Concrete

21-km cross-country belt conveyor for Heidelberg Cement, Damoh

Published

11 years ago

May 31, 2015

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The EPC contract for India?s longest Overland Belt Conveyor (OLBC) system to Heidelberg Cement is another significant milestone in Macmet?s list of achievements.

In 2010 Macmet, against stiff competition from L&T, FL Schmidt, Sinoma International Engineering Co bagged the turnkey contract from Heidelberg Cement for design, engineering, manufacture, supply of equipment, Civil & Structural Construction and Erection of Plant/Machinery for a 21 km long Overland Belt Conveyor system for transporting Limestone from Patharia Quarry to Narsingarh Clinkerization Unit, for the Diamond Cements Plant at Damoh.

The OLBC commissioned for Heidelberg Cement consists of six flights of conveyors, totaling to 20,790 meters. Four flights connect the mine to the Bunker. From the bunker, one flight goes to the Plant and another flight goes to the stockyard. The six flights measure 640 meters, 9800 meters, 8150 meters, 1600 meters, 475 meters and 125 meters (total 20,790 meters). The 1000 mm wide belt conveyor has been designed to transport limestone at an average speed of 4.0 meters/second from the quarry to the plant. The capacity of this conveyor system is 1000 TPH. On its way to the Plant, the conveyor crosses several villages and roads as well as the Sonar River (spanning a width of 120 meters at the cross over).

The conveyor accessories supplied include apron feeders, bag filter with fan, compressors, motorized diverter, Pin/Rod Gate, Magnetic Separator, Metal Detector and Belt Weigher. The electrics include 33KV Substations, Transformers, 690V Voltage Variable Frequency Panels with 690V/350kW Motors controlled by a PLC Automation System.

Macmet undertook the civil work, constructing 890 nos. RCC columns, the maximum height of which was 23 meters at the Sonar River. 4 sub-stations (18,280 cubic meter) as well as a Hopper of 2020 cubic meters were built. The Civil RCC work (including sub-station buildings, bunker, trestle columns and foundations etc.) was completed in one year from November, 2010 to October 2011.

Macmet also completed Structural Fabrication and Erection work of 903 Girders (the maximum span being 47 meters), 61 nos. Trestles (maximum height being 37 meters). The 6025 Ton Fabrication and erection of structural steel work (including transfer houses, gallery, girders, trestles, etc.) was completed in one year from June 2011 to May 2012. About 3300 Tons of mechanical equipment and electrical equipment was also erected.

The 21 km conveyor system passes through several densely populated villages. There was scarcity of water (a significant hurdle for civil construction) and only a single ?kutcha? road running along the route of the conveyor system, which made movement of men and material very difficult. Macmet had to tread the tightrope of handling disgruntled local populace and completing the work within schedule. Land disputes were settled by our interaction with the local villagers and the help of Heidelberg Cement and local Administration Officials.

We gained the confidence of the local people through regular interactions and by conducting social work such as education, provision of drinking water, renovation of places of worship, etc.. Macmet also educated local labour to work in line with safety protocols. We are proud to say that the work was completed without any major mishap and Macmet was awarded the Certificate for conducting work safely. Erection was completed in December 2012 and operation of the 21 km OBLC for Heidelberg Cement commenced in January 2013. Macmet has also been awarded the maintenance contract for the system. The 21 km Overland Belt Conveyor System supplied by Macmet to Heidelberg Cement at Damoh continues to perform satisfactorily since commencement of its operation in 2013. Macmet also has been awarded job for maintenance of the conveyor.

Macmet, an ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004, OHSAS 18001:2007 certified company, supplies Bulk Material Handling systems and Intake Screening equipment to Cement, Power, Steel and Mining companies in India and abroad.

Macmet is a leading supplier of Troughed Overland Belt Conveyors and Pipe Conveyors in India. Pipe Conveyors provide an environmental friendly solution for conveying bulk material with zero spillage. Macmet has the maximum number of references for Pipe Conveyors in India. Macmet has supplied Asia?s longest Pipe Conveyor (7 km) to Jindal Power Plant at Raigarh. We have also supplied one of the world?s highest capacity, fastest Pipe Conveyors to Gayatri Projects Ltd. for carrying coal between port and Plant End of TPCIL?s 4 x 660 MW Thermal Power Plant of TPCIL at Krishnapatnam, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh.

Macmet also manufactures screening equipment to remove debris, weeds, branches, grass, fish, etc. from water sourced from rivers, lakes and oceans by Power Plants. Macmet has commissioned India?s largest intake system for Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd. and the country?s second largest intake system for Nuclear Power Corporation of India at Tarapur. Intake screening equipment manufactured by Macmet is in operation in over 15 countries worldwide.

Macmet has modern engineering & manufacturing facilities and a firm commitment to quality assurance and customer satisfaction. The company is headquartered in Kolkata with engineering offices at Kolkata, New Delhi and Bangalore. The manufacturing works are located at Kolkata.

Concrete

Jammu Division Begins First Cement Rail Traffic to Anantnag

Cement Loading From Kathua for Anantnag to Begin on September 14

Published

4 days ago

September 21, 2026

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Jammu Railway Division has placed an indent for the first movement of cement by rail within the division, linking Shaheed Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary Kathua Railway Station with Anantnag Railway Station. Loading for the consignment is scheduled to begin on September 14.

Concrete

Hard Worker Wins Three Honours at Kyoorius Design Awards

Ramco Cements’ brand secures Grand Prix and two Blue Elephant honours.

Published

4 days ago

September 21, 2026

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The Ramco Cements Limited’s construction chemicals brand, Hard Worker, has won three honours at the Kyoorius Design Awards 2026, including the Grand Prix – Grey Elephant in the Design in Action category.

The brand also secured two Blue Elephant honours, one for Design in Action and another for Packaging, recognising the design approach behind its brand identity and packaging.

Launched in 2025, Hard Worker entered the construction chemicals segment with the brand promise, “Hard-working products for hardworking people.” Its visual identity uses animals and birds to represent product benefits. The camel represents the water-retention capability of Hard Worker Eco Plaster, while the cheetah represents the speed and performance of Hard Worker Block Fix.

The visual language has been extended across packaging, retail, communication, literature, digital platforms and other brand touchpoints. Hard Worker uses bold colours, distinctive animal illustrations and simple visual storytelling to communicate product benefits across markets and audiences, including construction workers and applicators.

“For Hard Worker, design was never an afterthought. It was fundamental to how we wanted to build the brand. In a category that is largely functional, we wanted to create a brand that people could recognise, understand and remember instantly. The Kyoorius recognition is a wonderful validation of this design-led approach,” said Mr. AV Dharmakrishnan, CEO, The Ramco Cements Limited.

Mr. Balaji K. Moorthy, Executive Director – Marketing, Ramco Cements said “In a category where communication has traditionally been product-led and functional, we wanted Hard Worker to stand apart by making design an integral part of the brand experience. From the distinctive animal-led packaging to our communication across consumer and trade touchpoints, every element was designed to make the brand more memorable and the product benefits easier to understand.”

Within its first 12 months, Hard Worker crossed Rs 3.5 bn in sales. The latest recognition follows six honours secured by the brand’s campaign at the Kyoorius Creative Awards earlier in 2026, including the Grey Elephant Grand Prix for its Eco Plaster film.

The Kyoorius Design Awards recognise outstanding design work in India’s visual communications sector across multiple categories and platforms. The 2026 awards were announced on 12 September in Goa.

The Ramco Cements Limited is part of the Ramco Group and operates across cement and allied building-material solutions. Hard Worker is its construction chemicals brand, offering solutions across key construction applications.

Concrete

Cement Firms to Invest Rs. 130 bn in Green Energy by FY28

Cement companies plan to expand clean energy capacity to 6 GW by FY28

Published

1 week ago

September 17, 2026

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India’s major cement companies are set to raise their clean energy capacity to 6 GW by March 2028 from around 4 GW at the end of March 2026, according to ratings agency ICRA. The planned expansion is expected to involve investments of Rs. 130 bn over the next two years.

The additional capacity could generate annual savings of Rs. 62 bn to Rs. 67 bn, resulting in an estimated payback period of 1.8 to 2.2 years. Cement is an emission-intensive industry, and leading producers have established net-zero roadmaps covering the next 15 to 20 years.

The calcination process accounts for 57 to 60 per cent of the sector’s total emissions, while fuel combustion contributes 27 to 30 per cent and electricity consumption accounts for 10 to 13 per cent. ICRA said the figures highlighted the need for a broad decarbonisation strategy involving green power, blended cement, alternative fuels and improvements in clinker efficiency.

Green energy is considered one of the most commercially attractive decarbonisation options because it can reduce emissions while lowering operating costs. Every 5 per cent increase in green power replacement can reduce power and fuel costs by Rs. 15 to Rs. 16 per tonne. A 25 per cent replacement level could therefore save Rs. 75 to Rs. 80 per tonne and expand operating margins by 140 to 160 basis points.

Cement producers are also assessing carbon capture, utilisation and storage, although high implementation costs, energy requirements and limited transport and storage infrastructure are expected to slow commercial adoption. The government has proposed Rs. 200 bn over five years to support deployment across key sectors. Meanwhile, companies are targeting thermal substitution rates of 10 to 15 per cent over the next three to five years, compared with the current industry level of around 6 per cent.