Technology

Elevator Solutions for Man and Material Handling

Published

14 years ago

July 31, 2011

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Rack and pinion type lift is compact and easy for erecting and dismantling, does not require contentious support and neither heavy foundation nor lift motor room. This article gives an insight into to the benefits and advantages of using rack and pinion type lifts over the wire rope type of elevators.Cement plants have many tall structures like pre-heaters, central control room (CCR), silo, etc, which encompasses heaters, kiln and the pressure regulating systems. The height of the pre-heater varies from 110 meters to 150 meters. Thus, climbing up and down with steps on this structure during construction, regular maintenance and operation with or without material is a tedious task. This is waste of time and energy of technician and is unsafe way.
The conventional traction (wire rope type of elevators) do not suit this application due to exposure of its sensitive components to dust and heat. Conventional elevators also require supporting guide structure (RCC wall or steel cage) which are costlier than lift. Self supported rack and pinion elevators overcome these limitations and are more suitable for such applications. Almost all the new cement plants now consider these elevators in their project planning stage itself. The Table shows the pros and cons of rack and pinion elevators against the conventional stack elevators.
The rack and pinion elevators work on the rack and pinion principle, whose simplicity is beyond question. It provides 100 per cent mechanical efficiency with precise and positive control in operations for transportation to unlimited heights. The elevators comprise of two main units
(a) Car cage with drive unit
(b) Mast structure
The drive unit is attached to the main frame of the car on vibration damping brackets. The drive unit gives a positive drive to the pinion through a vibration absorbing direct coupling and a worm and screw reduction gear box. The car operates on the mast and is guided by individually adjustable ball bearing guide rollers. The pinion meshes with rack on the mast thereby providing positive drive to the system. When electrically powered, the motor drives the pinion which in turn drives the cage up or down. Control of the elevator is through semi automatic control system (push buttons). Operation of the elevator is possible from both, the car as well as the landings. The mast structure on which the car runs comprises of 1.5 meters long mast sections bolted together consisting of lattice work of steel tubes and angle profiles welded together. These sections are provided with a precision cut rack with which the drive pinion meshes. The mast structure is bolted to the wall by bolts.
The elevator is provided with top and bottom limit cams with actuate limit swithces attached to the lift car preventing over travel and causes the car to stop automatically at the top and bottom landings. Individual cams are provided on the mast for stopping the car at the intermediate landings.
Variable frequency drive (VFD) gives jerk free operation during start and stoppage of lift. Lift is provided with electromagnetic and fail safe break to avoid free fall. Cabin of lift is closed from all side to avoid entry of dust.Safety features
(a) Ascent/decent limit switch (b) Limit switch on cage entrance and landing door (c) Safety device to prevent free fall (d) Manual brake release device for emergency decent (e) Phase failure relay (f) Flap arrangement for safer exit (g) Barricade arrangement to protect lift (h) Lock out master switch Suitability for old plants:
Rack and pinion type lift does not require contentious support and neither requires heavy foundation nor lift motor room. It is more compact and easy to errect and dismantle. It can be stopped at any height of total installation. Many old mini cement plants do not have lifting arrangement at high rise structure. These plants can install rack and pinion type lift without much expenditure on civil construction work. This lift finds definitely economical over a period of its operation.
Lift is used in following location :

Pre-heater buildings
Central control room
Packing plant
Power plant
Central control room

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

2 weeks ago

October 15, 2025

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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

2 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

2 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.