Dalmia Bharat Cement plans to step up its focus on value-added cement, specialised construction chemicals and additives business.

The company has come up with a chemically-modified cement variant, called ‘Infra Green’, which takes a curing time of 72 hours, as against the regular ones that take 3-4 weeks. (Curing is the process of maintaining the right moisture level in concrete so that it achieves strength).

Dalmia Bharat Cement has piloted this patent-pending specialised offering at the Chennai Airport taxiway. The target sectors include infra projects, large-scale housing and other “time-bound” projects.

‘First in the world’

According to Sujit Ghosh, Executive Director, New Building Solutions, Dalmia Bharat Cement has invested ₹100 crore towards research and development and putting up production lines at its existing plants.

The specialised cement is currently being manufactured at the company’s plants in Dalmiapuram (Tamil Nadu), Belagavi (Karnataka) and Rajgangpur (Odisha). “We are looking at new verticals that are absolutely unique and this (specialised) cement is a step in that direction. Currently, no other company has this offering globally,” Ghosh said on the sidelines of an event organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

Other value-added products that the company is rolling out include a surface finish solution, similar to wall putty, which can be applied on walls at the time of construction. The application, he said, can help the consumer save up to 15 per cent of the total painting cost.

Capex plans

The company, Ghosh said, plans to spend ₹3,500-3,700 crore over the next two years across its Odisha and West Bengal units.

Dalmia Bharat Cement is also eyeing a greenfield grinding unit in north Bengal.

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