Ramco Cements Boosts Grinding Capacity with Loesche
In a strategic boost for India’s cement manufacturing infrastructure, German engineering firm Loesche GmbH has secured a contract to supply a high-capacity clinker and slag grinding plant to The Ramco Cements Ltd, aimed at expanding output at the company’s Kalvatala facility in Andhra Pradesh. The move signals continued momentum in cement industrialisation in eastern and southern India, driven by both domestic construction demand and the need for modern processing efficiency.
At the heart of the project is a vertical roller mill (VRM) with a throughput capacity of 260 tonnes per hour for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) — a core material in construction and infrastructure. The equipment package also includes an advanced dynamic classifier, rotary feeder and wear-resistant grinding components, underscoring a shift towards automation and lifecycle optimisation in cement processing. Delivery is slated for the second half of 2026, with commissioning expected by December that year.Industry insiders see this contract as more than a routine supply order. Cement grinding — the process that transforms hardened clinker and supplementary materials like blast furnace slag into finished cement — now accounts for a significant portion of energy consumption and carbon footprint in cement production. By investing in contemporary VRM technology, Ramco is signalling greater emphasis on operational efficiencies, improved fineness control and reduced specific energy use — all material to lowering carbon intensity in the value chain.
For Loesche, the award reflects its long-standing engagement with Indian cement producers. The company’s vertical roller mill systems have been a fixture in Indian grinding operations for decades, known for adaptability across clinker, slag and composite cement feedstocks. The ability to interchange components across existing plants was a cited factor in the contract win, reflecting the commercial value of standardisation and asset interoperability in large-scale cement operations.Ramco Cements, headquartered in Chennai with a footprint spanning southern and eastern India, has been progressively expanding grinding capacity to meet both regional demand and competitive supply dynamics. Construction growth in housing, urban infrastructure and industrial projects has pushed producers to adopt larger, more efficient grinding circuits that can stabilise product quality while containing operating costs. This order fits within that broader industrial trend.
Analysts note that the Kalvatala expansion will likely improve supply resilience in Andhra Pradesh’s construction materials ecosystem, where rapid urbanisation and road and housing projects are driving local cement consumption. Moreover, increasing reliance on slag and blended cement grades — which can reduce clinker factor and embodied carbon — aligns with emerging sustainability imperatives in the building sector.
However, the industry also faces challenges: retrofitting older plants with next-generation mills, managing logistics for supplementary cementitious materials like slag, and aligning production practices with national carbon reduction targets all require coordinated investment and policy support. As Ramco and Loesche proceed toward delivery and commissioning, the broader impact on plant efficiency, emissions intensity and market positioning will become clearer — offering a potential model for technology-led growth across India’s cement sector.
