Reinforced Concrete

Effects of Fibre Treatment on the Properties of Sisal Fibre Reinforced Ternary Concrete.


Patrick Oguguo Nwankwo and Emmanuel Achuenu.

Summary
Most of the developing counties are very rich in agricultural and vegetable fibres. The use of vegetable fibres as reinforcing agent in composite matrices (such as cement and polymer) is attracting more attention for various low-cost building products. However, the main draw back in the use of vegetable fibres in composites is the lack of durability. In this work, sisal fibre treated by boiling and washing was used as the reinforcing agent in ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete.

The cement-based matrix was modified by blending with fly ash (Fa) and calcined waste crushed clay bricks (CWCCB) as pozzolanas. Nine variations of the concrete specimens were prepared. Some specimens were blended with Fa and CWCCB and reinforced with 3% volume fraction of heat treated or untreated sisal fibres, while some specimens were not bended, but reinforced with either 3% volume fraction of heat treated or untreated sisal fibres. The mix ratio was 1:2:4 (one part binder, two parts fine aggregate and four parts coarse aggregate). The OPC was kept constant as 50% of the binders, while Fa and CWCCB were varied in the ratios; 20:30, 25:25 and 30:20 (Fa: CWCCB). The water/binder ratio was 0.6. Treatment of sisal fibres by boiling and washing improved the workability of concrete and enhanced the compressive strength of plain and ternary concrete. The ternary concrete with 25:25 (Fa: CWCCB) blend, reinforced with 3% volume fraction of heat treated sisal fibre gave the highest compressive strength.

Key words: Sisal fibre, Heat treatment, Ternary concrete, Fly ash, Calcined waste crushed clay bricks, Pozzolanas.

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Cheaper Imports Hurt Indian Cement Industry

Cheaper Imports Hurt Indian Cement Industry

Cheaper cement imports from Pakistan are hurting the Indian Cement industry, which is already under pressure from the impact of low demand due to floods in major cement consuming states among other factors and high GST, cement manufacturers in Punjab and Kerala claim.
There’s been no customs duty on cement imports from Pakistan since 2007, making it competitive in comparison to the Indian product, especially in the states bordering Pakistan. Also coastal access states like Kerala among others, import a sizeable quantity due to its cheaper costs.

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Cement Industry Jobs Updates

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Cement Demand in South Bright

India Cements AGM Updates

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Chairman of India Cements Mr. N Srinivasan, speaking at the company’s 72nd AGM said that cement demand in the Southern region of the country is increasing with growth in infrastructure and housing. The company expects that demand in the second quarter will also improve despite the floods in Kerala and the transporters’ strike.

After a long time cement demand is slowly picking up in the south, which has the problem of cement over capacity. Demand for cement is slowly picking up following an increase in infrastructure and housing sector projects. The southern region is slowly catching up with the rest of the country when it comes to the demand for cement with higher capacity utilisation by the plants in the current year. Southern region registered a growth of over 20 per cent in cement output during the April-June 2018 quarter primarily driven by the infrastructure push given by the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

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He said the plants in north, west, central and eastern regions are already operating almost at full capacity. Capacity utilisation of plants owned by India Cements Ltd was at 71 per cent better than the industry peers in South. India Cements substantially improved the operating performance in the first quarter of the financial year April-June 2018 with capacity utilisation of 80 per cent as compared to 67 per cent in the same quarter the previous year. On the capacity expansion plans in Sankari and Dalavoi plants in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Srinivasan said the company would explore avenues for augmenting capacity after attaining the expected full capacity utilisation.

It had substantially improved its operating performance in the first quarter of this year (Apr-Jun) with a capacity utilisation of 80%, against 67% in the same quarter of the previous year. It also expects the second quarter to be better despite the floods in Kerala and transporters’ strike. “This year, we’re seeing good volume and going forward, we’ll be operating almost at full capacity in the fourth quarter (Jan-Mar) of this year resulting in better performance,” Mr. Srinivasan told shareholders.

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Bharathi Ultra Fast Cement

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The Vicat Group is an international cement company with expertise acquired through more than 160 years of research, discoveries and participation in countless construction projects. More than 7,850 employees in 11 countries work together to serve the Group's numerous global clients. The group has a combined cement capacity of more than 30 MTPA.

Since 1974, when it acquired the Ragland Cement Plant in the United States, the Vicat Group has pursued a policy of international expansion: Turkey in 1991 and 1994, Senegal in 1999, Switzerland in 2001, Egypt and Italy in 2003, Mali in 2004, Kazakhstan in 2007, and India and Mauritania in 2008.

Bharathi Cement, a joint venture of Vicat, France with 51% majority stake holding having a manufacturing plant at Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh. The France-based Vicat, which entered India about a decade ago as the sixth cement multinational, now has two cement companies – Bharathi Cement and Kalburgi Cement – having a capacity of 7.75 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). The company also has an aggregate business of polypropylene sack units, two CPPs with 60 MW and one WHRS of 8.4 MW.

Bharathi Cement has now launched the ‘BharathiUltraFast’ cement brand in the Karnataka market. BharathiUltraFast is a multi-purpose green cement, offering the complete package of benefits of standard OPC 53 cement.

For the new product launch, Bharathi Cement plans to tap the strong network of about 3,300 dealers and 10,000 sub-dealers across all the South Indian states.
In the last eight years, the company has expanded to other states and now has a presence in eight states - Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu.

UltraTech Joins EP100

The Climate Group is an international non-profit, founded in 2004, with offices in London, New Delhi and New York. Their stated goal is a world of under 2°C of global warming and greater prosperity for all, without delay.

And they propose to bring about these changes by:

Bringing together powerful networks of businesses and governments, which shift global markets and policies, towards this goal.
By acting as a catalyst to take innovation and solutions to scale. And use the power of communication to build ambition and pace.
By focusing on the greatest global opportunities for change.

EP100
The Climate Group’s global EP100 initiative in partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy brings together a growing group of energy-smart companies committed to using energy more productively, to lower greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate a clean economy.

The Climate Group estimates that if 100 companies double their energy productivity by 2030 – generating twice as much economic output for every unit of energy consumed – over 170 million metric tons of emissions could be avoided cumulatively, equivalent to taking 37 million cars off the road for a year.

By setting ambitious targets and integrating energy efficiency into business strategy, leading companies are driving clean tech innovation while delivering on emissions reduction goals – inspiring others to follow their lead.

Dalmia Cement, H&M and Johnson Controls are already on EP100 according to The Climate Group's official website.

The Aditya Birla's UltraTech Cement is the latest company to join the EP100 initiative. UltraTech has committed to double its energy productivity, improvement of energy performance is one of the critical levers for UltraTech to reduce the carbon intensity of its operations. This will also provide a strategic boost to UltraTech's low carbon growth target of reducing carbon intensity by 25 per cent by 2021 (2005 baseline) according to a statement issued by the company.

Ms.Helen Clarkson, CEO, The Climate Group, said, “It’s hugely encouraging to see UltraTech, one of the leading cement producers globally, step up on energy efficiency – this is a win-win for emissions reduction and business growth. We need to see many more cement companies and other large energy users in hard-to-abate sectors follow UltraTech’s lead.”

Mr.K K Maheshwari, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement Limited said, “UltraTech Cement has always been at the forefront in adopting sustainable processes in its business operations. The Company has some of the best performing plants on energy metrics across the world. As a responsible organisation, we realise the need for further substantial improvements in energy productivity. Our membership of EP100, we believe, will play a catalytic role in helping us accelerate towards doubling our energy productivity, which is a key strategic lever to achieve sustainable business growth”.

Cement Industry Awaits GST Cuts

Indian Cement Industry Expects 18% GST against Current 28

The Cement Manufacturers Association of India has long been lobbying for the reduction in the GST for cement. They had argued that a cut in the tax rate would help as it would boost infrastructure spending. This sounds good to a government looking to create more jobs and boost the economy. On a secondary level it could be a big shot in the arm for stakeholders like individual homebuyers and builders.

GST Council To Meet September 28th

The CMA is taking heart at Finance Minister Mr. Arun Jaitley's earlier statement that the GST Council may look to reduce the tax rates on cement, air-conditioners and large screen televisions as revenues improve. The GST Council is slated to meet for two days, beginning September 28 and may take up a proposal to cut the tax rate on cement to 18 per cent from 28 per cent as the move may create more jobs and boost the economy ahead of the general elections.

On the other hand, informed sources imply that a dip in the August revenue collection could weigh on the council's decision on a cut. The council may not immediately cut the tax rate on the cement sector as it would have a revenue impact of around Rs. 1,000 crore per annum according to some estimates. Furthermore, the GST Council in July had reduced the tax rate on around 30 items, including paints and white goods such as refrigerators and washing machines, to 18 per cent from 28 per cent, which had a revenue implication of about Rs. 10,000 crore per annum. Whether, the Government is willing to forego another Rs.1,000 crore per annum so close behind is anyone's guess.

In a related note,  GST collections for August declined 1.7 % to Rs. 93,960 crore from Rs. 96,483 crore in the previous month. However, insider analysts have argued that a cut in the GST rate for the construction sector will boost demand and increase revenue collection. At present, while cement is taxed under the 28 per cent slab, many other items used in construction sector are in the 18-per-cent slab.

Related trivia : Construction in India is a labour-intensive sector that contributes 8 % to the Indian gross domestic product.

On unrelated news, cement shares declined.

UltraTech Cement (down 2.67%),
ACC (down 1.34%),
Ambuja Cements (down 1.25%),
Grasim Industries (down 0.39%).
Grasim has exposure to the cement sector through its holding in UltraTech Cement.

Penna Cements Cochin

Penna Cements' Cochin Operations

The arrival of Shipping Vessel 'Penna Suraksha' carrying 25,000 MT of cement from Krishnapatanam Port kickstarts the beginning of operations of the 4th cement terminal at Cochin Port.

The cement brought from Krishnapatnam Port is being transferred from the ship to the silos located in the cement terminal at Q6 berth of Ernakulam Wharf through pneumatic suction. Catering to the cement deficit Kerala market, the company has set up a Rs.60 crore facility to handle bulk cement.

This paradigm shift in the transportation of cement from the conventional road/ rail to shipping is another step towards promoting coastal shipping envisaged under the Sagarmala programme. Cement being a high-volume, low-value product, low-cost sea transport is set to be a game changer in logistics. The National Perspective Plan lists coastal movement of cement as an important segment of India’s coastal shipping potential.

The bagging terminal of Penna Cement is the fourth such terminal in Kochi. The terminal set up in 1.14 hectares land leased by the port is expected to handle 3 lakh tonnes of cement annually.

As of now, three bulk cement terminals, one each of Ambuja Cements, UltraTech Cements and Zuari Cements are in operation. Malabar Cements, a Kerala Govt. cement company has also been allotted land for setting up a cement bagging terminal. The three currently operational terminals handle 7,83,000 tonnes of cement annually and a throughput of 1.5 MMT is expected by 2020. The current annual sales volume of Penna Cements for the whole of India is 5.80 MMT, of which 0.30 MMT is in Kerala, which is confined to the Malabar Regions. The packing terminal here will be catering to the requirements of central and south Kerala.