Real Estate

QuOtes ON west BeNGAL stAte BuDGet ANNOuNceMeNt

Mr. rishi Jain, Managing Director, Jain Group The budget is undoubtedly favourable news all around. The lowering of stamp duty and reduction in circle rates are measured to boost transactions in the real estate sector. A great measure to accelerate the states growth engine. It is commendable that the State Government is picking up successful measures like reduction in stamp duty from other states like Maharashtra and quickly replicating in West Bengal. The budget measures are sure to boost the already buoyant real estate market of West Bengal. The slew of welfare measures announced also needs due recognition and appreciation.

Mr. Abhishek Bharadwaj, cMO, shristi Infrastructure As announced in the State Budget, the relief to the real estate in terms of a 2% reduction in stamp duty and a 10% reduction in Circle Rate will act as a catalyst for the industry. It's is indeed a very welcome step for boosting demand in the state.

Mr. Arya sumant, Managing Director, eden realty This is a welcome move by the State Government and will provide immediate relief to the homebuyers during this pandemic. It would not only help in securing the current booking but also excite customers to invest in real estate giving an immediate boost to the real estate industry. The circle rate is always higher in most of the regions so this will also help to convince buyers to immediately go for registration.

Mr. Nakul Himatsingka, Managing Director, Ideal Group The above reliefs are extremely positive and will help the sector a lot. The reduction in stamp duty shall help the buyers significantly and shall also help in boosting sales. The reduction in circle rates removes the anomalies that existed in certain areas where rates were higher than market prices and hence shall help augment demand.

Mr. sanjay Jain, Managing Director, siddha Group The State Government has announced a reduction of 2% in stamp duty for home buyers. This will give a boost to the existing home buyers especially the middle-income segment and help to reduce their financial burden due to uncertainty created by the Covid-19 pandemic. There is also a further 10% reduction in the circle rate which will add to the savings of the home buyers. This benefit to the home buyers will boost up the real estate sector and will help in the improvement of demand for various materials related to the real estate industry, thereby giving a boost to the economy of the State of West Bengal. Overall the step taken by the State Government is a boon for all segments namely MSME, manufacturing sector, and real estate sector and this will benefit them in revenue generation as it had been seen that the total registration volume had gone up manifold in other states where the government had announced the reduction in stamp duty.

Mr. Jitendra Khaitan, MD, Pioneer Property Management LtD. The State Budget Of West Bengal is a welcome move for the real estate industry. The reduction of stamp duty impact will be anywhere to 28 - 40% of whatever the stamp duty rate is at present. West Bengal Has different duty slabs for different transaction values in the state. Another welcome move is the reduction of the circle rate 10% in the state. There are few areas where circle rates were higher than the actual transaction value in those particular areas or the project. By reducing 10%, Finance Minister Mr. Amit Mitra has tried to boost the real estate sector. As the difference in transaction value and the circle rate was in fact penalizing the buyer and seller as an extra income tax burden. As the transaction value and circle rate gap will be minimized and almost be over, it will boost a lot of buyers and sellers for concluding the transaction which were stuck because of the difference in transaction value and circle rate

Lubricants play four major roles – they control friction and wear in the engine, they protect the engine from rusting, they cool the pistons, and they protect the engine oil stored in the sump from combustion gases. Some 75%-95% of a typical engine lubricant is made up of a base oil – a mineral oil that has come directly from a refinery. These base oils can naturally contain straight or branched chains of hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon molecules with aromatic rings attached, or these chains can be produced by further chemical reactions of the base oils. The remainder of the lubricant comprises a variety of additives, which are used to improve performance. Typically these include anti-wear additives, corrosion inhibitors, antioxidants, detergents, dispersants, antifoam additives, and large polymer molecules known as

Lubricants

viscosity modifiers, which are added to improve the viscosity variation of the lubricant with temperature. Construction equipment has come a long way - and so have the lubricants that keep it running smoothly. As technology for machinery has advanced, the industry has demanded that lubrication and other fluids keep up with changing transmissions and increased load requirements. Construction equipment must run reliably despite harsh conditions. Extreme temperatures and contamination are daily challenges. Lubrication is critical, but it can be a complicated business. Every piece of equipment with moving parts needs to be lubricated, yet with so many factors to consider, it can quickly become overwhelming. How often should a machine be lubricated? What job does the equipment perform? Is the environment wet or dry, hot or cold, clean or dirty? How fast does the equipment move? Is it involved in food processing? All these questions and more must be answered before the correct lubricant can be selected. Lubrication can be defined as the application of oily or greasy substances, also called ‘lubricants’, in order to reduce friction and allow moving machine parts to slide smoothly past each other. Lubricants form a film between the metal surfaces of machine parts to avoid metal-to-metal contact and to keep the machine running efficiently. Studies have shown that improper lubrication accounts for 53 per cent of all bearing failures, a major cause of equipment downtime and significant unnecessary maintenance costs including, replacement bearings, labour to repair or replace bearings, unscheduled downtime and the impact on meeting customer delivery commitments. Primarily, these failures are caused by contamination of bushings by dust, dirt and moisture or inadequate amounts of grease applied to bearings. Inefficient manual lubrication practices can also result in over-lubrication, which brings its own indirect, but very real costs, including wasted lube, environmental issues, safety or housekeeping issues and higher labour costs. Automatic Lubrication Systems (ALS) help eliminate these unplanned and unnecessary expenses. An ALS automatically lubricates multiple points on a machine from a centralized pump/control unit, mounted in an easily accessible location. Specifically for mobile construction equipment, a system dispenses small measured amounts of grease at frequent intervals, while your equipment is operating, maintaining a uniform supply of grease in the bearing at all times and a consistent grease seal to prevent dirt and contaminants from migrating into bearings. This is in contrast to the feast and famine conditions often associated with manual greasing, where greasing is done “when there’s time”. Manual lubrication: Manual lubrication calls for the intervention of a technician with a grease gun or similar traditional lubrication tool. This lubrication method provides quite a few shortcomings such as increased machine downtime, high maintenance costs and inconsistent lubrication (too much, too less or not frequently enough). The Challenges of Manual Lubrication For manual lubrication, training is required to make maintenance staff aware of the importance of properly storing, handling, and applying grease. A lubrication program should be followed to encourage regular relubrication and keep components functioning as they should. Manual lubrication systems, such as multipoint grease guns, can help by using distributors to group lubrication points. This increases the consistency of maintenance as the system avoids the possibility of points being overlooked, and saves time as maintenance staff do not have to search for each point. Nevertheless, manual lubrication requires the machine to be stopped. Depending on the machine, it usually takes over an hour to complete the task. With manual lubrication methods, bearings are often over-greased initially. They eventually become under-greased as too much time passes until re-lubrication. Optimal lubrication is only achieved for a short period of time. Manual lubrication systems are no guarantee for the right amount of lubricant at the right time and in the right place. This leads to serious risks for industrial applications where an optimal lubrication is necessary to ensure efficient processes and a minimum of downtime and maintenance costs. The ongoing cost efficiency trend forces industrial plants worldwide to downsize their maintenance departments.

Lubricants

At the same time the number of production machines and lubrication points that require regular lubrication stay the same. On top of that there is an increase in environmental and safety regulations that require plant maintenance managers and personnel to perform time-consuming tasks. Automatic lubrication: An automatic lubrication system is one that provides your equipment with the right amount of lubricant at the right time and in the right place – usually while the machine is in operation. It replaces a conventional lubrication system and results in extended equipment life, reduced wear and smaller maintenance bills. Advantages of Automatic Lubrication The high costs of bearing failures continue to plague heavy industrial plants, including steel mills, rolling mills and continuous casting operations. Frequently, these costs are a consequence of the failure to verify that bearings are receiving the proper amounts and types of lube oil or grease via the integration of monitoring capabilities into large, automated lubrication systems. Without proper lubrication, bearings seldom survive more than 5-10 percent of their potential service life. This is due to multiple factors like corrosion, heat, caustic elements and high shock loads. However, failure to properly lubricate production equipment, particularly at the critical points, can be an even greater cause of bearing failures, resulting in unnecessary downtime and replacement costs. Extended Equipment Life: By providing your equipment with the right amount of lubricant at the right time and in the right place, automatic lubrication results in reduced wear and extended equipment life. Automatic lubrication forms a thin layer between moving machine parts to avoid these parts scraping against each other. By avoiding direct metal-to-metal contact, the components will be protected against wear and will last longer. Reduced Consumption of Lubricant: Automatic lubrication systems provide small amounts of lubricant at more frequent intervals, reducing the consumption of lubricant. This does not only save on the costs of oil or grease, it also protects the environment. Reduced Maintenance Cost: Because automatic lubrication extends equipment life by reducing

wear, you will save on spare parts. On top of that your machine does not need manual point-bypoint lubrication by technicians, so you can lower your maintenance costs considerably. Lubing with a grease gun is tedious for technicians compared to the 15-minute inspection and refill time of an autolube system. Reduced Machine Downtime: Avoiding a standstill of your installations is key to enhance your overall productivity. Unlike manual lubrication, automatic lubrications systems do not require to be shut down in order to add more oil. Lock-out and tag-out procedures can be avoided and the machines can keep on running while the lubrication system takes care off adding the right amount of lubricant for optimal lubrication. That way automatic lubrication drastically cuts your labour- and downtime. Safer and Healthier Working Conditions: In manual lubricated environments, a machine technician uses a grease gun to lube all necessary machine parts. Some of the vital machine parts are very difficultly accessible and require climbing on the machine, sometimes when it is still running. This poses big safety risks that can be avoided by the installation of an automatic lubrication system. Autolube also avoids human contact with lubricants and avoids spilled oil on the floor eliminating the hazard of slipping out. Environmental Improvements: Automatic systems measure the exact amount of lubricant required. Waste, product contamination and housekeeping issues are substantially reduced. Improved lubrication for bearings, gears and chains translates to lower friction and lower energy consumption. Suitable for Any Application: Automatic lubrication systems come in many types, such as single-line parallel, series progressive, dual line and multi-line, each with its specific advantages and application areas. Because of this wide range, generally any application can be lubricated with an automatic lubrication system. Changing Your Approach to Machine Reliability: Lubrication is a critical aspect in machine reliability. Yet for many operators, manual lubrication is becoming too much of a challenge. By finding a simpler, smarter way to lubricate your machinery, you could maintain reliability without the costs and effort of manual lubrication. An automatic lubrication system (ALS) lubricates continuously while the machine is working. This increases efficiency as there is no need to stop machinery for lubrication. Lubricating while the bearings are rotating also improves the distribution of lubricant. A small amount of grease remains flowing, keeping out contamination even when the machine is operating in a harsh environment. Components of an Automatic Lubrication System A typical system consists of controller/timer, pump w/reservoir, supply line, calculating valves, and feed lines. All automatic lubrication systems share these main components: Controller A controller is necessary to activate and monitor the system – although in many industrial in-plant applications. Controller/Timer manages the pressure on the system by turning pressure supply valves on and off on the basis of either time or cycle. It can also receive signals demonstrating restricted or failed grease flow to the bearing. Pump and Reservoir: The pump and reservoir store and provide a steady flow of lubricant. Pumps come in all sorts and sizes, such as pumps for grease and oil with a wide variety of outputs to handle the smallest to the largest automatic lubrication jobs. Metering Devices: Metering is at the heart of an automatic lubrication system, to ensure that the right amount of lubricant is dispensed to all the lubrication points. A metering system has to be accurate, reliable and durable, and capable of meeting all requirements such as long-runs, high pressure, continuous lube and others. Hose and Fittings: The hose is used to transport the lubricant from the reservoir to all lubrication

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Lubricants

points. Together with the fittings, the hose guarding and the field-installable hose end it spreads the lubricant to the bearings and other vital parts of an industrial installation. Accessories: Optional accessories to further enhance performance can include monitoring and detection accessories such as simple shut-down devices, low level switches, blow-out discs for high-pressure detection or performance indicators. Different Types of Automatic Lubrication Systems Single Line Parallel systems: In a single line parallel system, lubricant can be supplied either manually, with a grease gun, or with the help of a fully automated system using electric or pneumatic pumps and progressive metering valves. More than a drilled manifold block, the SSV metering valve covers a series of metering pistons, which accurately distributes lubricant from each outlet. Observable monitoring is provided with an indicator pin, which certifies a valve has completed a full cycle. Single line parallel: A Single Line Parallel Lubrication Systems primarily consist of: • A Pump with either integral reservoir or with grease • barrel mounting option • Air Maintenance Unit • Appropriate Injector devices • Electronic Control Unit (Timer) • Appropriate Tubing, Fittings, Valves and Gauges During the operation cycle, the pre-set quantity of lubricant is pumped to the various injector devices, which in turn deliver the pre-set quantities of the lubricant to the connected lubrication points. The injector devices are connected in parallel & operate independent of each other. The sequence of operation can be controlled by the electronic control unit (Timer). Dual Line Parallel Automatic Lubrication System: A dual line parallel system is similar to the single line parallel system in that it uses hydraulic pressure to cycle adjustable valves to dispense measured shots of lubricant. It has 2 main supply lines which are alternatively used as pressure / vent lines. The advantage of a two-line system is that it can handle hundreds of lubrication points from a single pump station over several thousand feet using significantly smaller tubing or pipe. Operation begins when the controller/ timer sends a signal to the pump to start the lubrication cycle. The pump begins pumping lubricant to build up pressure in the first (the pessure) supply line while simultaneously venting the second (vent) return line. Once the required pressure is reached, a predetermined amount of lubricant is dispensed by the metering devices to half of the lubrication points via feed lines. Once the pressure switch monitoring main supply line pressure indicates a preset pressure in the line has been reached, the system is hydraulically closed. The controller shuts off the pump and signals a changeover valve to redirect lubricant to the second main supply line. The next time the controller activates the system, the second main line now becomes the pressure line while the first line becomes the vent line. The second line is pressurized and the entire process is repeated lubricating the remaining lube points. Multi point direct lubricator: When the controller in the pump or external controller activates the drive motor, a set of cams turns and activates individual injectors or pump elements to dispense a fixed amount of lubricant to each individual lubrication point. Systems are easy to design, direct pump to lube point without added accessories and easy to troubleshoot. Latest Trends in Lubricant Market Zinc-Free Lubricants: Growing demand for zinc-free construction lubricants is emerging as a key trend in the industry, owing to their ability of preventing corrosion of construction machinery, and improving the equipment lifecycle. Additionally, zinc-free construction lubricants offer high performance even in high temperature, high pressure, and high moisture conditions, which in turn is fueling their demand as an ideal type of construction lubricant. The study opines that leading players in the construction lubricants market are focusing on offering high-performance products, which will help end-users to safeguard expensive machinery and reduce unwanted downtime. In order to serve a larger end-user base and effectively meet their specifications and requirements, players are making headway with value-added services and offerings. Manufacturers of construction lubricant are also focusing on diversifying their product portfolios via incorporation of bio-based variants, against

Lubricants

the backdrop of rapid end-user inclination toward environment-friendly products. According to the report, companies that hone their digitalmarketing skills to engage end-users are likely to gain significant profitability in the long-run, upheld by the fact that most players in the construction lubricants market are already putting immense efforts to gain a competitive edge. Bio-based Lubricants: The term bio-based specifies the origin of a lubricant. This involves the annually renewable raw material utilized to construct the lubricant’s base stock. Some examples of these base stock materials would be soybean, rapeseed and sunflower products. These base stocks can offer good lubricity, flash point and viscosity index properties but often are inferior in regard to their oxidation stability. Although their usage is not widespread, they have their place in certain hydraulics, total-loss systems and environmentally sensitive areas. Biodegradable Lubricants: Just as what characterizes bio-based lubricants centers on the front end of the lubricant’s creation, what identifies biodegradable lubricants is more focused on the back end. It considers how the environment has a tendency to break down the lubricant, if exposed, as well as the function and timeframe for this breakdown to occur. Lubrication Challenges of Heavy Mining Machinery To keep all components of heavy mining machinery running optimally throughout their complete lifetime, optimal lubrication is essential. Under- or over-lubrication can lead to machines breaking down, resulting in expensive production losses. And as many mines are in remote locations, getting a maintenance engineer or a spare part within hours can be difficult. The conventional solution is frequent manual lubrication. However, in the tough environmental conditions in which heavy mining machinery frequently operates, manual lubrication is not easy. Multiple aspects make manual lubrication inappropriate for the mining industry: • Bad weather conditions can hinder or prevent lubrication from taking place. • Off-road equipment is huge and climbing up or over an 8-meter high dump truck to lubricate the furthermost pivots can be dangerous. • Many components such as bucket and boom pins need to be lubricated in multiple positions, which is time-consuming. • Different machine operators will lubricate their equipment in different ways, and not all of them will be the correct ways. Automatic Lubrication for Heavy Machinery The solution for the optimal lubrication of mining equipment, and a key tool to help improve equipment efficiency and productivity, is automatic lubrication. Automatic lubrication involves providing smaller amounts of lubrication at regular intervals, without operator intervention. It ensures that components are lubricated when they need it most – while they are in use. Automatic lubrication offers many advantages:

• It avoids manual lubrication downtime and reduces time spent on maintenance and repair. • It cuts the cost of maintenance, repair, supplies and downtime. • It increases equipment productivity, reliability and availability. • It leads to safer operations by eliminating the need to climb on the machine to lubricate points that are difficult to reach. As heavy mining machinery increases in complexity, automatic lubrication is really the only way forward to protect your investment and increase running time. It pushes dirt out of pivots, decreases wear and corrosion, and reduces lubricant consumption. It can even be set up with features that detect a blocked or broken line, and then alert the operator. CM

18 19 September 2021 2021

tecHNOLOGIcAL ADvANceMeNts IN MINING INDustry

ndustry Mining i

Over the past decades, the mining industry has had to face a challenging scenario for its operation. Improving productivity to overcome natural factors such as decreasing ore grades, deeper deposits, and harder rock mass, combined with an increasing environmental and social awareness, has boost the industry to constantly work to enhance their processes along the whole value chain. In this, innovation plays a crucial role by providing suitable solutions to surpass these difficulties, ensuring the continuity and sustainability of the mining activity. The use of technology in industrial mining has been developing since its inception: dynamite helped clear tunnels and reach greater depths at a much faster rate than could be done with a pick and hammer; the industrial revolution catalyzed the mechanization of equipment; and electric conveyor belts made it easier to load and haul materials.

i ndustry Mining

Technological advances usually have an impact on the output, allowing larger production rates while maintaining a similar workforce, or directly reducing the needed personnel by the automation of processes. Nevertheless, changes in labor productivity of a mine may be caused by a series of other reasons. Natural factors, such as decreasing ore grade and deepening of deposits, mean that a larger amount of material in more complex situations must be removed to obtain the same final metallic output, thus impacting negatively on labor productivity, while, in an aggregated view (e.g., when analyzing the mining industry of an specific country), the discovery and exploitation of new and better deposits can also positively impact the overall labor productivity. On the other hand, in a high-price mineral commodities scenario, companies are willing to compromise their costs in order to increase production (because it is profitable) and, therefore, reduce their labor productivity. Mining is experiencing an exciting shift, thanks to spatial (or geospatial) data. Spatial data is becoming more detailed and clearer than ever: • Three-dimensional (3D) Modelling creates a viewable, life-like impression with depth perception that allows the human brain to understand and relate to complex interrelated issues. 3D modelling supports firms by reimagining the mine more efficiently. • Virtual Reality (VR) is an artificiallycreated software environment that uses real-life data. The virtual environment immerses people into a user-created 3-D

environment. VR presents an enhanced impression to help miners experience what it’s like working in a mine or planning a new mine without being out in the field. • Augmented Reality (AR) overlays a digital visualization onto a real-world environment. AR accomplishes this by enhancing the user’s visual field with computer-generated inputs such as sound, video, applications, and graphics. Miners use augmented reality to train using virtual simulators, which also helps the industry reduce equipment maintenance costs. By using new technology like spatial data effectively, the mining industry gains insights into mine systems at a reduced cost and impact on the environment. The mining industry is steadily moving toward a future where it’s possible to virtually construct and deconstruct buildings, plants, mines, and all associated infrastructure before even breaking ground to create a truly intelligent mine. Artificial intelligence (AI) now leads the decisionmaking at insight-driven firms. They use smart data and machine learning to improve operational efficiency, mine safety, and production workflow. Implementing artificial intelligence technology generates day-to-day data in half the time than what has been used previously in the field. The mining industry evolves rapidly, so machine learning and AI impact the way mines today make choices for the future. Here are some ways the latest technology in artificial intelligence impacts the working mine: • Mineral processing and exploration: Companies can find minerals more easily by using high-performance AI technology. • Autonomous vehicles and drillers: For more than eight years, firms across the globe have used autonomous vehicles in their pit-to-pit operations. Self-driving trucks can easily navigate through narrow tunnels with AI. Now, drilling systems are also simplified with a single operator that controls several drill rigs at once. This is just another step towards optimal industry efficiency. As the mining industry attempts to reduce costs and lessen its environmental impact, using mining equipment like AI helps to ensure safety and reliability for both miners and the land that mines use.

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i ndustry Mining

Digital technology is also having a significant impact on development and production. For example, automation technology — together with improvements in AI — can vastly improve operational and cost efficiencies, particularly with the use of autonomous vehicles, drillers and haulage systems. Self-driving trucks are able to navigate through narrow tunnels without a human driver. Autonomous haulage systems (AHS) can safely move and transport far more materials than a human workforce could, resulting in increased productivity gains and safety. In 2019, a global mining company launched the world’s first automated heavy-haul rail network capable of moving approximately 1 million tons of iron ore a day. In addition, certain heavy equipment manufacturers have found that organizations using AHS technology have reported productivity gains of more than 20% since implementing their AHS technology. Automation introduces obvious advantages at an operational, production and staffing level in an industry where labor costs are high. The removal of workers from dangerous working conditions also increases the health and safety of mining operations. AI is also being employed to improve operational efficiency, safety and production workflow, such as predicting the distributions of minerals more effectively to increase mining efficiency. Connected and smart devices are being deployed in a range of scenarios. For example, real-time data from smart sensors attached to mining equipment and systems can help optimize equipment performance and enable preventative maintenance before equipment fails, saving time and money and reducing health and safety risks. Just as the IoT is making our homes “smart,” new mines are being constructed with the IoT in mind and the creation of one of the world’s first intelligent mines is due to start production in 2021. This mine will implement systems connecting all components of the mining value chain, which is expected to enable the mining operator to analyze vast quantities of data in real time and make optimal decisions to generate efficiencies across its production and operations. In addition to automation and AI, wearables are being used to provide real-time data on

the locations of workers, help track workers’ fitness for work and monitor health and safety risks. Virtual and simulated reality and digital twins are being used by mining companies to run advanced simulations, enable enhanced monitoring of equipment and operations and increase precision in mining operations. VR/AR (virtual reality/ augmented reality) can be used to provide immersive training for employees, allowing employees to prepare for difficult events in a safe environment. It also offers great potential for forensics and incident investigations. Digitalization and Mining Software

The more automated a mine is, the easier it is to collect data. That data includes everything from mine conditions to inventory to fleet maintenance needs. As more and more mines add automated machines to their process, more data will be collected, leading to improved analysis, operating efficiency, and safety. The majority of the mining software available compiles and sorts data, storing it for easy access even remotely. With software like that in place, equipment operators and management can track how much material is used and if it is in need of repairs to avoid costly downtimes. Even in the exploration phase mining software is crucial. Environmental data is stored to be reviewed by geologists and stakeholders to make decisions about a potential mine site. Blasting Optimization

So much has changed in the mining industry, but miners still rely heavily on explosives. To ensure a successful blast and streamline the design process, a variety of companies are relying on technology. Using projected fragmentation models, ore tracking systems and environmental data, companies can provide blasting plans that ensure results. Drilling logs, visual inspection, and laser profiling data all are part of the decisions made for blasting. The blast site is analyzed in several ways: sediment density, fluid penetration, mud seams, and fragmentation. In addition, mining is a hazardous occupation, in large part due to the dangers of breaking rock apart. Blasting is a complex activity that requires specially-trained crew. Employees not associated with the blast must leave the area. Blast sites are not fully automated, but we should expect things to move in that direction. Electronic detonators are already in use, with every year bringing improved performance and blast safety. However, due to the complexity of the task, wiring is still done by explosive experts. The long-term goal of many in the mining industry is to create a completely wireless system, allowing for full automation that requires only human oversight. Improved Technology, Improved Safety

Why is the mining industry never satisfied? Why do we keep seeking new ways to accomplish an ancient task? It’s simple: every technological advancement could mean a life saved. Despite how far we’ve come, mining can still be dangerous work. Accidents and fatalities occur every year, and no one in the industry is willing to continue to accept that as the status quo. Every additional piece of data gathered makes the process safer; every driverless vehicle keeps a human out of a potentially dangerous situation; each scouting improvement alerts operators to an avoidable hazard. The world needs miners as much as ever, but we need them to be safe and secure throughout the process, and technology is part of making that happen.

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i ndustry Mining

Indian Mining Industry

India holds a fair advantage in production and conversion costs in steel and alumina. Its strategic location enables export opportunities to develop as well as fast-developing Asian markets. India is home to 1,531 operating mines. The country has large reserves of iron ore, bauxite, chromium, manganese ore, baryte, rare earth and mineral salts. The country produces 95 minerals 4 fuel-related minerals, 10 metallic minerals, 23 non-metallic minerals, 3 atomic minerals and 55 minor minerals (including building and other minerals). Rise in infrastructure development and automotive production are driving growth. Power and cement industries are also aiding growth for the sector. Demand for iron and steel is set to continue given the strong growth expectations for the residential and commercial building industry. The Metals and Mining sector in India is expected to witness a major reform in the next few years, owing to reforms such as Make in India Campaign, Smart Cities, Rural Electrification, and a focus on building renewable energy projects under the National Electricity Policy as well as the rise in infrastructure development. Recent Developments in Indian Mining Industry

• In April 2021, Vedanta Ltd. signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with research institutes in India for exploring ways to create value from bauxite residue for further usage in the company’s downstream segment. • In April 2021, National Aluminium

Company Ltd. was granted the mining

lease of Utkal-E coal block in Odisha. • In April 2021, Coal India Ltd. (CIL) announced the incorporation of two wholly owned subsidiaries —CIL Solar PV

Ltd and CIL Navikarniya Urja Ltd. • In March 2021, Coal India Ltd. (CIL) approved 32 new coal mining projects, of which 24 are expansion of the existing projects and the remaining are greenfield.

Estimated cost of the project is Rs. 47,000 crore (US$ 6.47 billion). • In 2021, state-owned NMDC aims to utilise 97% production capacity to manufacture 35 MT of iron ore. In FY21 (until January 2021), NMDC’s iron ore production stood

MT. • In February 2021, ArcelorMittal-Nippon

Steel India, in agreement with the

Odisha government, has planned to set up an integrated steel plant (with 12 MT capacity) in the state’s Kendrapada district for Rs. 50,000 crore (US$ 6.89 billion) • In February 2021, two new iron ore mines were inaugurated in Odisha, with a production capacity of 15 lakh tonnes per month and ~275 million tonnes of consolidated iron ore reserves. These mines will bring in ~Rs. 5000 crore (US$ 679.28 million) in annual revenue for the state and employment opportunities for locals. • In February 2021, Coal India signed a contract with the Centre for Railway

Information Systems (CRIS) for tracking the movement of rakes laden with fossil fuel and coal despatch activity. • In February 2021, Energy Energy Efficiency

Services Limited (EESL) and Coal India

Ltd. (CIL) signed a memorandum of understanding for energy efficiency and resource management programmes to decarbonise CIL's projects and facilities. • In February 2021, CIL signed a contract with Belaz, a Belarus-based mining equipment manufacturer, for procurement of dumpers with an investment amount worth Rs. 2,900 crore (US$ 393.98 million). • In February 2021, CIL also announced plans to invest Rs. 1.43 lakh crore (US$ 19.43 billion) in 20 sir projects, including solar, thermal and aluminum projects. CM

CaSe India offers an entire range of road equipment especially designed for the Indian terrain and the challenges that come with it. For the on-road segment CaSe offers a range of compaction series equipped with bestin-class technologies. CaSe India also offers a range of Motor graders and Crawler dozers.

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sANDeeP MAtHur

Brand Leader- IndIa & SaarC cAse cONstructION eQuIPMeNt

Q. How CASE Construction is managing risks and ensuring business continuity during the second wave?

Owing to the ongoing situation, reviving the business, and ensuring continuity have been the focus areas across industries. To this effect, we’ve worked on two key areas- to keep stakeholders engaged and to facilitate business. At CASE, we also faced the effect of the pandemic and multiple lockdowns and went through several bottlenecks initially which affected our performance. However, we have always believed in being agile and adaptive and our teams immediately started acclimatizing to the new normal and creating new ways of working during the pandemic. New protocols were established for our offices, plant and the warehouse. Adapting to the situation quickly, we worked on all possible measures to ensure safety and well-being of all concerned and at the same time ensuring that productivity and efficiency is not compromised. While at workplace, we adhered to the social distancing norms, sanitized workplace regularly, on the other hand we started engaging with all key stakeholders using various digital platforms to keep them updated on measures taken as well as to convey best practices to tackle the situation. We used social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to continue engagement. We also announced an in-house COVID-19 vaccination drive for its entire Indian workforce to further ensure their health, safety and well-being in the face of the ongoing pandemic. We also introduced lucrative schemes to ensure viable buying proposition for the interested customers. Additionally, we also launched extended warranty scheme to support those customers who could not avail the benefits and the warranty period for their equipment was expiring amid lockdown. We extended the warranty period for 60 days. The extension of warranty is supported by an increase in warranty claim submission time, late repair time and policy claim requests over a period from 30 days to 90 days. The brand’s warranty helpdesk is fully operational to support customers with their queries. Further with the emergence of Industry 4.0, we are preparing ourselves to adapt all the necessary measure to incorporate latest technological methods to increase productivity and efficiency with minimal manual intervention. Q. What are the special initiatives taken by the organization for the wellbeing of the employees?

The COVID-19 pandemic is truly one of our greatest adversities in recent times. Adapting to it reflects the ability of this organization to rise to any challenge and actively build a better and safer environment for all. Safety and well-being of employees was our primary focus. For all internal stakeholders, we started with immediate changes to ensure social distancing at our workplaces; we ensured frequent sanitization of facilities and invested time and resources to ensure proper adherence to new safety norms. Our corporate employees were asked to operate from home immediately and the manpower at our plants was organized into shifts to ensure proper distancing and safety. We worked on all possible measures to ensure safety and well-being of all concerned and at the same time ensuring that productivity and efficiency is not compromised. To combat COVID-19 we followed social distancing at workplace, daily temperature checking, compulsory registration on the Arogya Setu app, the provision of safety gear including masks, gloves and eye-protection along with daily regular sanitization at all their facilities. On the other hand, we started engaging with all key stakeholders using various digital platforms to keep them updated on measures taken as well as to convey best practices to tackle the situation. We use social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to continue engagement. We rolled out several policies to alleviate those affected by COVID-19, some of these include, a financial support of INR 50,000 to all those employees who test positive or are home quarantined along with a Home Care Coverage of INR 20,000 for all employees and their families per instance. Additionally, CNH Industrial forged a tie-up with Apollo Hospitals for a dedicated 24x7 medical consultation helpline number for employees and put in place a dedicated task force to track all infected employees and arrange all the required assistance for them. Not only this, but we also announced an in-house COVID-19 vaccination drive the entire workforce for which the company covered all associated costs of the planned operation, which gave approximately 4,000 employees, including contractual workers, the opportunity to receive the vaccine should they wish to do so.

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We didn’t discount the benefit of mental and physical well-being for all our employees and have been organizing webinars on mental health, breathing techniques, relaxation, yoga, meditation etc.

Q. Could you brief us about the performance of CASE and about the overall performance of the industry?

The pandemic induced lockdown has resulted in some sluggishness across the economy thereby impacting individual sector growth. The infrastructure and construction equipment industry is also one of them and consequently business in the industry has declined by 39 per cent in H1 CY2020. However, several initiatives introduced by the government to spur economic activities have instilled confidence in construction equipment sector which is expected to showcase a growth rate of 15-20 percent in the FY 2021-22 (as per ICRA). The Budget 2021-22 has put a lot of focus on reviving the infrastructure sector. The government’s effort towards further enhancing the roads and highways projects to 7,400 new projects including Rs.50, 000 crore. The announcement of introduction of the Development Finance Institution providing `20,000 crore to launch the National Asset Monetization Pipeline to fund new infra projects, will strengthen the stability of the sector further. Moreover, MoRTH has also set the target for 2026 and planned to expand around 60,000 km of National Highways (NHs) in the next five years. These measures are an attempt to ensure positive growth of the industry in the upcoming time and would most likely result in an increased demand of road construction equipment as well. We expect this growth to reflect in our business performance as well.

Q. How CASE is transforming itself to cater to the emerging needs of the Indian construction & infrastructure industry?

The pandemic induced period has resulted in several changes across industries. For construction equipment industry, greater focus towards aftersales services, increasing preference for rental services and enhanced need for a technologically upgraded equipment are the major changes. Uncertainty about labour availability coupled with fast pace of infrastructure projects have shifted focus towards advanced equipment with minimum downtime. At the same time, a technologically advanced equipment is costly and needs for a robust after-sales support infrastructure. Being a technology focused company we have always focused on incorporating latest technologies at all levels. All products at CASE are equipped with cutting edge features to enhance the overall productivity and efficiency of the machines and offer features that simplify the usage of these machines. Our EAGLE EYE telematics solution enhances performance and efficiency. This Asset Monitoring System combines internet, cellular and GPS technologies to keep an eye on details such as the real-time location of the machine, operating hours and cumulative hours, and sends warning text alerts related to fuel usage, tampering, servicing etc. We also introduced Site-watch which provides the owner / machine managers to remotely monitor the machine for data regarding the working status of the machine including Fuel consumption, location, Service alarms etc. and help in proactively maintaining the machines, thereby extending the working life of CASE machines. Moreover, we also have the CASE Intelligent Hydraulic System (CIHS) in-built in our excavator which improves fuel efficiency and provides smooth control. The advanced hydraulic system offers higher breakout forces, improved swing speeds and greater swing torque, resulting in faster cycle times and 5% increase in productivity. On the after-sales service support front, CASE offers optional extended warranties and service support, so customers can use their machines

more confidently knowing that CASE will support them through the machine’s lifecycle. CASE Care is a cost-effective service contract under which we pro-actively monitor the machine which helps in preventive maintenance. CASE Protect is a comprehensive extended warranty which ensures expert care, round the clock availability and hassle-free operations. For Fleet owners, Case offers Maintenance Contracts with dedicated service manpower available at site to ensure uptime. To ensure timely spare parts and product support, we have a vast and bankable network of 60 dealers and 200 plus touch points spread across the country with good amount of stock supplies. They are well supported by our centrally located and a state of the art 75000 sq. ft central warehouse in Indore, which holds 13000 SKUs at a time along with 2 depots in Faridabad and Guwahati which provide quick access to all parts of the country. In the current scenario, after the second wave, securing finance is becoming a challenge so there could be a possible surge in the CE rental market. Equipment renting will help them in cutting down on equipment acquisition cost, protection from market fluctuations, eliminating storage and transportation issues. To meet rental demand of all our loyal customers, we are coming up with a rental platform which will help them in renting a machine from CASE India, without incurring a heavy capital investment. The Indian construction equipment rental market is anticipated to register a CAGR of about 5.1 % during 2020 – 2025.

Q. Could you brief us on some of the smart/ intelligent solutions you offer in road construction (grading/soil & asphalt compaction/and asphalt and concrete paving)?

CASE India offers an entire range of road equipment especially designed for the Indian terrain and the challenges that come with it. For the on-road segment CASE offers a range of compaction series equipped with best-inclass technologies. For Asphalt Application, CASE India offers 752EX Vibratory Tandem Compactor and 450DX Mini Tandem Compactor. In Soil compactors CASE has 1107EX available in three variants - Standard, Drum Drive and Pad Foot Drum. Additionally, the 110 EX- D Soil Compactor is specially used for mining application and is available in two variants -Drum Drive and Pad Foot Drum. All compactors are equipped with a compaction meter, so the operator can check amplitude, frequency and ICV (intelligence compaction value) related to the density of soil compacted. CASE India also offers a range of Motor Graders and Crawler Dozers. CASE 845B is suitable for Road construction & 865B Motor Grader is suitable for mining application. Crawler Dozers, come in 3 models 1150L and 1650L suitable for road construction and 2050M suitable for mining application. Additionally, CASE also has SR130 Skid Steer loader, suitable to work in confined spaces for general construction application. Additionally, we have recently included our brand-new excavator in the Indian portfolio. The CASE CX 220 LC is a 22-ton excavator that is specially designed for the Indian terrain and delivers faster cycle times, higher productivity and fuel savings. Our current range of our backhoe loader machines is laden with the best-in-class components and features. Backhoe loaders have flexible usage and can be used from construction, small demolitions and light transportation of building materials to digging holes/excavation, landscaping, breaking asphalt and paving roads. All equipment of CASE India comes with FPT Industrial engines which ensure fuel efficiency. We provide HVAC cabin catering for operator’s comfort. The cab can be tilted to provide full access to all main powertrain components. The operator can customize all the working parameters of the machine to achieve excellent controllability and faster cycle times.

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Our machines also come equipped with a multitude of smart features such as an eagle eye telematics system which helps in monitoring the performance, security and efficiency of the machine in real-time. This Asset Monitoring System combines internet, cellular and GPS technologies to keep an eye on details such as the real-time location of the machine, operating hours and cumulative hours, and sends warning text alerts. Our equipment have won the prestigious awards worldwide in the Road Construction Equipment category.

Q. From the R&D point of view, what will be the trends in road construction equipment technologies in the next couple of years?

The Indian construction equipment industry is poised to grow by 15-20 per cent in H1 CY2020, as per ICRA report. Therefore, road construction will witness a significant growth as well, resulting in increased demand of equipment with latest technologies. Currently, digitalization is bringing the fourth industrial revolution aka Industry 4.0 in the country. It is revolutionizing the manufacturing industry by bringing automation and emerging technologies such as IoT, digitization etc. together to create smart tools and factories for the future. The companies in the sector, in a bid to thrive in the future, have become more agile and foresighted as well. Incorporation of newer technologies such as IoT, AI and automation in road construction equipment will drive the trends in the near future. Further, machines that are user friendly, help in efficiently completing the job well in time are the ones that will drive sales. As per the current trend of increasing dependence on internet and strengthening of digital infrastructure, especially during the pandemic, digitization will be one of the key trends for the next few years.

Q. What are your key learnings from the lockdown and the first wave? What are your top priorities for CASE for the next one to two years.

The pandemic has changed the way we worked completely. Businesses have had to create new processes and protocols to ensure safety while also trying to maintain the same level of efficiency. The only way to survive and thrive in these unprecedented times is by being agile and adaptive. As one of the key learnings, considering the sensitivity of the situation, organizations have become more adaptive, flexible, and accommodating to employee needs as compared to before. Companies have learnt to function remotely with majority of the employees working from home and to continue business as usual, sitting in different locations. Similarly for the dealer partners and the customers, more and more digital avenues are being created to ensure continuity of business as well as their safety. Corporates are focusing more and more on the customer satisfaction aspect while operating remotely, using several methods like- extended warranty due loss of time and opportunity arising out of lock-down or movement restriction imposed by several states. Another key change has been increased emphasis on technological advancement especially on digitization of the equipment. This will not only help in reduced dependency on labor but at the same time help vendors to complete the project in timely manner with increased efficiency. At CASE India too, we immediately took stock of the situation and identified areas of intervention. The safety of our employees, dealers and customers is our top priority. We’ve adopted various digital tools and platforms to continue working with our employees, vendors and dealers and are also creating new avenues of interaction. We’re learning and adapting on the go and will continue to do so. CM

Road & Hig H ways

New AND eMerGING tecHNOLOGIes Are resHAPING tHe DyNAMIcs Of rOAD cONstructION

Road engineering is now a complex discipline, where road safety, environmental and socioeconomic issues are as important as design and supervision of construction. Disruptive technologies in the highways environment are becoming game changers, and constantly monitors new developments in order to gain a better understanding of how such technologies can solve problems, reduce operational costs and increase project value. As new technologies elicit new expectations from road users, ownership and operational models will also evolve. New and emerging technologies are reshaping the dynamics of road construction with a renewed focus on sustainable development. Such technologies offers various benefits to all stakeholders, including road users, the

Road & Hig H ways

authority/government, concessionaires and developers. These technologies include use of improved materials for road construction such as recycled materials, plastic wastes, self-healing asphalt, etc. In addition, the usage of automation and machine-control technologies is growing rapidly, prompting the equipment manufactures to bring in advanced and intelligent road construction technologies to improve the quality of construction. Further, advanced technologies in highway development and management, such as project monitoring information systems, intelligent transport management systems and advanced traffic management systems, enable project monitoring, higher traffic efficiency, real-time vehicle tracking and incident management. The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have been leading the adoption of new and emerging technologies in the sector from the front. Some of the flagship initiatives driven by the government in the sector includes, but are not limited to, use of plastic waste in bituminous pavement construction; use of project monitoring information systems (PMIS) for real time project tracking and monitoring; and electronic toll collection via FASTag. However, with rapid growth in the sector and increasing traffic, further improvement in applied technologies will be required to counter the various challenges that exist in the sector such as cost overruns, safety issues, blocks to land acquisition, flaws in design and planning, environmental concerns, etc. Many researchers and scientists in India and around the world are currently working on new and improved innovative technologies in road construction. In some cases, various advanced technologies are being tested as pilot projects around the world and require further research and analysis for conceptualisation. The three phases in any major construction project are a) planning and design; b) construction; and c) operation and maintenance. Considering the various challenges that exists in the road sector, this report discusses the use of new and emerging technologies in the following three aspects of

the project lifecycle: i. Road construction materials and machines ii. Design and implementation iii. Highway operations and management Majority of the Indian roads are flexible pavements, where bitumen is used as a common binder. The one major advantage of a flexible pavement is that their surfaces can be milled and recycled during repair and maintenance phase. In India for decades Hot Mix Asphalt with bitumen aggregate has been used as Pavement mixes. However, with technological advancement and focus on sustainable development, usage of cold mix bituminous emulsion is picking up the pace around the world and in India as well. Some of the major advantages of cold mix bitumen are energy savings, pollution-free environment, safer working condition for labor at construction sites, etc. as there is no requirement of high temperature while mixing and laying of bitumen. Advancement in Road Management & Building Material

In the future of smart transport is about intelligent signs and roads. In fact, we are entering the era where the information superhighway (connectivity, Internet and data grid) meets the transportation highway. Roads are no longer viewed as merely a physical entity or solid ground. They will be ‘empowered’ with info-communications, intelligence and sensing capability that were never possible decades ago. Smart roads use Internet of Things (IoT) devices to make driving safer, more efficient, and in line with government objectives, greener. Smart roads combine physical infrastructures such as sensors and solar panels with software infrastructure like AI and big data. Smart road technologies are embedded in roads and can improve visibility, generate energy, communicate with autonomous and connected vehicles, monitor road conditions, and more. IoT connectivity: Cities can connect roads to IoT devices, and gather traffic and weather data. This type of connectivity can improve safety, traffic management, and energy efficiency. Traffic management networks: For improving safety and reducing congestion. The network uses speed cameras to provide warning signs for hazardous conditions, and sends automated traffic diversion signals that control traffic. Traffic lights optimization: Systems that use data from closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras or smart vehicles to optimize traffic lights and update commuters on jams or bottlenecks. Advanced traffic management system (ATMS): ATMS is a comprehensive platform of traffic management that covers monitoring, control and safety on highways. It employs a top-down management perspective that integrates equipment such as cameras and speed sensors, installed at various points along the road, with databases primarily to improve, ease, and organise the flow of traffic. The system gathers real-time data from those sensors and cameras, and relays it to a command centre for processing and analysis. The processed data helps provide many digital or physical services, including incident management, traffic routing, traffic-jam notifications, DMS messaging, etc. Intelligent transport management system (ITMS): With the concept of smart city aimed at transforming cities into digital societies, ITMS becomes an indispensable component. Intelligent

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H ways Road & Hig

transport systems (ITS) aim to achieve efficiency by minimising traffic problems. It enriches users with prior information about traffic, local convenience, real-time running information, seat availability etc. which reduces travel time of commuters and enhances their safety and comfort. Intelligent Compaction: Intelligent compaction (IC) is an equipment-based technology to improve quality control of compaction. IC vibratory rollers are equipped with a high precision global positioning system (GPS), infrared temperature sensors, an accelerometer-based measurement system, and an onboard color-coded display. ICMV is a generic term for a calculated value based on accelerometer measurements on vibratory roller drums. These values are in different forms of metrics with various levels of correlation to compacted material’s mechanical and physical properties. Precast Pre-Stressed Concrete Pavement: In India, precast pre-stressed concrete technology is widely used in construction of bridges, flyovers, viaducts, tunnels etc. However, precast concrete systems in road construction too have huge potential to transform the road repair and maintenance in heavy-traffic areas. Concrete roads are seen to be more durable and will bring down the cost of road maintenance significantly. Implementation of such precast concrete systems also paves the way for exploring new technologies for faster construction of cement concrete roads. Foremost among the options available was precast concrete technology. Advanced Tunneling Projects: At present in India, there are 1,489 tunnels covering 4,144 km in various stages – under implementation, awarded, under bidding, announced, approved, planned/proposed and stalled. As per the data collected and analysed by India Infrastructure Publishing, a company providing information on the infrastructure sectors in India, for completed, ongoing and awarded projects, the drill and blast method (DBM) is the most common tunnelling method. It is used in over 38% of tunnel works. Deployment of advanced/mechanised technologies, such as tunnel boring machines (TBMs), is slowly increasing. At present, it has a share of 24%. This is closely followed by the new Austrian tunnelling method (NATM), which is increasingly being used across sectors. Recent Developments in Indian Road & Highway Industry

Road development in India received an impetus with the launch of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP), under the aegis of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in 1999. Further, the introduction of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the late 2000 started the process of connecting rural hinterland with variousimportant financial centres and cities of the country. The present government is working on implementing several road development projects such as the Bharatmala, Setu Bharatam and Char Dham Highway project. Furthermore, technological advancements and some ingenious inventions are enabling execution of the most complex road projects in a timely and eco-friendly manner, with lower project lifecycle cost. Thera are a number of new and emerging technologies that can help a project achieve the above three parameters. For instance, use of plastic waste in bituminous pavement has numerous advantages such as higher resistance to deformation, increased durability and improved fatigue life and better stability and strength. Self-healing concrete and intelligent compaction are other emerging technologies in the area of road construction materials and machines. Smart highways, intelligent transport management solutions, advanced traffic management systems, project monitoring information system, etc. are some of the notable technological developments that can improve the operations and management. Despite the pandemic-induced lockdown and

Road & Hig H ways

restrictions on mobility in large parts of the country, highway construction grew by 74% on year in April-May of the current financial year to 1,470 km or 24.1 km/day. Of course, the sharp year-on-year growth is on a low base (14.1 km/ day in April-May 2021), but even in comparison to April-May 2020 (28.2 km/day), the performances of state-sector highway builders. Of the total construction in the first two months of the current fiscal, the ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) built 790 km followed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) (465 km) and National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (215 km). The NHAI set an ambitious 4,600-km highway construction target for 2021-22. Last fiscal, NHAI constructed a record 4,192 km, up from 3,979 km developed in 2019-20 and 3,380 km in 2018-19. NHAI was confident on achieving the target even as there had been some impact on highway construction lately owing to labour shortage in some sites due to the second Covid wave. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has made usage of drone mandatory for recording development, construction, operation and maintenance of all national highways. To enhance transparency, uniformity and leverage latest technology, NHAI has made mandatory use of drones for monthly video recording of National Highway projects during all stages of Development, Construction, Operation and Maintenance. This comes in the backdrop of India's plan to construct 40 kilometres of highways every day in the current financial year, beating its previous daily record of 37 km that was constructed during 2019-20. India has a 137,635 km of national highway network. NHAI has been adopting new technologies to expedite road construction. In an effort to increase the pace of construction of roads, technologies such as radar, and remote sensing for mapping underground infrastructure such as telephone lines to prevent time and cost overruns caused due to manual mapping errors are being used. This led to the usage of radars that sense utility lines beneath the ground and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology, which uses a pulsed laser to measure distance, helping with right of way studies. Recently, Union minister for road, transport and highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid foundation stones of projects worth `6,155 crore for Himachal Pradesh. The road transport and highway minister promised that road travel time from Delhi to Kullu will be reduced to just seven hours within two years or even before. The union minister laid foundation stones of projects of four-laning of Kangra Bypass to Bhangbar section of NH-88, Kiratpur to Nerchowk (greenfield alignment) on section NH-21 besides expansion of Paonta Sahib to Hewna section of NH-707 and Ashyri to Sri Kyari section among others. Gadkari said that road projects worth `15,000 crore would be awarded to Himachal Pradesh this year. Detailed project report (DPR) for construction of 40km left-bank road project at Manali would be prepared at the earliest. CM

architectural lighting

create a cohesive spatial experience with architectural lighting

Architectural lighting presupposes that there’s architecture. Architectural lighting works to serve and enhance the architecture, not merely as an accessory, to create a cohesive spatial experience. So, architectural lighting is an intersection of art (architecture) and technology (lighting). The architecture being illuminated or lighted may be commercial or residential. Other fields of endeavor, such as design, also come into play. Of course, so do physics, engineering and the psychological and physiological effects of light. Strictly speaking, architectural lighting is illumination for building design and function. The term encompasses three main factors. The first is the building’s aesthetic, which is important for residential and commercial applications. The second consideration is ergonomic or functional — any aspect which improves one’s ability to live, work, function, relax or play — to make the space easier to use. The third aspect involves the efficiency of energy, ensuring that light is properly, which is to say economically or optimally, used and distributed. Architectural lighting design imagines, creates, integrates, infuses and organizes lighting into a coordinated system, including factoring for the fact and advantage of natural light, electrical light, or both, to serve and advance human action.

architectural lighting

Accordingly, design relates to the specific purpose, or multiple purposes, of a given particular space. In the kitchen, for example, you’re probably going to want to focus on illuminating the preparation and cooking of food. In a home theater or media room, it might be best to design lighting for proper seating and viewing such as accentuating good sight lines for comfortably finding your way in surrounding darkness and watching the movie. The LED lighting industry is rapidly evolving and breaking through barriers once set by fluorescent lighting. The advancements in LED technology have dropped overall fixture costs, reduced energy consumption and allowed for more creative fixture designs. It’s true that LEDs are non-toxic (unlike the mercury in fluorescent lighting), but the term “organic” here refers to the layout patterns of lighting, not the material. The fixture of choice here is LED linear lighting, on walls and ceilings, suspended and recessed. Tips for Effective Retail Lighting

Adopt a Balanced Approach: Indiscriminate lighting is not conducive to showcasing products in a retail environment. Proper retail lighting contrasts the variety of products and allows the customer to focus on one thing at a time. Too much lighting overwhelms the customer’s senses. Instead, strike the proper balance between ambient and accent lighting. For similar reasons, avoid using too many contrasting color temperatures. Use Ambient Lighting: The perfect balance of accent and ambient lighting is key to the store’s design. Accent lighting can be fun, but if you accent everything, emphasizing nothing in particular, you surrender the ability to make products pop. Ambient lighting — usually ceiling or wall-mounted — helps the customer to better inspect, examine and evaluate your merchandise. If store lighting is too dark or dim, customers have more difficulty shopping your products. Think and Plan Lighting the Space: Consider the variety of options when designing a retail space’s lighting. Volumetric lighting casts a wide cone providing general lighting. Display of products and floor layouts should remain versatile, which is why most designers prefer adjustable recessed lights or track lighting. So, think about the unique needs of lighting your space. What does the space require? Where are light fixtures located? Are there too many different fixtures randomly placed throughout the space? if so, this can cause a kind of visual chaos. Avoid this effect by creating the space with a layout which showcases products matching each light fixture to the most attractive display. Also, avoid lighting products at the same level. Vary brightness levels to better emphasize certain products. Beware of Texture: Texture matters when it comes to proper retail lighting. When designing a space, it’s usually best to avoid black ceilings. Too many

shiny surfaces or dark finishes — which reflect ceiling light — can be distracting or visually disorienting. Use matte finishes for best results. Add Brightness and Color: For brightness, think in terms of lumens — lumens are a scientific estimate of ambient light coming from a lighting source — and calculate the square footage of your retail space (for details, read “How Much Lighting is Enough”). For every square foot, assign a set number of lumens. For example, to provide ambient lighting, a square foot at floor-level needs 20 lumens. A table or raised surface might need 30 lumens. A workspace or a retail space cold probably use between 50 and 70 lumens per square foot. ARCHITECTURAL LIGHTING & FEELINGS

Light influences the way we perceive volume and depth, which is why a well-lit room may seem more spacious than it actually is. Of course, other factors play a hand in creating the illusion (such as interior design and furniture arrangements), but the lighting makes the first visual impact. Whether it’s artificial or natural, light can be used to direct a viewer’s attention towards certain areas and enlist a wide array of feeling before any other elements do. Thus, we can consider light as the main element that supports architecture. To create a successful balance between lighting and architecture, it is important to remember three key aspects: • Aesthetic • Function • Efficiency Aesthetic: It is where designers and architects focus on the emotional impact the balance of lighting and architecture will have on occupants. Designers determine how they want people to feel when they walk around a space. This aspect is especially important for retail locations; exterior lighting should draw the consumer in, and the interior lighting should engage them as they walk through the doors in addition to showing off product. Lighting is more than a function of architecture. These days, it has become an extension and a part of the overall design. Architects no longer design the lighting of a room thinking about functionality. They do it to complement the colors of the room and to highlight the structural design. Function: It is also vital. We want the lighting to look a certain way, but we have to also make sure it serves its most important purpose – to help us see. Areas should be illuminated so occupants feel safe, comfortable and confident when navigating a room or building. They should be able to see the floor and walls around them, which should create a feeling of reassurance. They may also need to be able to perform specific functions, such as task lighting for reading, working and so on, emergency lighting to facilitate escape and so on. Efficiency:The final aspect is very important in today’s age of green building and sustainability. It’s one thing to create an engaging and effective lighting layout, but it’s another to create a breathtaking layout that is also energy efficient. This can be done by assuring the majority of the light is reaching its target and there is less wasted light. For example, installing LEDs rather than fluorescent lighting, as there can be less wasted light due to the directional nature of LEDs. Architects always have to take into consideration energy efficiency when thinking about lighting design. In recent years, architecture has evolved to design greener buildings. The goal is to be more focused on energy consumption and sustainability. New “smart” light designs focus on controlling the lighting from every room of the house. Light dimmers dominate newer designs because they allow for controlling the intensity of the light in a specific area. Smart lighting allows a person to complete tasks in a certain area while only using the light necessary to do so. Human Element: Various studies have proven the lighting of a room affects people’s moods and productivity. When thinking about lighting design, the human element plays an important part. The light in a room influences the following: Mood: Do you ever feel down during gloomy days? That’s because lack of light often triggers depression. It does the same thing indoors. A lack of natural light and too much artificial light makes people moody. Productivity: When you spend a lot of time under fluorescent light, the brain tends to get overstimulated. This overstimulation might make people feel uneasy and nervous. This feeling affects concentration and reduces productivity. Light dimmers and warmer lights tend to help with this problem. Sleep Cycles: As humans, we have a built-in biological clock. Our exposure to daylight influences the process. Too much exposure to bright light during the evening can delay our

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architectural lighting

sleeping schedule. Dimming the lights before bed, however, has a calming and drowsy effect. Natural Light: Incorporating natural light into an architectural design is not as straightforward as it sounds. While you need natural light for energy efficiency purposes, you also don’t want just to add it anywhere. Architects think about the orientation and position of a building before determining how much natural light a place needs. While it makes sense to add many windows to bring in natural light, they also bring in natural heat. Window placement has to be well thought out and strategically sound. Lumens: Lumen output, also known as brightness or light output, is a measure of the total quantity of visible light emitted by a light source per unit of time, weighted according to the human eye’s sensitivity to wavelengths of light, the study of which is known as luminous efficiency function. The reference point: a standard 100-watt incandescent light bulb produces about 1,500 – 1,700 lumens. Watts: Not a measure of brightness; instead, it’s a measure of how much electricity (or energy) a light bulb consumes to reach its claimed brightness. Each type of light source, LED, fluorescent, halogen or incandescent has a different lumenper-watt ratio. Below we’re going to use lumens as a measurement to make sure we have enough light for a space. Wattage Equivalence: Since we’ve conflated watts and lumens, it’s easier to talk about bulbs in terms of watts. So if a 100-watt incandescent produces 1,500 lumens, and a 10-watt LED does the same, the 10-Watt LED may advertise “100-watt equivalent” on its label. Efficacy: The number of lumens a bulb produces for each watt it consumes. The higher the number, the more efficient the bulb. For example, lighting products that have been designated with the ENERGY STAR label are deemed high efficacy, meaning they have been determined to deliver the same features while using less energy. Quantitative Lighting Design

The first and to date most effective concept has given rise to a set of standards or criteria for the lighting of workplaces. While decisions with regard to lighting in the private sector can be limited to the choice of suitably attractive luminaires, there is a clear interest in the field of the lighting of workplaces to develop effective and efficient forms of lighting. The main concern is which illuminance levels and types of lighting will ensure optimum visual performance, high productivity and safety at operating costs which are affordable. Both aspects of this task were examined in detail, i.e. both the physiological question of the correlation of visual performance and lighting, and the technical question of establishing criteria by which the quality of a lighting installation can be measured. The concept of quantitative lighting design with illuminance as the central criterion, followed by uniformity, luminous colour, shadow quality and the degree of glare limitation, developed at a relatively early stage. Taking such criteria as a basis, standards were compiled containing minimum illuminance levels on the relevant working area for a wide variety of activities, plus the minimum requirements for the other quality criteria Qualitative Lighting Design

Light plays a central and manifold role in the design of a visual environment. Work and movement are only possible when we have light to see by; architecture, people and objects are only visible if there is light. Apart from simply making our surroundings visible light determines the way we perceive an environment, influences the way we feel and the aesthetic effect and atmosphere in a space. Due to the adaptability of the eye elementary perception can take place at minimum lighting levels or under difficult visual conditions, while for optimum conditions at the workplace and for a piece of architecture to be accepted and found to be aesthetically pleasing it is necessary to create lighting whose qualities, illuminance and luminance distribution are in harmony with the

architectural lighting

particular situation. One of the most frequent sources of error in lighting design is to separate light from its complex associations with human psychology and human activities as well as with the surrounding architecture. Simplified, unilateral lighting design can provide easily comprehensible concepts, but often leads to unsatisfactory results by overlooking essential aspects. This applies to both purely quantitative lighting design, which might produce optimum working conditions but forgets the perceiving being, and to primarily design-oriented lighting, which furnishes spaces with stylish luminaires without regard for the lighting effects these fixtures produce. What is really required is lighting design that meets all the lighting requirements – design concepts that form an integral part of the overall architectural design and produce a visual environment that supports various activities, promotes a feeling of well-being and is in line with the architectural design. The quantitative design approach with its scientifically sound calculations and processes is actually a great help here; when designing lighting for workplaces this planning process itself may even become the primary objective. The main criterion for lighting design is never a figure displayed on measuring equipment, but the human being – the deciding factor is not the quantity of light, but the quality, the way a lighting scheme meets the visual needs of the perceiving person. Light Structures

Light structures are systems comprising modular elements that take integrated luminaires. Movable luminaires, e.g. spot- lights, can be mounted and operated on light structures. They therefore allow a combination of stationary and movable luminaires. Light structures can be formed of track, lattice beams, tubular profiles or panels. Their main feature is that they are modular systems, comprising standardised basic elements and a selection of connectors that allow the construction of a wide variety of structures – from linear arrangements to extensive grids. Light structures can therefore be incorporated into the surrounding architecture or themselves create architectural structures; they are designed to be highly functional lighting installations blending in harmoniously with their surroundings. One sub-group of light structures are carrier systems with integral power supply. They are designed exclusively for the mounting and operation of movable luminaires. They can be track or tubular or panel systems with integral track. Architectural Lighting Market

The global architectural lighting market is primarily driven by the growing adoption of LED lighting solutions, increasing advancements in lighting technology, growing urban space, rising demand for aesthetic lights and surging need for energyefficient lighting devices. Architectural lighting is one of the early adopters of LED lighting. LED lights are more flexible and efficient in terms of power consumption and colors as compared to other conventional lighting solutions. LED-based architectural lighting is often featured with low carbon footprints that minimizes the adverse effects on the environment. LED lighting solutions lower energy consumption as well as reduces the maintenance expenditures, which is further driving the growth of the global architectural lighting market. Furthermore, based on several technological advancements, various key players are launching smart architectural lighting solutions integrated with sensors for providing safe and efficient on-demand lighting. The introduction of smart lighting and control systems offers architectural luminaires with high performance, intelligent control with lower energy consumption, along with the option for setting the light intensity according to the consumer’s need. Moreover, the increasing demand for energy-efficient lighting systems coupled with the growing investments in the construction of smart city infrastructures such as bridges, roadways and commercial buildings is propelling the growth of the global architectural lighting market. Furthermore, the refurbishment and reconstruction of several historic and public infrastructures supported by rapid urbanization is also expected to drive the architectural lighting market in the coming years. CM

at BKt, our strength lies in our extreme flexibility even amidst uncertainty and our continued commitment to our clients. to ensure the best customer service which we are known for, even amidst logistical challenges, BKt undertook Capex expansion, worth 450 crores, that primarily centred around quality improvement and greater efficiency to maximize productivity.

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rAJIv PODDAr JoInt ManagIng dIreCtor BALKrIsHNA INDustrIes LtD.

Q. How BKT looks at the OTR tire industry after the second wave of Covid-19? How has BKT coped during the second wave?

The demand for OTR tires has grown globally, owing to rapid industrialization as well as increased agricultural activities, even though the COVID-19 crisis has disrupted the functioning of countless industries all over the world. However, whilst sales grew as a result of new age offerings becoming increasingly popular within dependent industries, the second wave did pose significant challenges for the sector, such as a rise in raw material prices & sourcing difficulties, as well as supply chain impediments. BKT also faced the same logistical challenges, which were further elevated by the Suez Canal fiasco. However, BKT was able to successfully rise to the occasion on the back of its operational strength, agile management, and resilience. As a result of the same, we were able to record our highest sales volumes in FY 2021 and are guiding a sales volume of 250,000-265,000 MT for Financial Year 2022. Q. What are the special initiatives taken by the organization for the wellbeing of the employees?

We, at BKT believe in prioritizing the safety and health of our employees above all else. BKT has vaccinated all of its employees as well as their families to ensure their wellbeing. Additionally, at our Bhuj plant, which hosts hundreds of employees, we established one of the country’s first contact-less COVID centres, in a bid to help save lives and keep the pandemic at bay. Furthermore, our management actively ensured timely practices were being followed to reduce risk of infection, through activities including streamlining work responsibilities, initiating social distancing and virtual co-ordination to ensure collective health.

Q. How has the tire testing landscape changed in the last five years and how is it set to change in the coming years?

Previously, tire testing was primarily centred around performance. There was more of a focus on mileage, tire strength, and high-speed endurance tests. The scenario has significantly changed, with safety becoming a key priority in today’s testing landscape, along with quality of the tires. The advent of advanced testing facilities has ensured the industry has evolved to meet modern safety needs. Several certification agencies have also been established for indoor as well as field testing for tires. Some of these include ICAT (International Centre for Automotive Technology) in Manesar, which follows reputed international standards and IRMRA (Indian Rubber Manufacturers Research Association), Thane.

Q. Which specific areas of tire testing do you think needs to be improved?

Tire manufacturing companies do prioritize regular testing, but some additional practices need to be incorporated, to ensure absolute safety, as well as

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promote eco-friendliness. Some of these specialized tests include ride & handling and weight traction tests to ensure the tires can withstand pressure, especially in highly demanding environments. Additionally, monitoring heat generation is a major aspect of advanced tire testing that needs to be regularized, to prevent huge potential damage and plausible safety hazards. Q. How does tire testing in India different from other countries?

Quality regulation tests are well in place in many parts of Europe and North America. The safety testing laws as well are very firmly established and widespread, whereas India is still evolving in terms of the laws and outreach of the testing facilities. Ride and handling, fuel efficiency and other tests are old in several parts of the world but have been implemented in India in recent times. Another major difference is that in other countries, particularly in Europe, there is a higher emphasis on eco friendliness. Q. What tire testing capabilities does BKT offer and are there any plans to add more infrastructure in the future?

We have a massive greenfield testing facility in our state-of-the-art plant in Bhuj. We undergo many vigorous testing protocols to ensure safety and a truly superior product range. This includes our Footprint and Pressure Distribution Testing, through which we measure the contract pressure of each element, which is very important for treadwear, as we need uniform pressure distribution. We are also pioneering this unique testing system in India, as one of the only two companies in country to have these checks in place. Furthermore, BKT has many physical testing facilities such as weight traction and endurance tests as well as Simulated Finite Element (FE) Analysis to examine the health of our tires. Additional video tests such as a meticulous X-ray scanning ensure we can take a very close look at the quality of our tires. At the facilities, we also undergo antistatic tests to check electrical resistance in BKT tires, that are absolutely essential for safety. In the future, we aim to establish modern Endurance testing Machine for giant tire testing facilities in our premises, built with a slip angle facility. This is to test lateral force durability, a very important feature for giant tyres. Q. What are your strategies that are driving productivity in these unprecedented times?

At BKT, our strength lies in our extreme flexibility even amidst uncertainty and our continued commitment to our clients. To ensure the best customer service which we are known for, even amidst logistical challenges, BKT undertook Capex expansion, worth 450 crores, that primarily centred around quality improvement and greater efficiency to maximize productivity. Furthermore, we have also streamlined our duties and established seamless networks to ensure there are no delays in our shipments amidst COVID-19. Some of our greatest strengths that have helped us penetrate the markets and increase our sales even during the pandemic include our extensive distributor network across key markets, and a flourishing trade channel that is constantly catering to the needs of tomorrow. Q. How BKT as a company is fairing in the market? What are your plans for the coming years?

BKT has consistently recorded rock solid growth figures, achieving its highest ever annual sales volume in FY 2021. We only aim to further strengthen our position as an OTR leader in the coming years, whilst continuing to offer superior tire technology, as we increase the production of our radial OTR offerings. Our soon to be launched Giant 57” EARTHMAX SR 468 Tire is the largest product ever manufactured by us, infused with best-in-class equipment that is one of the most advanced in the world. With a very rapid growth curve, some of our short-term plans include further diversifying our well-established product portfolio, spread across construction agriculture, industrial, earthmoving, mining, port, lawn, garden & ATV tire domains and complete self-reliance in carbon black. CM

hing Plant C C rete Bat Con

cONcrete BAtcHING PLANt AN IMPerAtIve eQuIPMeNt Of cONstructION INDustry

Traditionally, concrete mixtures were prepared manually which consumed a lot of time as well as lacked precision. With growing demand and advances in technology, now, concrete mixture, even in small scale applications, is prepared using concrete mixers. Concrete mixers are devices capable of preparing concrete mixtures of varying strength precisely as well as quickly. Some concrete mixers are even capable of dispensing the concrete mixture directly on the location of the construction. Depending on the requirement of the application, concrete mixers of various sizes and types are available. Portable concrete mixers can be used in small and mediumsized applications whereas for large scale applications concrete batching plants can also be built at the construction site. "Rear discharge" trucks require both a driver and a "chuteman" to guide the truck and chute back and forth to place concrete in the manner suitable to the contractor. Newer "front discharge" trucks have controls inside

C hing Plant C rete Bat Con

the cab of the truck to allow the driver to move the chute in all directions. Concrete mixers are equipped with two or more axles. Four-, five- and six-axle trucks are the most common with the number being determined by the load and local legislation governing allowable loads on the road. The axles are necessary to distribute the load evenly, allow operation on weight restricted roads, and reduce wear and tear on normal roads. A two- or three-axle truck during the winter when road weight limits are reduced has no usable payload in many jurisdictions. Other areas may require expensive permits to operate. Concrete mixer truck as an imperative vehicle of construction industry has a very large market requirements. When you want to buy concrete mixer truck for sale, customers should consider a lot of factors such as cost, capacity, and maintenance. Many buyers decide to buy only from the perspective of money. Capacity— Concrete mixer truck capacity also means the capacity of mixing drum. It is obvious that a bigger concrete truck capacity could feed into much amount of concrete. If you earn money according to the cost of per cube of concrete, of course it is better to choose a bigger ready mix concrete truck capacity. If the concrete mixer truck is paid as monthly payment, then smaller capacity of concrete mixer truck could satisfy the needs, because a larger concrete truck will cost more. Rear Axle– If you need to run on a smooth road and most of the roads, choose a single-step deceleration axle. If you need to run on bad roads and lots of craters on the roads, it’s better to choose a wheel rim deceleration axle. Compared with the single-step deceleration axle, the wheel side deceleration axle is smaller in volume and has large gap with the ground. Tire– There are two kinds of tires which are wire bead tire and nylon tire. Compared these two kind of tires, the service life of wire bead tire is two times longer than nylon tire. Therefore, the wire bead tire is more popular. Of course wire bead tires are more expensive than nylon tires.

Quality of Mixing Drum– Whether mixing drum is of good quality depends on the thickness. If mixing drum adopts Wear resistant manganese plate and the thickness is more than 6mm that is better to choose. Chassis– Many customers choose chassis depending on brands that is a good way to purchase a good quality concrete mixer truck. In addition to the above aspects, there are hydraulic motor, hydraulic pump, reducer, gearbox and other factors that will be considered by customers. In general, it’s important to know and compare before buying a desirable transit mixer. Concrete mixing truck is a kind of unique vehicle, which is used for mixing and stirring concrete during transportation in order to avoid solidification and segregation. Nowadays, mixer truck is a much more widely tool in the construction project. The market for ready mix concrete in leading areas is rising rapidly. The government is giving boost to the infrastructure industry which will boost the demand of concrete as well. With technological revolution observed in the concrete industry, achieving high-performance concrete and with tighter controls is getting simpler. Systems are being used for translating the properties of ready mix concrete into quantified data with the help of sensors mounted on trucks. This is expected to offer growth opportunities for the truck mounted concrete mixer manufacturers who aim at product innovation for gaining competitive advantage. There are two distinct types of concrete: readymixed and precast. Ready-mixed concrete is typically manufactured in a batching plant and delivered to site by truckmixers for use in its freshly mixed state. Precast concrete is used to make individual cast concrete elements that typically form part of a larger structure. This type of concrete is made at a specialist plant and subject to more rigorous quality standards, and the control of moisture is a vital part of the manufacturing process. Both types of concrete require manufacture to a specific recipe with the raw materials in the correct ratios to ensure consistency, quality and strength. RMC is classified consistent with ingredients mixed in concrete. These could also be on the idea of Cementitous Material i.e. Flyash may be a part of Cement or not and Admixture is employed or not. Otherwise, there are two principal classes of prepared mixed concrete. 1. Dry Concrete: All the ingredients are mixed in dry type while not combination water in it. Of these materials are sent in rotating drum and measured water amount is shipped in separate Water instrumentation. The water is mixed at web site once it reaches there. 2. Inexperienced Concrete: All the ingredients square measure mixed along together with the measured water amount at Concrete Batching Plant itself. They’re sent in rotating drum or in transit mixture to the positioning of concreting. Moisture Control in Concrete Making Ideally, both the aggregates and the cement would be completely dry, so the amount of water required for each batch would be a set volume and the quality of the concrete produced would be identical batch after batch. However, aggregates are typically stored in a stockpile, usually outside, and although good storage can help, even for materials stored in covered bins the moisture held in the aggregates will be in a constant state of change due to the inevitable

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effects of drainage. In modern concrete batching plants the amounts of materials required for the recipe are typically weighed and the recipe is calculated using the assumed ‘dry’ weight of the materials. However, within the weighed aggregates there will be an unknown amount of water. Although this article concentrates on slump, surplus water or moisture content in the sand and aggregates can also have dramatic effects on the water/cement ratio, the aggregate/cement ratio, the yield and the colour of the mix. This will lead to inconsistencies in slump, strength, colour and quality, resulting in an inferior end product. Importance of Correct Moisture in Concrete If the concrete producer follows a set recipe using weighed amounts of aggregates and cement, then adds the specified amount of water to the mix, each batch produced will vary due to the unknown and differing amount of water held within the aggregates. For example, if a recipe specifies 1,000kg of aggregates, unless these are 100% dry, the amount weighed will not be 1,000kg of aggregates but a mix of aggregates and water. Categorisation based on the mode of functions for concrete batching plant Batching equipment is designated as Manual, Semi-Automatic, and Automatic as defined below; Manual: Batching equipment is charged by devices that are actuated manually, with the accuracy of the weighing operation being dependent upon the operator’s visual observation of the scale. The charging device is actuated by either hand or by power assists. Semi-Automatic: Batching equipment is charged by devices, which are separately actuated manually for each material to allow weighing of the material. They are actuated automatically when reaching the designated mass (weight) of each material. Automatic: Batching equipment is charged by devices which when actuated by a single starter switch, will automatically start the weighing operation of all materials consecutively and stop automatically when reaching the designated mass (weight) of each material. Dealing With Environmental Issues of The Concrete Batching Plant The concrete batching plant is a combined device for concentrated mixing of concrete. It is commonly used in large-sized and mediumsized water conservancy, electric power, highway, bridges and other projects with large demand of concrete, long construction period and concentrated construction sites. There're some concrete batching plant environmental issues with the development of concrete construction equipment such as concrete batching plant, sand making machine. This article tells several pollution solutions of concrete batching plant. 1. Cement and Fly Ash Environmental Impacts: Concrete batching plants must be designed and operated to prevent cement and fly ash from being blown, swept, hosed or left to be washed by rain into gutters or the storm water system. Cause wind-blown cement and fly ash can cause an environmental (dust) nuisance by affecting the health and well-being of residents and damaging property such as vehicles. Camel way Machinery provides professional configuration solution according to customers’ demand. Silo Dust Control Equipment: Cement storage silos need to be fitted with equipment to minimize dust emissions from the silo. A reverse pulse fabric filter dust collector (FFDC) or other dust control technology with an equivalent or better

performance is recommended for storage silos. Whatever technology is employed, anyway, it needs to be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure adequate and efficient performance. Camel way can help you try to avoid this issue. 2. Sand and Aggregates: Environmental Impacts: Sand and aggregates need to be kept out of storm water drains, creeks and other waterways cause they are prescribed water contaminants that can degrade or destroy aquatic habitats. Concrete batching plants must be designed and operated to prevent dust and aggregates from being blown, swept, hosed or left to be washed by rain into gutters or the storm water system. Sand and Aggregates Stockpiles: Sand and aggregates should be delivered in a dampened state, using covered trucks. If the materials have dried out during transit they should be dampened again before being dumped into the storage bin to minimize dust emissions during loading. 3. Batching, Slumping and Delivery Truck Loading Bay: The truck loading bay is a potential source of dust and water pollution. Raw materials should be loaded into the truck agitators by either a telescopic chute (preferred) or a flexible sleeve to prevent spillage. Spillage can also be avoided by putting in place measures to ensure truck agitators are not overfilled. Slumping: New slump stands and bays – and their wheel-wash facilities – should be connected to the water management system (see Water management section) to prevent contaminants such as spilt cement, aggregate or concrete slurry from entering storm water drains. It is important to design slump stands to avoid trucks driving through slurry water generated by wash-downs. New batching plants should be designed to enable recycled water from the water management system to be used for slumping. Transport and Delivery: New concrete batching plants need to have wheel-wash facilities to prevent contaminants from being tracked out of the site on truck tyres on to the street, where they can be washed into storm water drains. All trucks should be provided with spill kits to cover clean-up needs in transit. Spills during transit need to be cleaned up immediately to prevent contaminants entering storm water drains or waterways. 4. Water Management Environmental Impacts: Waste water from concrete batching plants may contain potential pollutants such as cement, sand and aggregates. Wastewater Collection and Treatment System: Concrete batching plants require a wastewater collection and treatment system to capture contaminated process water and storm water. This prevents and minimizes contaminated water entering off-site storm water drains, creeks or other waterways. All in all, good environmental management practices do more than preserve the natural environment – they can save businesses money. Minimizing wasting, increasing resource efficiency and recovery and adopting cleaner production methods have been shown to reduce operating costs. CM

ricron Panels offer recycled solutions in the “ construction sector, viz, in roofing, shuttering, flooring, domestic and retail furniture as well as in affordable housing. Products include flat boards and panels for a variety of furniture, construction, and building applications. the recycled materials are 100% ecofriendly and offer longterm utility as they are fire-resistant, water, dust and termite-proof.

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rAHuL cHAuDHAry dIreCtor rIcrON PANeLs

Q. Please tell us about Ricron Panels and its journey. How has business grown over the years, future prospects and way forward for the company?

Ricron Panels is an innovation driven company that converts low-value plastic waste into quality sustainable materials for furniture, building, and construction applications, advancing the circular economy in India and around the world. Based out of Gujarat, the company started 8 years ago and has become one of the largest MLP recyclers in India. Through an innovative proprietary process, the company has found a solution to this challenge to give new life to low-value MLP waste. Ricron has received the Green Pro Certification Award from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the ‘Climate Solver Award’ by World Wide Fund (WWF) for innovation and creating a global solution to mitigate challenges posed by waste plastics generation. The company has grown multifold in the last 4 years and is currently serving 200+ customers across 20 states in India. The company also exports its products to UAE, Philippines, Nepal, Africa, Middle East, USA, and Switzerland. Industry studies estimate that only a paltry 9 percent of all plastic waste actually gets recycled, which reflects the huge potential for growth for this sector. We at Ricron are optimistic about the future and remain committed to our mission/ goals: • To set industry standards in the building materials industry and advance the circular economy. • Provide solutions to the waste plastics generation problem and reduce the dependence of humanity on fresh natural resources such as trees, metals and minerals. • Provide choice to consumers and the construction industry in using high quality and low cost sustainable building materials

Q. What are the different products and solutions offered by Ricron for the construction sector? How plastic is being used in construction and eco-building material?

Ricron offers a sustainable alternative to common furniture, building, and construction materials, by providing cost-effective and high-quality alternatives to conventional building materials made from consumption of natural resources. Ricron Panels offer recycled solutions in the construction sector, viz, in roofing, shuttering, flooring, domestic and retail furniture as well as in affordable housing. Products include flat boards and panels for a variety of furniture, construction, and building applications. The recycled materials are 100% eco-friendly and offer long-term utility as they are fire-resistant, water, dust and termite-proof. Recently we collaborated for a project - a Grand Auditorium, a community center at Kuttipuram, Kerala. The entire community center was made using Ricron Panels products i.e the roofing, the walls, the partitions, the cabinets, flooring, and doors. It is currently being used for events and marriages. Ricron’s production process allows it to be a zero-waste discharge manufacturing and it also offers a buyback option on its products to its customers.

Q. What is the current industry scenario and challenges; how can they be addressed?

According to a report released by the Central Pollution Control Board for the 2018-2019 period, India generates 3.3 million metric tonnes of plastic waste per year, roughly translated to 9,200 tonnes a day (TPD). However, as of today, the recycling system in the country remains largely unorganized. Currently, the segregation required at every step is very rudimentary at best, the waste that reaches the recyclers is of all types, sizes, colours, and contamination levels. Improving this whole system to become more efficient would involve high capital that makes the whole recycling process economically unviable. Multi-layer plastics (MLP) have widespread applications as packaging material in a myriad number of industries. MLPs consist of a layer of plastic coated onto other materials such as foil or paper. These plastics cannot be reclaimed easily and whatever processes that do exist to recycle them are expensive and extremely polluting to the environment. So how do we put an end to this issue

• Mandatory segregation at source is an

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aspect that can be looked at. This would need the active participation of the citizens and the local administration alike, which would go a long way in the effective segregation of plastic waste before it reaches the recyclers, thus reducing this burden on them by a large margin. • Tackling the challenge of dealing with plastics that cannot be recycled, a value chain needs to be created for such type of plastics, to help prevent them from being dumped into the environment In India, plastic recycling is estimated to become a 53.72-billion-dollar industry by the end of 2023. Innovation, incentives, and smart policies will go a long way in ridding India of its plastic waste in an ecologically friendly and economically lucrative manner.

Q. How Covid-19 has affected the business? How are you managing risks and ensuring business continuity during the second wave?

The pandemic had impacted several industries. As a manufacturer, during the lockdown, due to labor migration, we faced manpower challenges. We took several measures to help and educate our workforce with best safety practices, and also provided them with Covid health insurance. To help our frontline workers, we have supplied portable toilets made entirely out of waste plastics. Our customers have also used our recycled panels in manufacturing oxygen concentrators for usage during the Covid pandemic.

Q. What are your strategies that are driving productivity in this unprecedented time?

Owing to the challenging business scenario posed during the lockdown, we have adopted a dual strategy to help drive business. On the domestic front, we have curated a marketing strategy to help retain existing customers while diversifying in different applications to allow more coverage of customers. On the export front, we supply to customers based in the USA, Africa, and Europe.

Q. What are your plans for the coming years?

The company currently recycles 500 tons/month which is equivalent to 2 million plastic packaging items every month. By the end of 2022, we plan to increase our capacity and recycle around 2000 tons/month. Having recognized this blue ocean opportunity and finding value in different types of plastic waste, Ricron Panels is investing in research and development, which will benefit the entire waste management value chain in the future. CM

21−23 APRIL, 2022

Paver Machine

Paver Machine: Paving sooth roads for transportation

Asphalt paver is a machine used to distribute, shape, and partially compact a layer of asphalt on the surface of a roadway, parking lot, or other area. It is sometimes called an asphaltpaving machine. Some pavers are towed by the dump truck delivering the asphalt, but most are self-propelled. Self-propelled pavers consist of two major components: the tractor and the screed. The tractor provides the forward motion and distributes the asphalt. The tractor includes the engine, hydraulic drives and controls, drive wheels or tracks, receiving hopper, feeder conveyors, and distribution augers. The screed levels and shapes the layer of asphalt. The screed is towed by the tractor and includes the leveling arms, moldboard, end plates, burners, vibrators, and slope sensors and controls. In operation, a dump truck filled with asphalt backs up to the front of the paver and slowly discharges its load into the paver's hopper. As the paver moves forward, the feeder conveyors move the asphalt to the rear of the paver, and the distribution augers push the asphalt outward to the desired width. The screed then levels the

Paver Machine

layer of asphalt and partially compacts it to the desired shape. A heavy, steel-wheeled roller follows the paver to further compact the asphalt to the desired thickness. Rubber-tired pavers have two large inflatable rear drive tires and four or more smaller solid rubber steering tires. Rubbertracked pavers have a molded synthetic rubber track with several internal layers of flexible steel cable for reinforcement. The track is driven by a friction drive wheel on the rear, and the load is distributed among several intermediate rubbercoated steel bogie wheels. A hydraulic cylinder presses against the forward wheel to maintain tension in the track. The asphalt is added from a dump truck or a material transfer unit into the paver's hopper. The conveyor then carries the asphalt from the hopper to the auger. The auger places a stockpile of material in front of the screed. The screed takes the stockpile of material and spreads it over the width of the road and provides initial compaction. The paver should provide a smooth uniform surface behind the screed. In order to provide a smooth surface a free floating screed is used. It is towed at the end of a long arm which reduces the base topology effect on the final surface. The height of the screed is controlled by a number of factors including the attack angle of the screed, weight and vibration of the screed, the material head and the towing force. To conform to the elevation changes for the final grade of the road modern pavers use automatic screed controls, which generally control the screed's angle of attack from information gathered from a grade sensor. Additional controls are used to correct the slope, crown or superelevation of the finished pavement. In order to provide a smooth surface the paver should proceed at a constant speed and have a consistent stockpile of material in front of the screed. Increase in material stockpile or paver speed will cause the screed to rise resulting in more asphalt being placed therefore a thicker mat of asphalt and an uneven final surface. Alternatively a decrease in material or a drop in speed will cause the screed to fall and the mat to be thinner. The need for constant speed and material supply is one of the reasons for using a material transfer

unit in combination with a paver. A material transfer unit allows for constant material feed to the paver without contact, providing a better end surface. When a dump truck is used to fill the hopper of the paver, it can make contact with the paver or cause it to change speed and affect the screed height. Purchased components on a paver include the engine, radiator, hydraulic components, batteries, electrical wiring, instruments, steering wheel, and operator's seat. Purchased fluids include hydraulic fluid, diesel fuel, engine oil, and antifreeze. Paving of pavement quality concrete (PQC) is normally carried out by two methods, namely slip-form method and fixed-form method. There are also cases where paving of PQC is carried out manually. The essential difference between slip-form and fixed-form methods is on the way the form work is fitted. In slip-form method the form work which is attached to the paver moves along with the paver during paving operation. Wheeled vs tracked Tracked and wheeled pavers are equally important for paving applications, depending on various factors. Wheeled pavers are more mobile compared to tracked ones and they can offer quick job-to-job movement. However, long crawler tracks with large footprints provide for maximum traction effort than with wheels, allowing the tracked paver to progress well at a constant speed even when operating on difficult terrain. Weight is spread evenly across the tracks; distributing the pressure across the paver, and therefore they perform better in soft sub-base conditions. On the other hand, you have to be careful when paving on soft surfaces with the wheeled counterpart so that it does not spin down into the material and get stuck. Mechanical vs sensor pavers Mechanical pavers are the most economical and efficient solution while sensor pavers are advanced pavers with intelligent monitoring systems. Mechanical pavers, though economical, cannot provide a smooth finish to the surface. In turn, this affects the traffic flow of the highway and increases maintenance requirements in the finished road. Sensor pavers have intelligent operating technology that helps control the machine in terms of mat thickness as well sensor pavers play a very important role in getting the right levels and grades when building the roads. The final finish of the road depends to a great extent on the accuracy delivered by these pavers, in addition to the mix quality and temperature at which it is laid and compaction is done. CHANGES IN ASPHALT PAVING • The asphalt industry has shifted from conventional mix designs to performancerelated, more durable Superpave binder mix designs, which will hold up to the traffic loading and weathering stresses of modern-day road use. • Asphalt mix changes have brought about a new generation of lab and field mix-testing equipment and new full-scale accelerated pavement testing facilities. The resulting body of data is used every day to make pavement mix design decisions and improve long-term asphalt performance. • Innovative new equipment and research, recycling of reclaimed asphalt pavement and other industrial or waste materials into pavements has spread through the asphalt paving industry, benefiting the

Paver Machine

environment and reducing costs. • Infrared and electronic paving has improved the quality and placement of asphalt mix. • New asphalt paver designs permit faster, safer, and more versatile paving. CHANGES IN CONCRETE PAVING • Significant advances in concrete paving in the field of admixtures, which has permitted the development of a range of high-performance concretes. • More efficient batching techniques and equipment better use materials to produce higher quality concrete mixes and allow automatic adjustments to concrete mixtures. • Intelligent Equipment that incorporates GPS trackers and IoT sensors concrete construction allows for predictive maintenance and can improve production cycles. Thermal Imaging & Mapping: Thermal mapping monitors asphalt’s surface temperatures using an infra-red camera and a global navigation satellite system. Viewing real-time temperatures, contractors can use paving technology devices to identify variations and take action to manage the plant to paver delivery process, fine-tuning their work for more uniform lay-down temperatures. Thermal imaging uses an infrared bar mounted directly to the back of the paving machine and uses infrared sensors to monitor pavement temperature. The sensors provide real-time information on temperature while the system saves the data for future analysis. Monitoring lay-down temperatures in real-time gives contractors the ability to address thermal segregation issues by changing their paving practices or making necessary adjustments to the equipment. Inset Slipform Pavers: Inset slipform pavers cost-effectively produce of large-scale concrete pavements, such as highly durable highways or aircraft runways. Modern inset concrete pavers can precisely pave concrete in widths from 6 ft. 6 in. to 40 ft. and thicknesses of up to 18 in., or more upon customer request. These pavers allows intuitive operation and high paving accuracy. Wirtgen created the first paver with a maximum working width of 40ft. that enables the operator to adapt to changing job site conditions quickly. It is a narrow machine with a trackline that allows for paving close to obstacles. Offset Pavers: Offset pavers are used to produce concrete roadway forms such as protective concrete walls, curbs, gullies to drain water, gutters, or narrow paths. Offset slipform pavers transport the concrete to the offset mold via a loading conveyor. The offset mold can be mounted on the left or

Paver Machine

right-hand side of the machine. Offset forms are continually produced with or without reinforcements. Features include a top-quality machine control system, a practical steering and drive system, and stringline-free concrete paving. Slipform pavers: Slipform construction is a method in which concrete is poured into a continuously moving form. The concrete is deposited in front of the slipform paver or fed via a belt conveyor or side feeder. Due to the integrated electric or hydraulic vibrators, homogenous compaction of the concrete is possible. A concrete slab is formed with the help of input variables into a control guide by specified thickness and width while the slipform paver advances. Additionally, a dowel bar inserter can be integrated parallel to the paver’s direction of travel. With the help of an oscillating beam, the surface is leveled off traverse to the paver’s direction. The machine can achieve a high-quality concrete surface with the grinding movement that produces a small concrete roll in the beam’s front. Advantages of Slip Form Pavers Best Precision is available: When this machinery is used, the precision levels of the surfacing are very high. The conventional forms of topping cannot be error-free. There may be defects such as undulations. The defects can be minimized the most if this form of surfacing technology is adopted. The Slipform Pavers are used for the surfacing of the best quality roads. Low Slump PCC is used: This type of technology always makes use of low slump PCC. This means that the water content in the PCC mixture is the minimum. The concrete settles down faster than the traditional form of surfacing. The strength of these paving is found to be more. The roads which need to be built very fast always use this technology. Reduction in Labor Costs: The entire operations are mechanized. The use of manual labor is nearly done away with. This eliminates the high labor costs that are involved in the traditional form of paving. The job is entirely carried out by the machines. Only a single machine can carry out the jobs of many labors at a time. Chances of chaos due to excessive labor are also curtailed. Best for Large area of Paving: Many a time, a large stretch of area needs to be paved or metaled. These machines are the most suitable to use during this period. The conventional method of topping would take longer for the job. There is also an uniformity in the paving process. This is possible only because the entire operation is mechanized. Manual jobs are not involved. It is a Faster Process: The entire process can be done faster than the traditional surfacing. When roads and pavements are to be constructed, this technology helps in opening up these places for public use at the earliest. You cannot afford to keep these places unusable for long. Otherwise, a huge amount of inconvenience is caused to the common people. The consolidation of the laid materials also takes place faster. If a double layering needs to be done, this is the best option that should be exercised. It Creates Better Looks: If you want the topping to look good free from defects, this is the method that you must adopt. No other type of surfacing can give a neater appearance. The major roads should always be paved in this manner. CM