Technology

Between the Driver and the Driven

Published

10 years ago

August 31, 2015

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In this world, there are two categories – the driven, and the driver. I do not remember who said that "behind every successful man there is an even more successful woman", but I do know that he/she actually meant to say women are the drivers of men – well, at least mostly so. The relationship between a leader and his team is also akin to that between a driver and the driven. There are many more such examples, which would tend to reinforce this hypothesis of two broad categories, namely the movers and shakers of this world on one side, and the moved and the shaken, on the other. Even in the industrial world, among all the electrical and mechanical equipment, we find an identical situation – on one hand we have prime-movers like engines, electric motors, or turbines or springs which are the drivers driving the machines like crushers, mixers, ships, trucks, helicopters or even watches. The similarity here between men and machines, is truly intriguing.

Now, what if I were to say, that there is someone, or something, standing between the prime-movers and the rotors, somewhat like the "middlemen" we encounter everyday in every transaction? This someone is none other than the unsung hero of this issue of your magazine – the ubiquitous, but unnoticed Gearbox. For the information of the uninitiated, a gearbox provides changes in torque and speed while transmitting power between a power source and another device to be rotated. So, this specialised middleman is more like a Power Broker, in the human context!

Gearboxes do not make for a very exciting topic, particularly for the laymen, however much we may try to liven up the discussion with non-technical information and trivia. Gearbox remains a boring, dull, uninteresting subject. It matters little that we encounter a gearbox every day without knowing (?) in the power train of our cars, at one end of the spectrum, and in our watches, at the other minuscule end of the spectrum. However, it is true that gearboxes are very important pieces of equipment in any cement plant, and play a singularly essential role in transmitting power in mills, VRM?s, crushers, conveyors, bucket elevators, pumps and many others – in fact, gearboxes are all over the place in a cement plant. Obviously, it stands to reason that gearboxes are discussed and debated about from time to time, taking stock of what?s been happening in the market, particularly in terms of developments in technology, especially in terms of capacity and features. For example, the push for higher and higher capacities in a single Vertical Roller Mill has in turn pushed the frontiers of gearbox technology forward, in the areas of materials science, heat treatment, anti-friction bearings, etc. In other words, the capacity of VRM?s are today somewhat limited by gearbox capacities which is pegged today at 7 MW on the higher side limit, with the 3 or 4 leading gearbox manufacturers of the world working hard to extend this limit. Meanwhile, some reputed VRM designers – in collaboration with a cement majors – have innovated multi-drive technology with which one can go up to transmitting 19 MW of power in a VRM through a breakthrough idea of synchronised radially arranged multiple gearboxes.

To set up a captive power plant (CPP ) or not – is a question that the promoter of any cement plant has to answer, and the answer to this question has been fluctuating between yes and no, depending on various factors like supply /demand scenario of power in the relevant region, availability of fuel at competitive prices, quality of power (frequency, voltage, continuity) from the grid and its weighted cost, etc. Evidently, the cost vs benefit analysis of investment in a CPP will depend on these factors, all which are dynamic. In this issue, we delve into this interesting question, and try to find some answers for you from people in the know of things. So, this issue is essentially all about POWER – some captive, and some transmitted though gearboxes, with or without your knowledge!

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.