship Center for Innovation in Neponset, Illinois, USA is a hothouse for engineering research and technological advancement. As a result, Martin Engineering has become synonymous with the development and manufacture of innovations that deliver cleaner, safer and more productive bulk materials processing.

Unmatched belt cleaning
One of the many products by Martin that’s unique in the marketplace is the revolutionary CleanScrape® range of primary and secondary belt cleaners. In virtually every situation, CleanScrape outperforms all conventional scrapers, setting unrivalled standards for endurance, efficiency and reliability.
Featuring unique patented technology, CleanScrape is the most durable belt cleaning system available, delivering superior cleaning, whole-life cost reductions, and guaranteed to last four times the service life of conventional cleaners with a fraction of the maintenance time. Indeed, there are many cases where a much longer performance lifespan is achieved.
Installed diagonally across the discharge pulley, the blade forms a three-dimensional helix with a highly-effective but low contact pressure between belt and cleaner. The ‘blade’ is comprised of a matrix of tungsten carbide tips and is tensioned against the belt by cables, typically resulting in the removal of up to 95 per cent of stubborn material stuck to the belt.
Engineered for belt widths up to 120 in. (up to 3000 mm), speeds up to 1500 fpm (7.5 m/s), and pulley diameters of up to 78 in. (2000 mm), the cleaner’s groundbreaking design mean it requires minimal space for installation and also make it suitable for use on mechanical splices – put simply it’s the best performing and most versatile belt cleaner on the market.
The CleanScrape® Secondary Cleaner is a fully stainless steel assembly featuring independent 6-inch-wide blades with carbide tips. Each tip is supported on spring-loaded arms at both ends. The load springs allow independent blade rotation back and forward as well as up and down. This range of motion provides equal load pressure across each blade, absorbs obstructions, conforms to ever-changing belt undulations, and is able to arc safely in the event of belt rollback.
When used in combination, the CleanScrape® range of primary and secondary belt cleaners offers unparalleled belt cleaning performance. Carry-back, spillage and build-up are virtually eliminated, ensuring plants can run for way longer without stoppages, and maintenance frequency is much reduced allowing teams to focus on other priorities. But before jumping to conclusions about material handling problems, it’s always best to take a holistic approach. Martin Engineering’s team of experts work alongside maintenance teams and contractors to identify the root causes, specify the right solutions and deliver a return on your investment in improvement.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ashwini Khunte, Regional Head – Sales and Marketing, Martin Engineering, brings experience from previous roles at Martin Engineering and Move Tech Conveyors. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Mechanical Engineering.

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Concrete

India’s Cement Sector Cuts Energy Use, but Worker Safety Worsens

iFOREST finds efficiency gains alongside water and safety concerns

Published

9 hours ago

November 2, 2026

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India’s cement sector has improved its energy and carbon efficiency, but rising groundwater use in water-stressed regions and deteriorating worker safety remain significant concerns, according to a report by the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology (iFOREST). The findings also highlighted weak policy implementation and gaps in sustainability reporting.

India, the world’s second-largest cement producer, uses about 2.54 gigajoules of energy per tonne (GJ/t), below the global average of 2.88 GJ/t. However, renewable sources accounted for only 5.1 per cent of the sector’s energy mix, indicating continued dependence on conventional sources.

The report assessed 18 cement companies against 107 Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting indicators for FY24 and FY25. The companies covered 87 per cent of India’s cement production. Carbon emissions intensity declined from 0.58 to 0.57 tonnes of carbon dioxide per tonne, but total emissions increased 4 per cent to 224.3 mn t, equivalent to about 6 to 7 per cent of India’s overall emissions.

Overall water withdrawal declined 9.5 per cent during the study period, while withdrawals in water-stressed areas, mainly in Rajasthan, increased by more than 20 per cent. Groundwater’s share of withdrawals in these areas rose from 27 per cent to 38 per cent, raising concerns about the sector’s impact on vulnerable water resources.

The sector employs about 228,000 people, including 63 per cent contractual workers, 3.1 per cent women and 0.07 per cent persons with disabilities. Women in key managerial roles earned 26.8 per cent less than men, while median pay for women workers fell 11.1 per cent in FY25 as men’s pay increased. Worker injuries rose 36.5 per cent to 359, and fatalities increased from 17 to 22, with workers accounting for more than 90 per cent of deaths.

iFOREST recommended cement-specific reporting guidance, standardised metrics, mandatory production disclosure and third-party verification. It also called for environmental, social and governance policies to be integrated into business strategies and implemented more effectively on the ground.

Concrete

Ambuja Cements Expects Volume Growth to Outpace Industry in H2

Ambuja Cements sees stronger trade and institutional demand in H2 FY27.

Published

9 hours ago

November 2, 2026

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Ambuja Cements expects its sales volumes to grow faster than the cement industry during the second half of fiscal year 2027, as it seeks a recovery in institutional demand after a weak first half. The Gautam Adani-owned company is aiming to rebuild volumes while protecting profitability.

The company reported a 90 per cent year-on-year decline in consolidated net profit attributable to owners of the parent to Rs. 1.93 bn for the quarter ended 30 September, from Rs. 17.74 bn a year earlier. The previous year’s profit included a reversal of income-tax provisions worth Rs. 16.97 bn. Revenue from operations rose marginally to Rs. 91.66 bn from Rs. 91.3 bn.

Trade volumes increased 8.6 per cent year-on-year in the September quarter, but weaker institutional sales left overall volumes broadly unchanged. Ambuja Cements expects both trade and institutional sales to turn positive in the third and fourth quarters. Trade sales are made through dealers and distributors, while institutional or business-to-business sales involve bulk supplies to infrastructure developers, government projects and real estate companies.

The company had earlier reduced institutional sales that did not generate adequate returns. It now plans to rebuild the business selectively, while continuing to prioritise trade sales and higher-value products. Trade accounted for 74 per cent of sales in the quarter, up six percentage points from a year earlier, while premium products increased to 37 per cent of trade sales from 35 per cent. Blended cement’s share rose to 82 per cent from 77 per cent.

Ambuja Cements commissioned 4.6 mn t of capacity during the quarter. Another 3.2 mn t at Bathinda in Punjab and Jodhpur has stabilised, with the facilities expected to ramp up in the second half. A further 2.4 mn t facility at Varkala in Bihar is scheduled for commissioning during the period. Higher fuel and logistics costs remain a challenge, while the company has realised a cement price increase of about Rs. 10 per bag in October and is targeting operating costs of Rs. 4,250 per t for the full year.

Concrete

JK Lakshmi Cement Begins Rs 110 Billion Assam Plant Project

The 2.5 MTPA integrated cement plant is expected to be completed by FY2029.

Published

2 days ago

October 31, 2026

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JK Lakshmi Cement has recently laid the foundation stone for Project Kamakshi, its first integrated cement manufacturing facility in Assam, marking its entry into Northeast India. The groundbreaking ceremony was held at Umrangso village in Dima Hasao district in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The project involves an investment of Rs 110 billion, including the mining lease, and will have an annual cement production capacity of 2.5 million tonnes, supported by a 1 million tonne clinkerisation unit. Scheduled for completion by FY2029, the facility is expected to generate employment for over 2,000 people while catering primarily to the growing Northeast market.

The integrated plant will feature dedicated railway sidings to facilitate efficient transportation of raw materials and finished cement, strengthening supply chain reliability and regional distribution.

Vinita Singhania, Chairperson and Managing Director, JK Lakshmi Cement, said, “”Project Kamakshi is the start of a long-term relationship with Assam and the wider North East. This is a region that is building fast, and it deserves quality cement made close to home. With this plant, we want to bring scale, jobs, and dependable supply to the region. At JK Lakshmi Cement, we believe that building a stronger India goes beyond infrastructure. It is also about growing together with the communities we serve.””

The investment aligns with the company’s strategy to expand into high-growth markets beyond its established presence in Northern, Western and Eastern India. The project is also expected to support regional economic development and infrastructure growth.

JK Lakshmi Cement aims to pursue its expansion plans while working towards its long-term target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2047.