Date: December 8-9, 2016 Venue: Nehru Centre, Mumbai Organiser: ASAPP Info Global Group It is uncontested reality that ´infrastructure will drive cement demand´. This was also the theme for the Cement Expo held last month in Mumbai. The two-day event, in its one-of-a-kind format, included an expo, a full-day conference and a celebration of victory with the Indian Cement Review (ICR) Awards. Expo 2016 Sixty-two corporate and institutions showcased various products and services at the Cement Expo. The exhibition focused on new developments of various products and services that are also low on CO2 emissions. The footfall was impressive, with some of the cement industry´s top brass having one-to-one interactions on the new products displayed. In all, the expo generated good business opportunities for all exhibitors. 4th ICR conference Similar to the expo, the conference received a tremendous response on Day 1. Inaugurated by Chief Guest and renowned Architect Hafeez Contractor, the event was also graced by Pratap Padode; Managing Director, ASAPP Info Global Group; Sumit Banerjee, Chairman-Editorial Advisory Board, ICR; Roshan Wadhera, Founder, ICR; and Falguni Padode, Group Managing Editor, ASAPP Info Global Group. Setting the perfect tone for the event, Pratap Padode spoke in detail on the theme of the conference. Referring to the US road network, which the country is planning to redevelop despite it being well-planned, he said, ´Over a period of time, you will experience bottlenecks in the well-developed infrastructure and then you will have to work towards those bottlenecks.´ He pointed to estimates made five years ago on India requiring a package of $1 trillion for its infrastructure, and further referred to Metro rail projects being undertaken in various cities. ´These initiatives will have a propelling effect on the cement industry´ he said, adding that smart cities will bring down the crime rate and improve the mobility of urban infrastructure. In his inaugural speech, Contractor made a mention of PPP projects, citing that the cost of the project is extremely important. ´We have to build one Chicago every year for the next 25 years but our people do not have the buying power,´ he added. He further recommended the use of precast technology to bring down the cost of housing and urged cement companies to bring down the cost of cement. While Wadhera made a special mention of Umesh Shrivastava from Holtec, who has been supportive to ICR since its inception, Banerjee drew attention to the significance of November 8, the day of demonetisation, for the cement industry. ´I hope the industry will be back on track soon and the year 2017 turns out to be a booster year,´ he remarked. The conference included four sessions. Session 1 included a panel discussion, titled ´Infrastructural Revival - An Engine for Cement Consumption´. The panel was unanimous that the present contribution of 13 per cent cement consumption on infrastructure is likely to double in the coming years. While the development of roads, metros and airports were seen as key drivers, smart cities and irrigation were regarded as slow movers. The panel also felt that execution was still challenging. The second session focused on ´Composite Cement´, which has been a recent addition in the family of blended cements. Although the specification for composite cement, which is a mix of fly-ash and slag, was introduced in 2015, no manufacturer has started producing it so far. The group discussion focused on the opportunities and challenges for users and manufacturers. The panel expressed that there have been many developments on materials used in construction. The use of mineral admixtures has been quite common and consultants and contractors are now open to using materials that will produce durable structures. Composite cement is one step in that direction. The third session, ´Latest Offerings in Cement Manufacturing Technology to Lower Carbon Footprint´, was extremely significant against the background of implementation of continuous emission monitoring system (CEM) and the recently held COP21 summit in Paris. Manufacturers and solution providers spoke on the products designed with a view to lower the carbon footprint. The fourth and last session covered the views of users on lowering the carbon footprint. Municipal solid waste (MSW) is becoming a source of fuel for cement kilns. The same is the case with industrial wastes. However, while highlighting the potential of these waste materials, the bottlenecks while using these wastes were addressed as well. 2nd ICR Awards The second edition of the Indian Cement Review Awards 2016 was graced by Pratap Padode; Roshan Wadhera; Sumit Banerjee; Ravneet Kaur, Joint Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP); Mahendra Singhi, Group CEO, Dalmia Bharat; and KK Taparia, Advisor, Binani Cement. The 30th anniversary Issue of ICR, titled ´Staying Ahead in the Game´, was unveiled at the grand event. The issue focuses on logistics, energy-efficiency, process control and alternate materials, among others. THE WINNERS Small category The Indian Cement Review trophy for the Second Fastest Growing Company in Small Category was given to NCL Industries. K Ravi, Managing Director, NCL Industries, accepted the award. The next award was presented to M Krishnam Raju, Senior Vice President-Marketing, Deccan Cement, for the Fastest Growing Company in Small Category. Medium category The Indian Cement Review trophy for the Third Fastest Growing Company in Medium Category was given to JK Lakshmi Cement. G Ingale and Milind Joshi, Deputy General Managers, JK Lakshmi Cement, received the award. Ashwani Sharma, President and CEO, Uflex, presented The Indian Cement Review trophy for Second Fastest Growing Company in Medium Category to JK Cement. It was presented to Madhavkrishna Singhania, Special Executive, and Rajnish Kapur, Business Head, Grey Cement, JK Cement. The Indian Cement Review trophy for Fastest Growing Company in the Medium Category was given to OCL India. Mahendra Singhi, Group CEO, Dalmia Bharat, and Amandeep Gupta, Director and CEO - Cement, OCL, received the award. Large category The Indian Cement Review trophy for the Third Fastest Growing Company in Large Category was given to Century Cement. RS Doshi, Senior Executive President (Commercial), Century Cement, received the award. Ashwani Sharma, President and CEO, Uflex, presented the award to Dalmia Bharat for Fastest Growing Company in Large Category. Mahendra Singhi, Group CEO, Dalmia Bharat, and RA Krishnakumar, Executive Director, Dalmia Bharat, received the award. Lifetime achievement awards The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to MH Dalmia, President, OCL, and Ravneet Kaur gave away the prestigious award. The next Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Umesh Shrivastava, Executive Chairman, Holtec Consulting. Pratap Kumar Ghosh, Initiator, ERCOM, presented him the award. Madhavkrishna Singhania, Special Executive, JK Cement, received an award on behalf of Yadupati Singhania, Director/Partner, JK Cement. PB Gopalkrishna, President (Manufacturing), Ramco Cement, received the award on behalf of PR Ramasubrahmaneya Rajha, Chairman, Ramco Group. The awards ended with a vote of thanks and a group photograph of all the winners with their trophies.