Concrete

Organised retailer

Published

5 years ago

March 5, 2021

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Shankara Building Products is a leading organised retailer of home improvement and building products in India, operating under the brand name ??hankara Buildpro?? It runs 100+ stores spread across Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Puducherry. It started in 1995, and is headquartered in Bengaluru. It is listed on NSE and BSE with a turnover of Rs 2,640 crore.

It sells over 30,000+ SKUs across the entire home construction and renovation lifecycle through its retail stores. The products are spread across categories of construction materials, plumbing and sanitary ware, flooring, electrical, interior-exterior finishing and Irrigation. It has a tie up with leading brands across categories. The products are also available its website: Buildpro Store.

The list of customers include homeowners as well as professional customers like architects, interior designers, contractors, developers, plumbers, electricians, tile layers, masons, carpenters, painters, etc. as well as small enterprises. The customers are spread across tier 1, 2 and 3 locations.

In addition to the retail segment, it has two other legacy business segments ??enterprise and channel. In the enterprise segment, it caters to requirements of large end-users, contractors and OEMs. In the channel segment, it caters to dealers and other retailers through its branch network. The common theme across all segments is the customer-centric approach to business.

Back-end operations

The back-end operations provide support to its front-end business segments. It has its own steel processing facilities, which help to provide customised, in-time solutions. It has its own supply chain capabilities with owned warehousing and vehicles to provide efficient and speedy delivery to the customers. Its presence across the value chain of processing, channel, enterprise, retail, and supply chain gives it a lot of strength and unique advantages.

Processing unit

It has a processing unit for steel pipes and tubes (including precision tubes and galvanized pipes), color coated roofing sheets, galvanised strips and cold rolled strips. The units are 12 in number and are located near key demand centres. These are Hyderabad (3), Bengaluru (4), Hubli, Chennai, Coimbatore, Pune and Vijaywada. It has an installed capacity of approximately 325,000 tonne per annum.

The processing units carry key certifications like ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2015, OHSAS 18001:2007 and BIS. The product specifications adhere to international standards and the facilities are approved by a number of prestigious clients. It processes a number of steel based products based on the requirements of our customers.

Pipes and tubes

The company produces CRCA, GI, GP and HR pipes and tubes. It is equipped with advanced mills for precision quality products in tube processing. In CRCA, it processes materials conforming to IS 3074 and automotive requirements (HSLA) series materials. In HR, it has certifications conforming to standards viz. IS 1239; IS 1161; IS 3601 and IS 4923.

Roofing Sheets

The company makes a wide range of roofing, cladding and rainwater systems. The products are designed to provide flexibility to suit any construction need, be it home, office, business or factory. It provides attractive colours and the products are made from high quality raw materials to ensure low maintenance and resistance to extremities of weather. Over and above the products are environmentally friendly and fireproof.

Supply chain

Efficient storage and movement of goods are critical to business operations. The company has over +6 lakh sq ft of warehousing space, a large part of it is owned by them. It has +75-owned trucks to ensure efficient movement of goods. In addition, it has a large number of independent vehicles wholly aligned to serve the logistics needs. It keeps building the supply chain infrastructure to ensure a strong foundation to scale the business.

The enterprise hub of Shankara

In addition to sales from retail stores, the products are sold directly to enterprises for their end users. In this segment, it caters to the requirements of large end users, contractors, and OEMs. The enterprise segment is closely linked with its processing units. This helps to serve the bespoke requirements of customers depending on specifications, quality and delivery timelines. It also offers kit based, cut-to-size, ready-to-use products as well for customers. The range of products include frames for airports, metro stations and malls, city skywalks, airport tubular structures, and road dividers.

Concrete

Steel: Shielded or Strengthened?

CW explores the impact of pro-steel policies on construction and infrastructure and identifies gaps that need to be addressed.

Published

21 hours ago

January 31, 2026

admin

Going forward, domestic steel mills are targeting capacity expansion
of nearly 40 per cent through till FY31, adding 80-85 mt, translating
into an investment pipeline of $ 45-50 billion. So, Jhunjhunwala points
out that continuing the safeguard duty will be vital to prevent a surge
in imports and protect domestic prices from external shocks. While in
FY26, the industry operating profit per tonne is expected to hold at
around $ 108, similar to last year, the industry’s earnings must
meaningfully improve from hereon to sustain large-scale investments.
Else, domestic mills could experience a significant spike in industry
leverage levels over the medium term, increasing their vulnerability to
external macroeconomic shocks.(~$ 60/tonne) over the past one month,
compressing the import parity discount to ~$ 23-25/tonne from previous
highs of ~$ 70-90/tonne, adds Jhunjhunwala. With this, he says, “the
industry can expect high resistance to further steel price increases.”

Domestic HRC prices have increased by ~Rs 5,000/tonne
“Aggressive
capacity additions (~15 mt commissioned in FY25, with 5 mt more by
FY26) have created a supply overhang, temporarily outpacing demand
growth of ~11-12 mt,” he says…

To read the full article Click Here

Concrete

JK Cement Commissions 3 MTPA Buxar Plant, Crosses 31 MTPA

Company becomes India’s fifth-largest grey cement producer

Published

2 days ago

January 30, 2026

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JK Cement has commissioned its new 3 MTPA grey cement plant in Buxar, Bihar, taking the company’s total installed capacity to 31.26 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) and moving it past the 30 MTPA milestone. With this addition, JK Cement now ranks among the top five grey cement manufacturers in India, strengthening its national presence.

Commenting on the development, Dr Raghavpat Singhania, Managing Director, JK Cement, said, “Crossing 31 MTPA is a significant turning point in JK Cement’s expansion and demonstrates the scale, resilience, and aspirations of our company. In addition to making a significant contribution to Bihar’s development vision, the commissioning of our Buxar plant represents a strategic step towards expanding our national footprint. We are committed to developing top-notch manufacturing capabilities that boost India’s infrastructure development and generate long-term benefits for local communities.”

Spread across 100 acres, the Buxar plant is located on the Patna–Buxar highway, enabling efficient distribution across Bihar and neighbouring regions. While JK Cement entered the Bihar market last year through supplies from its Prayagraj plant, the new facility will allow local manufacturing and deliveries within 24 hours across the state.

Mr Madhavkrishna Singhania, Joint Managing Director & CEO, JK Cement, said, “JK Cement is now among India’s top five producers of grey cement after the Buxar plant commissioning. Our capacity to serve Bihar locally, more effectively, and on a larger scale is strengthened by this facility. Although we had already entered the Bihar market last year using Prayagraj supplies, local manufacturing now enables us to be nearer to our clients and significantly raise service standards throughout the state. Buxar places us at the center of this chance to promote sustainable growth for both the company and the region in Bihar, a high-growth market with strong infrastructure momentum.”

The project has involved an investment of Rs 5 billion. Commercial production began on 29 January 2026, following construction commencement in March 2025. The company said the plant is expected to generate significant direct and indirect employment and support ancillary industrial development in the region.

Concrete

JK Cement Crosses 31 MTPA Capacity with Commissioning of Buxar Plant in Bihar

Published

2 days ago

January 30, 2026

admin

JK Cement has commissioned a 3 MTPA Grey Cement plant in Buxar, Bihar, taking its total capacity to 31.26 MTPA and placing it among India’s top five grey cement producers. The ₹500 crore investment strengthens the company’s national footprint while supporting Bihar’s infrastructure growth and local economic development.

JK Cement Ltd., one of India’s leading cement manufacturers, has announced the commissioning of its new state-of-the-art Grey Cement plant in Buxar, Bihar, marking a significant milestone in the company’s growth trajectory. With the commissioning of this facility, JK Cement’s total production capacity has increased to 31.26 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), enabling the company to cross the 30 MTPA threshold.

This expansion positions JK Cement among the top five Grey Cement manufacturers in India, strengthening its national footprint and reinforcing its long-term growth strategy.

Commenting on the strategic achievement, Dr Raghavpat Singhania, Managing Director, JK Cement, said, “Crossing 31 MTPA is a significant turning point in JK Cement’s expansion and demonstrates the scale, resilience, and aspirations of our company. In addition to making a significant contribution to Bihar’s development vision, the commissioning of our Buxar plant represents a strategic step towards expanding our national footprint. We are committed to developing top-notch manufacturing capabilities that boost India’s infrastructure development and generate long-term benefits for local communities.”

The Buxar plant has a capacity of 3 MTPA and is spread across 100 acres. Strategically located on the Patna–Buxar highway, the facility enables faster and more efficient distribution across Bihar and adjoining regions. While JK Cement entered the Bihar market last year through supplies from its Prayagraj plant, the Buxar facility will now allow the company to serve the state locally, with deliveries possible within 24 hours across Bihar.

Sharing his views on the expansion, Madhavkrishna Singhania, Joint Managing Director & CEO, JK Cement, said, “JK Cement is now among India’s top five producers of grey cement after the Buxar plant commissioning. Our capacity to serve Bihar locally, more effectively, and on a larger scale is strengthened by this facility. Although we had already entered the Bihar market last year using Prayagraj supplies, local manufacturing now enables us to be nearer to our clients and significantly raise service standards throughout the state. Buxar places us at the center of this chance to promote sustainable growth for both the company and the region in Bihar, a high-growth market with strong infrastructure momentum.”

The new facility represents a strategic step in supporting Bihar’s development vision by ensuring faster access to superior quality cement for infrastructure, housing, and commercial projects. JK Cement has invested approximately ₹500 crore in the project. Construction began in March 2025, and commercial production commenced on January 29, 2026.

In addition to strengthening JK Cement’s regional presence, the Buxar plant is expected to generate significant direct and indirect employment opportunities and attract ancillary industries, thereby contributing to the local economy and the broader industrial ecosystem.