Cement companies are down with disappointment, but see light at the end of the tunnel

Sluggish demand from housing and infrastructure segments continues to impact the Indian cement industry. Many plants across the country are operating under capacity; and that’s why cement makers also fear poor financial performance in the current fiscal year.

The industry, as a whole, has been feeling the blues in the past year. However, the companies are hopeful of a revival in demand in the coming time on the back of a rise in cement demand from the rural markets and government spending on infrastructure. Government has recently approved some large-scale infrastructure projects, which will also give a boost to the cement production.

The industry is also contemplating export of cement in the face of rupee depreciation to maintain its profit margins and improve capacity utilization at the plants. The industry already exports clinker and cement to many countries; and therefore rupee depreciation will only add more steam to the export. Government, in the meantime, can work on the policy framework that governs the cement industry, and make all necessary improvements.

Even in these depressing times, cement companies, like Dalmia Bharat Cement, are upbeat about the revival of the industry. They believe there will always be cycles; economies will never grow in a straight line; and that things will get better, soon.

Why cracks appear and what precautions should be taken?

As such, there can be many reasons for the development of cracks; here we’ve listed the top ones, which are:

Clay: 

Sand contains clay. And, if you do not wash and remove clay from the sand, it’ll end up absorbing water from the concrete mix, leaving lesser water for cement hydration. You shouldn’t let this happen.

That’s why you should always wash sand thoroughly and dry it before use. You should also not forget to sieve the sand.

Bricks (which are not property burnt or chipped at the edges):

Avoid using bricks, which are not properly burnt or chipped at the edges. These bricks absorb water from the mix. The best way out is to use high quality bricks, which should be soaked in water for nearly 24 hours; they should then be used in wet condition.

The curing process should be started as soon as concrete dries. If curing isn’t done, the mixture of construction materials faces water stress and causes cracks. So, you better start the curing process as soon as concrete dries.

One more thing: avoid concreting during hot times and cover concrete with plastic to avoid water evaporation.

You should always ensure that you use high quality cement for the construction. Puneet Dalmia led Dalmia Bharat Cement is a known producer of India’s top quality cement products, which not only meet the quality guidelines laid down by BIS (The Bureau of Indian Standards), but also surpass them to meet new technological advances.

Dalmia Bharat Cement has listed some of the best practices on cement, concrete & construction here.

Puneet Dalmia on Dalmia Bharat Group’s CSR Activities

"We, at Dalmia Bharat Group, believe in the concept of giving back and sharing with society. For more than seven decades, we have been practicing this with evident progress.

Puneet Dalmia – MD, Dalmia Bharat Group
 
Giving back and sharing with society is not a new concept for Dalmia Bharat Group; it’s always been a part of Dalmia culture and beliefs, from the very first day we started our journey.

At Dalmia, our CSR programmes are centered on livelihood, children, education, and basic healthcare. It’s not only our employees and their families who benefit from these programmes, but also the community of villages in and around our plant locations in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. To ensure the maximum results out of our efforts, Dalmia Bharat Group’s CSR programs are conducted through reputed and regionally suitable NGO partners, which include Care India, HOPE Foundation, SARD, and Dr. Reddy’s Foundation.

Children and Education, Livelihood and Income Generations, Health and Sanitation, and Energy Conservation and Environment Management are the areas, which we target through our CSR activities. Dalmia Higher Secondary School, Vivekananda Matriculation School (VMS), Ramakrishna Dalmia Industrial Training Institute, and Dalmia Institute of Construction are among the sterling institutions we are very proud of.

As part of our health and sanitation drive, we have organized many health awareness programmes, camps for ante natal, post natal care and treatment, screening camps for diabetes, dental hygiene, and cardiac care. Through these health awareness initiatives, we have directly or indirectly been able to improve the lives of over 60,000 people!

For a greener planet, we also launch initiatives, like The Go Green Drive, Tree Plantation Drive, Waste Utilization and Management, and Waste Conservation Management throughout the year. We also use only waste water in Dalmia cement plants, which saves considerable amounts of fresh water.

Dalmia Bharat’s seven decades of contribution to India

It all started way back in year 1935. In 1939, the first cement division of Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited (DCBL) was established. Dalmia had established four cement plants in the pre-independence years to cater the infrastructure needs of the country.

Right from its inception, Dalmia Bharat Group has been recognized for its unflinching faith in ethical business practices.. These values are as robust today as they were more than seventy years ago. They are the compass in making the right choices even in the face of toughest of situations. These core values have helped Dalmia Bharat Group make a significant contribution to society in early independence era where group businesses ranged from textiles, to financial services, to cement, to media, to aviation.

Dalmia Bharat’s sugar business today serves as a livelihood for more than one lakh farmers in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Studies have showcased that the standard of living, healthcare and technology and other means have improved with Dalmia Bharat’s presence. Similarly, in the story in the south Dalmia Cement has helped achieve self-sufficiency for surrounding villages to a large extent apart from building the foundation of a very large segment of South India’s Infrastructure since 1939.

Along these lines of sustainability and a healthier future, Dalmia Bharat Group has set up wind farms to generate renewable energy. Dalmia Refractories is a key player for construction steel and cement plants in India.

Currently, Mr. Puneet Dalmia (MD), who’s also known for his venture, JobsAhead.com, is setting the priorities for the group. A B.Tech. from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi and a gold medalist from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore, Mr. Puneet Dalmia conceptualizes the growth strategy and governance architecture. He says “Sustainable growth is the key and Dalmia Cement by being one of the first signatories of the Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) charter is leading the way”.