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COVER STORY

Fast Facts

 The Indian ready-mix concrete market size was
estimated at over US$15 million in 2020, and the market
is projected to register a CAGR of over 9% during the
forecast period (2021-2026).

 The use of ready-mix concrete in modern constructions
is an environmentally responsible choice that provides
building owners with energy-efficient buildings by
combining isolation with high thermal mass and low air
infiltration.

 It is being preferred in the residential construction
sector, owing to the advantages, such as savings
in labor requirements and supervision costs, faster
construction, and uniform, consistent, and assured
quality of concrete.
 One of the key ready mix concrete market trends
fueling the market growth is the growing popularity
of geopolymer cement concrete. Geopolymers are
construction materials made from fly ash, granulated
slag, and sodium silicate, which are increasingly
used in cement owing to superior properties such as
resistance to acids, control of high temperature, and
ability to impart high strength to buildings.

The demand for ready-to-mix concrete in the construction industry produced by RMC plants may not be fully utilized at customer
has surged significantly due to a rise in the demand for versatile sites. A small portion of concrete always remains unutilized in the
building materials and an increase in concerns toward robust form of coating or reject material deposited inside the transit mixer,
construction. Besides, rapid urbanization and population growth in which needs to be cleaned before it can be used in the next cycle.
diverse economies worldwide would have a substantial impact on There are huge environmental ramifications of improper waste
the increased demand for ready-mix concrete, complementing disposal practices. It is estimated that roughly 25 billion tonnes of
the growth curve of the ready-mix concrete market. concrete is manufactured globally each year, out of which 125
Merits like sight supervision and reduced cost for labor, aligned with million tonnes remains unutilized in various forms that amounts to
ease of pouring methods involved in ready-mix construction are becoming debris (As per World Business Council for Sustainable
projected to attract considerable demand for ready-mix concrete Development estimate).
in the coming years. In addition, the product is being largely used Waste generated by RMC plants such as cement slurry or sludge is
as an alternative for unconventional concrete on grounds of high not classified under Hazardous Waste Category in India. However,
convenience, enhanced quality, and ease of use. Also, reduction there are other problems related to this product. If not disposed
in waste, low inventory cost, and effective utilization are expected properly and quickly, the sludge tends to set as rock at the given
to lower down the overall construction project costs, thus positively location because of its inherent cementing properties.
influencing the growth structure of ready-mix concrete market. UltraTech Cement has developed an in-house technology to use
In order to be able to capture the growing market potential, leading all waste generated from the rejected concrete in the form of
companies have been taking significant initiatives, which are not waste sludge or slurry for recycling into Ready Mix Concrete (“RMC”)
only intended to capture market share, but also enhance the production. This technology is fully automated and enables the
eco-consciousness among the industry & consumers. Concrete plant to be real zero discharge with no water and solid waste.

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