volume 02. issue 03. july-august 2020
from the publishers of
The industry wants the government to start construction activities in full swing and revive the construction market, especially the realty sector and large infrastructure projects.. Vivek Patni, Director, Wonder Cement, Rajasthan INSIDE: INDUSTRIES IN FOCUS : Quartz | Cement
JULY-AUGUST 2020
editor & creative head 11 Edit note sylvia khan [email protected]
assistant editor mignonne dsouza 12 Likes [email protected] 12 Residence 2105 editorial consultant 14 An Abode shailendra mehta [email protected] 16 The Brickhaus 18 The Executive Floor, M+ WriteTank Prestige Falcon Tower trainee correspondent 20 Saugaat aadrita chatterji [email protected]
pr & social media support & executive maithili salunkhe 23 Industry in focus: Quartz [email protected] 24 Industry overview studio head harish raut Market speak : [email protected] 28 CHANDRAKANT ADHIKARI graphic designer MRIDUL SALECHA 29 praful prasannakumar 30 PARAG MEHTA [email protected] 31 KETAN MEHTA to contribute editorial matter 32 VIKAS PANDIT [email protected] to advertise jasmeet kaur [email protected] 33 Industry in focus: Cement +91 98338 05467 34 Industry overview Market speak : 38 Raghunath Gupta 39 Arvind Bodhankar 40 Vivek Patni 42 Kiran Shah
published by Printed and published by Sylvia Khan on behalf 44 Technical Talk Advertisers of Liyakat Ali Khan. Published by Index Media Pvt. Ltd. Roderick Wiles, AHEC 1 MERINO 703, 7th Floor, Brahans Business Park, Paper Box Road, Off Mahakali Caves Road, 2 GMG PLY WOOD Andheri (East), Mumbai 400093, India. Tel. : +91 022 2687 9081-88, 022 2687 8050 / 51 4 AHEC Editor : Sylvia Khan 5 AHEC While all constructive inputs and editorial material 46 Product watch are welcome, the editorial team does not undertake 6 viRGO LAMINATES responsibility for either printing or return of unsolicited material or printing of responses in an unedited form. While every attempt is made 7 DURIAN to ensure veracity of material, the editors are not responsible for verification of the accuracy of 8 GSEZ information which is accepted in good faith from contributors and shall not be held liable to any 22 ALSTRONG extent. All rights of printing and publication reserved by the publishers. No part of this publication may 43 CALIBER be reproduced elsewhere, without the written permission of the publishers. 48 bRAM WOODCRAFTING 49 viR MDF corporate office 50 ACE MICA Index Media Pvt. Ltd. 703, 7th Floor, Brahans Business Park, Paper Box Road, FRONT COVER INSIDE : MODAK Off Mahakali Caves Road, Andheri (East), Mumbai 400093, India. BACK COVER INSIDE : DURBI Tel. : +91 022 2687 9081-88 BACK COVER : M+ MAGAZINE FROM FOREST TO FINISH T.ZED Architects have wrapped KOA Canvas - a unique new residential community in Dubai representing a new era in modernized urban property development - with thermally-modified American tulipwood. Over 750 square meters of tulipwood have been used to create the cladding element which shades and prevents overheating of the double-height co-working and closed office spaces, and which also transforms into an outdoor shaded walkway and elevated public balcony. This is the first time that thermally-modified tulipwood has been specified in these quantities in the region and the architects are confident that the material will weather and stand the test of time in this arid desert climate.
For more information visit www.americanhardwood.org
Image © Mark Goodwin
GABON SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE THE BIGGEST INDUSTRIAL HUB IN WEST CENTRAL AFRICA
Covid-19 is the talk of the day. It’s the invisible force that has decimated people and markets alike. Despite this, there are glimmers of light on the horizon and while those green shoots might still be a ways away, the steady influence of the leaders of the market has given direction and hope to the industry at large. GSEZ This edition of IFJ looks at the cement-concrete industry and the relatively new entrant, quartz.
The building sector was one of the hardest hit once Covid-19 struck. Projects were halted. People stopped buying property. Retail came to a standstill and even government projects and infrastructure were put on hold, on account of the new social distancing norms in place. Naturally this affected the cement and concrete industry considerably. So it was with some trepidation that we went into the sector, to better understand the situation and the way in which the sector was facing the several curve balls thrown at it.
What we found was inspiring. Far from the gloom and doom we expected, we were met with thinking Looking for an ideal leaders with a vision for the future, both for their own companies and for the industry at large. They have VENEER MANUFACTURING DESTINATION... their eye on the future, with plans for recovery and the far better days ahead; and deep learnings from the COME TO GABON SEZ experience of the present. The young quartz industry is full of the brash confidence of youth, and justifiably so. The Indian quartz market is just starting to grow. The product is seen as premium Gabon SEZ … ensuring endless supply of Okoumé round logs at your factory door and seeing more and more acceptance in the premium and upper end of the market. Added to this clear positive trend is the fact the China is persona non grata in the US markets, which is the largest consumer of quartz, leaving the way clear for Indian export into the lucrative US markets.
It’s always inspiring to see the Indian market and Indian industry in its rawest form, in the words of those who Gabon Special Economic Zone make up this market. Hearing their stories of growth and of their path for the future truly makes one trust in the A public - private partnership between Olam International, better days ahead. the Republic of Gabon and Africa Finance Corporation www.gsez.com GABON Email : [email protected] FREE Z Sylvia Khan Phone : (+241) 02 00 10 86 / (+241) 06 00 56 66 FREE ZONES Editor & Creative Head, Material Plus (+91) 83 83 05 70 74 OF THE YEAR 2006 WINNER : REGIONAL HONOURABLE MEMBER Gabon (Africa) ... land of opportunity EDIT NOTE
M_Plus_ads.indd 7 24/04/19 10:09 AM photographer purnesh dev nikhanj
Residence 2105 Chandigarh Studio Mohenjodaro
Reminiscent of an older, were added to the partly-built simpler era, yet contemporary in spirit, upper floor level and the roof Residence 2105 is essentially an extension terrace above it. to an existing residence. Initially designed for a family of four, with time, a need was An uneven pitch roof made felt to include two more bedrooms. The of PUF panel was devised, new construction was visualised as part of to be in cohesion with the the first floor of the residence. existing gables. The roof panel cantilevers outwards and gives The clients wished to retain the old the illusion of not being attached structure, being familiar with the to the wall below, to give a functional spaces. This meant that the sense of lightness associated front façade could not be changed with a floating structure. dramatically. The most striking feature on entering the living space is the The existing façade housed multiple ceiling; arched and dramatic, geometrical elements including the red brick structure balances asymmetrical arches on both sides of an the starkness of the simple off-center gable. The design interventions living space by adding a touch
of boldness. The dining space, by the warmth of louvered which in turn is a refurbishment wooden cabinetry and the of the old lobby is almost an muted character of the mustard extension of the living space. Jaisalmer stone flooring. The This living area is flanked by two roof terrace floor houses an bedrooms with attached dressing independent multipurpose room rooms and toilet. and toilet.
Designed in raw, bare elements, The residence is a coming the bedrooms have exposed together of style, a conjugation concrete roofs and brick walls of elements in a way that each celebrating their imperfections element adds to the others against the plastered white and brings to the fore a warm, walls. The rawness of the natural tranquil whole. material palette is neutralised
LIKES JULY-AUGUST 2020 This residential project metallic huesusedonthebedside table. are usedinthedaughter’s room, with rose tilesinbands withbronze mirrors lit-up shelvesonthefeature wall.Dusty- black tilesusedat thebedbackand with customizedprofile lights,with beams are bedroom used intheson’s lines intheguestroom. Cedarwood tiles ontheceilinginterrupt straight metallictilesandbright-blue engraved out thebrightcolor. Customized master bedroom, balances whilegray the branch, becomestheaccentwallof Latent jadeglass,withablossomingtree wood-finished dadotiles. whichare fittedwith cabinets, allof andoverhead has red undercounters A brightcolorschemeinthekitchen ceiling contrastswiththelightflooring. textured woodensheetwrap onthe veneer onthedooropenings.Afluted smoked red oakandAmericanred oak byplacingsquare piecesof achieved space features knittedveneerpanels, Scandinavian-inspired room. This living marble floor, whichopensontoa stepontoaTurkishvisitors white Onentry, surface. from every luxury is spread over2,200sq.ftandexudes
An Abode Mumbai photographer raviphotographer kanade Facilis of thelastbathroom. of and colored Piccolotilesform thefeature wall basket for otheraccessories.Turkish marble aphotoframehassteel in theshape of with wood,onyx,andalargewindow. Abasin third bathroom exudessophisticated luxury The palette withamidnight-bluesolidsurface. while thesecondbathroom has adusty-rose small Piccolotilesandalineararrangement, bathroomThe first with hasapixelated effect L I K ES The Brickhaus court bounded by brick louvers bringing in cool breezes. The custom-built furniture and joinery Thiruvananthapuram items add to the charm of the house. On this same theme, the medical consultancy space and its adjoined guest bedroom form a Srijit Srinivas Architects separate block spatially separate to the rest of the house, but nonetheless subtly blended in, such that the whole presents itself as a single entity. A carefully detailed brick-paved path connects the two spatial blocks while doubling as a performance stage floor for small family
gatherings. The brick-edged lotus pool beside The house is also an exploration in Located on a long and the informal stage adds a moment of pause. transitionally revealing the beauty of ‘burnt In summary The Brickhaus responds to the earth’ in the form of one of the oldest and irregularly narrow site in potential of its site and the aspirational Thiruvananthapuram with its longer side most versatile man-made construction requirements of its clients to deliver a facing west, The Brickhaus was designed to materials – the ubiquitous brick. The design restrained architectural end product that is an be both a place of respite and exhilaration and construction process were a purposeful organic addition to the local semi-urban milieu. for a young doctor couple and their two journey of allowing exposed brick utilising kids. The lady of the house, a trained a uniquely customised bond-layout pattern, dancer, also wanted their home to have together with exposed concrete ceilings a stage-like quality. The plan is therefore and polished concrete floors to lend rich a story of open and interconnected texture, form and warmth to the ensemble.
T 2020 spaces that challenge the standard From a functional layout, the dining assumptions of load-bearing brick area with its east-west orientation opens construction. With the natural variations out to a landscaped internal courtyard, of brick, polished and exposed concrete,
S JULY-AUGU connecting the house with the ‘outdoors’. the house is also a celebration of the This functional syntax is carried across imperfection of the material and the to other parts of the house, such as the asymmetry used everywhere. master bedroom having a landscaped LIKES photographer prestige group
The Executive Floor, Prestige Falcon Tower Bengaluru Catallo Associates
Besides the Chairman and MD’s office, there is a regal boardroom which seats 33 with a magnificent horseshoe-shaped boardroom table. Again, there is an extensive use of book-matched mahogany crotch veneer. The veneer for this project was sourced and selected specially from suppliers in Italy. The executive dining room boasts stained-glass windows, burl cabinetry, dining tables with marquetry and fine upholstered furniture evoking the ambience of a colonial fine dining restaurant.
The brief was to design the corporate headquarters of the The 11th floor is a complete Portoro marble portals, Prestige Group, a leading developer. This building departure from the design high vaulted ceilings, crystal brought together the company’s various departments, language of the ground and the chandeliers, a bevelled leaded- which were previously spread around Bengaluru, in an first floor. Solid wood mouldings glass dome, wood flooring and 11-storey tower. Six of these floors house the Prestige and rich Sapeli panels inlaid magnificent area rugs. corporate offices, with the 11th floor designated as the with book-matched mahogany executive floor for top management. crotch veneers were extensively The furniture is handcrafted used to create a distinctive and made with top grade Italian
T 2020 ambience. The warm mahogany veneers in the UAE. Each piece wall paneling is complemented of furniture was custom made by heavy moulded doors, for this project. S JULY-AUGU
LIKES photographer sushil chaudhary
Saugaat Delhi RMDK
arches in metal finishes contrast with the raw cement textured, backlit arched wall displays in grey, creating a sense of fluidity while giving the A harmonious symphony of colours, materials display and premium display, a strong design space a modern edge. The chequered black-and- and textures, Saugaat in GK, Delhi brings together a sense of language ties the space together. The minimal white luxurious marble flooring in this section contemporary luxury along with the warmth and nostalgia of our wooden ceiling rafters in the casual browsing creates a further contrast to the otherwise mono- rich heritage. This luxury dessert store conceptualized by Dhruva section surround and bring focus to the striped flooring. Kalra, is carefully fashioned to exude a serene sense of a vast space extravagant geometric patterned ceiling in the while ensuring the products on display shine through. premium display and the subtle vaulted ceiling Inspired by traditional motifs, the ceiling in the in the feature display, defining the three major premium display has been reinterpreted into a A warm, neutral color palette with bold, contemporary accent colors zones within the store. clean geometric pattern, with artistic mirrors, of the Pantone Color of the Year 2020, ‘classic blue’, along with a minimal bespoke chandelier in gold metallic Mughal-inspired architectural elements complement the products on The feature display acts as a standalone focal finishing and focus lights. The rustic brown display; while enhancing the warm and nostalgic vibe of the space. point, framing views of the entire store through ceiling is well complemented with the rough- Functionally divided into three zones - casual browsing, feature the minimal arches. Its central bare skeleton cut wooden grains and the indulgent display wallpaper in dull gold.
A glass door with metal studded frame and brass finish, an artistic mirror in wooden frame, the bespoke wooden storage, and the intricately detailed bathroom with colorful geometric highlighter tiles and luxurious fittings create a mutedly lavish and graceful retail experience. T 2020 S JULY-AUGU
LIKES INDUSTRY IN FOCUS: QUARTZ
M_Plus_ads.indd 16 24/04/19 10:10 AM text shailendra mehta inputs aadrita chatterji
Quartz industry: coping with the pandemic michigan stones pvt. ltd., bengaluru
Increased usage exported to the US, Germany, Indian demand drivers As businesses reopen slowly with an ease on lockdown, In 2018, the Asia Pacific region and France. This provides a huge Development of attractive and aesthetic countries (APAC) held the largest customer base for quartz products infrastructure is the key driver for manufacturers of quartz focus on anti -bacterial, hygienic share of the global quartz market. manufactured in APAC. increasing usage of quartz across Increasing demand for quartz India, according to most players in the features to win over the end users. from the electronics industry Internationally, the quartz market is industry. “Due to its elegant appearance, in developed and developing largely concentrated in the United quartz stone has been popular choice countries in the APAC countries States, Canada, Mexico, China, for home applications such as use in such as China, Japan, South Korea, Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, vanities, kitchen countertops, walls, and India is propelling the growth Egypt, Nigeria Germany, France, flooring, etc. It is resistant to bacterial of the quartz market in APAC. Russia, Italy, the US, Argentina growth and thus helps in maintaining Quartz is a mineral form of Furthermore, the well-established and Columbia. China is a leading hygienic environment, which is silicon dioxide, also known as silica, stable at building and construction sector producer of quartz, however “High- prominent factor driving the market,” low temperatures and pressures. It is found in the Asian countries provides quality quartz is predominantly says, Mridul Salecha, Partner, Pelican in igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic, and a huge market opportunity for found in India, Africa, Brazil, and Quartz Stone, Jodhpur and adds, ”Quartz hydrothermal mineral environments, mainly in the key players operating in the Turkey,” says, Amit Shah, Founder slabs are now preferred in residences continental regions. Quartz is the most abundant quartz market. The quartz products and Director, Classic Marble and hotels instead of natural stone such mineral found on earth’s surface. Besides high produced in Asian countries, such Company, Mumbai. as granite, which retains cooking oil resistance to mechanical and chemical weathering, as China and India, are mainly stains, scratches and grease due to its its durability has made it a preferred choice porous structure.” in several applications. Based on the end-use classic marble company, mumbai industry, the quartz market has been segmented Rapid growth in the construction and into electronics and semiconductors, solar, building industry is pushing the demand building and construction, medical, optics and for engineered stone. Properties telecommunication and others. such as non-porous and durability makes engineered stones suitable for The quartz used as a processed product in the applications in hospital food facilities, construction industry is an engineered stone, made canteens and commercial buildings. up of resin binder, quartz, quartzite, pigments and Quartz can be produced in large size additives. Quartz is widely available on the surface and its non-porous nature allows it to of earth, in natural form. It is converted into be used in wet areas such as washroom, engineered stone in the form of slabs or blocks for swimming pool, shower and bath tub, end use. An engineered stone can be manufactured etc. Besides, “Unlike in case of marble in various shapes, textures and colours according and granite, where designs cannot be to its required needs. It can bear a fine or coarse replicated for multiple purposes because texture based on manufacturing process, and the patterns are natural, quartz slabs can be also produced by combining it with glass are manmade products and can be T 2020 or other material to give a reflective or sparkling customized uniformly, on a mass scale,” appearance. An engineered stone finds its use says, Ketan Mehta, Founder, Stonify in various applications, commonly indoors such Surfaces Pvt. Ltd., Jaipur.
S JULY-AUGU as flooring, walls and in the kitchen. It is highly resistant to heat and scratch, besides being highly durable, thus widely used in fireplaces too. INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
hafele india pvt. ltd., mumbai pelican quartz stone, jodhpur
` ` Such potential use in a wide range available include, Chhattisgarh, the range of 80 to 100 billion, Man v/s machine future at this point. Even so, the of applications accelerates the Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal, whereas, according to Amit Shah, it According to Parag Mehta, basic quartz market is expected to register ` growth and demand of quartz in Karnataka and Jharkhand. stands at 55 billion. machinery required for a processing a CAGR of greater than four per cent the Indian market. Amit Shah says” Although quartz is extensively Besides catering to the Indian plant includes automatic vacuum during the forecast period.” Due to The demand for quartz is 35 per mined in these states for several markets, Indian players also vibration press, automatic continuous the Covid 19, infrastructure and the cent in west India, 32 per cent in years, the industry is not fully export quartz internationally. polishing machine, automatic customer base has been affected south India, 28 per cent in north organized and despite the presence Chandrakant Adhikari says, “We continuous thickening machine, because it is a look and feel product. India, and 5 per cent in east India. some of the big names which export 70 per cent of quartz to the turning machine, cutting machine, However, this is a temporary phase The domestic market is rapidly export quartz internationally, United States because the demand and polishing. “As a rule of thumb, and has enabled market players to expanding as quartz is more used in the presence of unorganized in Indian market is not very high. we use 80 per cent of technology focus on the most important quality five-star hotels, airports, shopping processing units it noteworthy. As the USA has banned Chinese with 20 per cent manpower,” he says. of quartz in the wake of pandemic, malls, hospitals, and luxury homes. Parag Mehta, Owner, Décor Luxury quartz products, India, Turkey Chandrakant Adhikari adds, “We according to Vikas Pandit, as he Besides, quartz has achieved Stones, Gurugram, feels only 40 per and Vietnam have escalated their use machinery from China and Italy says,” We would see a rise in the considerable significance in building cent of the industry is organized, supplies and India is now the main for the production of quartz. India demand quartz products with a focus surfaces in place of granite and whereas, Amit Shah pegs the supplier of quartz in the USA.” currently has three plants from Italy on its anti-bacterial, hygienic, and marble due to its durability and proportion of organized players Ketan Mehta adds, ”Most of the and more than 50 plants from China. sustainable properties. The quartz cost-efficiency.” According to Vikas at 80 per cent. “Most processing quartz we produce is exported, Finished quartz attracts too much dust market continues to grow towards a Pandit, Product Manager Hafele plants are concentrated in Rajastan while only 40 per cent is consumed and chemical resin, so it is difficult to bright future, as it has just picked up India Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, people are and Gujarat,“ he adds. by Indian markets. We see low get labour. But we need to depend speed in the Indian raw construction now more aware of the benefits of demand for quartz in most parts on manpower due to the nature of market.” Due to the lockdown, the quartz over traditional countertop Owing to the presence of of India, compared to the United hafele india pvt. ltd., mumbai work. Due to Covid-19, workers have infrastructure and construction sectors options. “Currently, the buyers are unorganized segment, actual States and Canada where we migrated back to their native towns. remained shut and that impacted architects, interior designers and numbers in terms of the size export. We see a growing awareness Thus, there is a shortage of labour in quartz industry. But Amit Shah sounds contractors,” he says. and annual turnover is hard to in the usage of quartz everywhere south India. However, this is not so in upbeat as he says, “The demand for determine, Vikas Pandit feels and that is the reason we Rajasthan and Gujarat, as they usually quartz has reduced from major Industry dynamics the size of quartz industry is in participate in global exhibitions.” employ locals.” buyers such as hospitality and Quartz was declared as a minor commercial establishments. But mineral by the Government of India stonify surfaces pvt. ltd., jaipur classic marble company, mumbai Machinery plays a vital role and the now that these businesses are slowly in January 2015. In 2013-2014, the developing technology has resulted reopening, we will work to resolve production of quartz was reported in an innovative product line. “The the challenges. We expect an at 1395 thousand tonnes. Also, the newest quartz line is created using increased demand for natural and number of quartz mines at the same state of the art technology featuring engineered stone in the residential time was reported at 251. More a fully automated production line, segment in the next three to six than half the quartz in India comes starting from feeding the raw material months.” With various global market from Andhra Pradesh, according to the stacking of the slabs. The reports also indicating a positive to Chandrakant Adhikari, Director, automated production line is growth for this product in 2021, his Michigan Stones Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru. capable of producing slabs in super claim does not seem farfetched. The other states where quartz is jumbo dimension of 3300 X 2000 hafele india pvt. ltd., mumbai hafele india pvt. ltd., mumbai mm, in addition to the regular size,” stonify surfaces pvt. ltd., jaipur says Amit Shah.
Looking beyond the pandemic: According to Mridul Salecha, Covid-19 created a decrease in demand and challenges in getting payments. However, “After the market stabilizes, we believe, the demand for quartz
T 2020 will double in next few years,” he says. Parag Mehta feels the post-COVID scenario for quartz depends on the
S JULY-AUGU demand from Europe and Americas. He says,”It is difficult to predict the
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW text aadrita chatterji text aadrita chatterji
CHANDRAKANT ADHIKARI MRIDUL SALECHA Director, Michigan Stones Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru Partner, Pelican Quartz Stone, Jodhpur
Company Company We launched Michigan Stones in 2007 and Pelican Quartz Stone was founded export 100 per cent of the product; quartz, in 1993, dealing in the granite and marble, sandstone, granite and slate. We marble sectors. We have moved into had a turnover of `100 crore in 2019-2020, the quartz segment over the last six and the company is run by two directors, years, with the help of the founders Mr Chandrakant Adhikari and Mr Amit Devendra Salecha and Surendra Khabya. We are based out of Bengaluru Salecha. Today, we are the only one in with a factory situated in Mysuru. India who make the replica of Italian Statuario and Calacatta marble. Current market scenario Quartz is generally found in Rajasthan, We manufacture and supply quartz Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. We stone across the world in bulk, at export quartz, granite, sandstone and an affordable price. Quartz slabs are slate to other countries; for example, we more commonly used for domestic export 70 per cent of quartz to the United Future and hotels in our industry, compared States. However, the Indian market does Due to Covid-19, laborers have to natural stone. not have a high demand for quartz. It migrated back to their native towns. is an organized industry where we use Thus, there is a shortage of labor in Current market scenario machinery and labor brought in from south India. However, this is not so in We have a market share of around China and Italy for the production of North India, such as Rajasthan and `125 crore per month, with a 70 per quartz. Finished quartz attracts too much Gujarat, where they usually employ cent organized market. Our clientele dust and chemical resin, it is difficult to get local people. includes architects and builders, laborers and even within the industry, we and we use automated plants for need huge funds to survive. Though we have not joined any quartz production. Due to Covid-19, trade association, we predict a good we now face a decrease in demand In India, quartz is used for large project situation for quartz, at least for the and payment challenges. We have cladding, flooring and counters for offices next three to five years. a Quartz Trade Association, and we and kitchens. The Indian buyer market were able to fight the anti-dumping generally consists of regular homeowners duty levied on us by the government and contractors. of the United States.
Technology and manpower Future We use Italian and Chinese technology to After the market stabilizes, we believe produce finished quartz products. India that the quartz market will double in has three plants from Italy and more the next few years. than 50 plants from China. We need to T 2020 depend on manpower due to the need for handwork. As the USA has banned Chinese quartz products, this has given India, S JULY-AUGU Turkey and Vietnam a chance to develop. After China, India is now the main supplier of quartz to the USA. MARKET SPEAK text aadrita chatterji text aadrita chatterji
PARAG MEHTA KETAN MEHTA Owner, Décor Luxury Stones, Gurugram Founder, Stonify Surfaces Pvt. Ltd., Jaipur
Company Company Technology Décor Cera is a quartz manufacturing company Stonify Surfaces Pvt. Ltd. was In the quartz industry, we use 60 with more than eight years of experience, which launched in 2011, where we supply percent automated machinery with had begun with just one production unit. Today, prefabricated granite and quartz 40 percent labor, to lift materials our company has more than five production countertops, tabletops, kitchen and handle cranes. We have gangsaw units in India with 1 lakh meter square tops, worktops and vanity tops to machines imported from Italy, which production per month. various businesses. We have several can cut precise quartz slabs, as even years of experience, technology, a difference of 1mm is important. The industry consists of 40 per cent organized and innovation that can be seen in Coping with the regular demand and players and 60 per cent unorganized players, our product and equipment quality. supply of quartz results in competition with market size of USD 89.19 billion in 2019. Moreover, we maintain all clinical among different companies, which We are part of the All India Granites and and consistency standards in our leads to fluctuations. Most of our Stone Association. production and supply system. clients are corporations with big residential or commercial projects, Quartz deposits are commonly found in Bihar, Current market scenario and we must sell our products at the Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. Crystalline quartz Much of the quartz that we produce best price. commonly occurs in the trap-covered areas of is exported, while only 40 per cent or Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya so is consumed by Indians. Though Due to advanced technology, we have Pradesh. We see a huge demand in India due to quartz is now used in south India, focused on the durability of quartz an increased construction push by the Indian we see the trend of granite and along with new designs and product government. We cater to architects, stone buyers marble still reigning in other parts launches. Granite and marble are and regular people alike. of the country. Quartz slabs are used natural materials, and cannot be in kitchens and countertops in the found everywhere. Moreover, their Technology United States, and they are called designs cannot be replicated for Today, we use automatic vacuum vibration engineered slabs as they contain 10 multiple purposes unlike quartz press, automatic continuous polishing machine, per cent resin polymers. slabs, which are man made products. automatic continuous thickening machine, Prices largely depend on its availability turning machine, cutting machine, and polishing. Most granite and marble and need. As a rule of thumb, we use 80 percent technology manufacturing companies have a with 20 percent manpower. We face severe quartz segment, but G5 (Nano white) is Future competition from the porcelain tiles market and a tougher option. Quartz is commonly In the future, we would continue duties imposed by the United States on quartz. found in Rajasthan, south India and raising awareness of the importance Gujarat. We see low demand for quartz and durability of quartz. For example, Future in most parts of India, as much of it granite needs to be resealed every 15 The post-COVID scenario for quartz depends on is exported to the United States and years, which isn’t the case with quartz. the demand from Europe and America, thus it is Canada. However, we see a growing
T 2020 difficult to predict the future at this point. Even awareness in quartz and that’s why so, the quartz market is expected to register a we participate in exhibitions held by CAGR of greater than four per cent during the global companies. forecast period. The need for high-purity quartz S JULY-AUGU in the semiconductor industry remains the major driver behind its demand, which would skyrocket through emerging technologies. MARKET SPEAK text aadrita chatterji
VIKAS PANDIT Product Manager, Hafele India Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai
followed by Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka and Jharkhand in India. As time goes by, people are now more aware of the benefits of quartz over traditional countertop options. Currently, the supply from local manufacturers is enough to cater to the Indian customers’ demand, who could be architects, interior designers and contractors. Technology INDUSTRY IN FOCUS: Quartz is a manufactured product from raw materials, which is why it involves a high-degree Company intervention of technology. CEMENT Hafele was launched as an However, manpower helps in the international hardware and movement and logistics of the fittings systems supplier in 1923 material. that caters to the furniture industry, dealers, joiners, and Challenges and trends cabinet makers along with Due to the COVID, infrastructure architects and builders. We have and the customer base have launched our quartz surfaces been affected. Customers want under the name of Caesarstone, to check the look and feel of which includes a wide range of the products, which has been colors, styles, and combinations. presently restricted. On the other Our products are made from a hand, we would see a rise in blend of ground quartz, pigment, quartz products with a focus on and polymers with cutting-edge its anti-bacterial, hygienic, and technology. sustainable properties.
Current market scenario Future We would say that the quartz The quartz market continues to industry is around 70 per cent
T 2020 grow towards a bright future, as unorganized and 30 per cent it has just picked up speed in the organized, and has a turnover of Indian raw construction market. `800 to `1000 crore. The United Now, people look at quartz as S JULY-AUGU States and Brazil are the largest a viable alternative to granite producers of natural quartz, countertops. text shailendra mehta inputs maithili salunke
On a sustained growth path
Bucking the expectation of poor growth, the Bureau shubhaam concrete floors pvt ltd, mumbai bcc cement, new delhi tons. However, manufacturing costs of the first five year plan was to raise Ever since deregulation in 1982, the of Energy Efficiency India made local products higher than the installed capacity to 5.4 million Indian cement industry has attracted imports, resulting in the closure tons, which was achieved. huge investments, both from Indian has predicted that cement of many indigenous units. The and foreign investors.” Elaborating industry started self-organization The Indian cement industry which was on the recent strides in the industry, Joseph Aspdin, the inventor production in India will grow with the formation of the Cement closely controlled by the government Arvind Bodhankar, Joint Executive of cement could not have imagined the far Manufacturers Association in 1925 for several years, was deregulated in President and Chief Sustainability reaching effects of his experimental burning to 500 million tonnes by FY and the Concrete Association of 1982 with the freedom to meet the Officer, Ultra Tech Cement and of finely ground chalk and clay, to extract the India, in 1927. This enabled local challenges of free market competition. Director, Global Cement and Concrete carbon dioxide, back in 1824. He named it stakeholders access to the government, De-licensing in 1991 resulted in Association (GCCA) says, “The growth after the high-quality building stones quarried 2020 and 800 million tonnes which resulted in the constitution accelerated growth and the availability rate of cement production in the first in Portland, England. While concrete was used of a tariff board, and protection of of state of the art technology for half of the last decade was around mainly for industrial buildings in the 19th by FY 2030. the indigenous industry against the modernization. The major players 5 per cent, however, the launch of century, the first widespread use of Portland dumping of the imported cement. invested heavily to maximize the the low-cost housing, smart cities cement in home construction was in England opportunity in the global markets and projects and other infrastructure and France between 1850 and 1880 by Francois With partition in 1947, India retained laid greater focus on exports. projects provided a major boost to Coignet, who added steel rods to prevent exterior 19 out of 24 factories, with an annual it and a steep rise in the cement walls from spreading. The advent of cement production of 2.1 million tons. The Industry profile production was seen in last two and concrete not only transformed construction next year, the government adopted According to Vivek Patni, Director, years. The cement industry is one technology but also brought about a paradigm the Cement Expansion Scheme which Wonder Cement, India is the second- of the eight core industries of the shift in architectural design. envisaged new factories at Bagalkot, largest producer of cement in the country and contributes substantially Jaipur, Orissa, Travancore and other world. He says, “One of the key drivers to the economy. Construction sector The Indian context places. By 1950-51, there were 22 for the growth of the cement industry is the biggest employment provider In India, the cement era began in 1914, when operating units with an installed is infrastructure, employing more than after agriculture.” the Indian Cement Company Ltd. set up a capacity of 3.3 million tons. The target a million people, directly or indirectly. manufacturing plant in Porbandar, Gujarat. By Cement production reached 334.48 wonder cement 1924, India’s cement production was 267,000 million tonnes (MT) in FY20 and was estimated to touch 550 MT by the end of the year.(Source: Cement Manufacturers’ Association Report). The industry is dominated by giants such as Ultratech Cement, Ambuja Cement, ACC Cement and Shree Cement; and regional players T 2020 with significant capacity such as, J K Cement, J K Laxmi Cement and Nuvoco Cement. The top 20 S JULY-AUGU
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW shubhaam concrete floors pvt ltd, mumbai
Pandemic and beyond: economic shock and the cement The cement and concrete industry industry is no exception. There is has taken a massive hit with the bound to be a demand contraction lockdown, with a contraction in mainly due to reduced spend on shubhaam concrete floors pvt ltd, mumbai demand of about 20 – 30 per cent Capex and slowdown in the real estate pan India, according to Vivek Patni. sector.” He adds. ” In terms of the companies account for almost 70 per Putting this figure even lower, future, the post-covid-19 situation cent of the total production in the Raghunath Gupta says demand has will be quite different. The spending country. Vivek Patni says, “Statistically, bcc cement, new delhi gone down by 40 to 50 per cent in pattern of people will change; there a total of 210 large cement plants in Delhi and by 20 to 25 per cent in the will be a tendency to conserve cash. India account for a cumulative installed NCR. Manufacturers face issues of However I am very optimistic as far workforce retention and recurring as the cement sector is concerned; capacity of over 410 million tonnes (MT). wonder cement 77 of these are in the states of Andhra maintenance costs of plant and the demand will start picking up from Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.” Consumption and buyers: machinery. Other stakeholders in November –December onwards. The According to Arvind Bodhankar, the per the industry are also in dire straits, extended monsoon in most parts of Explaining the range of cement products, capita consumption of cement in India according to Raghunath Gupta who the country will be over, road and Raghunath Gupta, Director, BCC Cement, is around 235 kgs which is far less than says, “The market has completely other infrastructure projects will New Delhi says, “The industry is engaged the world average of 563 kgs. “There stopped, the money is stuck and restart and migrant workers will start in the production of several varieties is huge growth potential,” he remarks. survival has become difficult returning.” His hopes do not seem of cement such as Ordinary Portland The Government of India announced a for traders.” Kiran Shah, Owner unfounded as the Indian cement Cement (OPC), Portland Pozzolana number of proposals in the Union Budget Shubhaam, Concrete Floors Pvt Ltd., industry has been on a sustained Cement (PPC), Portland Blast Furnace Slag 2018-19, directly linked with the sector’s Mumbai, feels the worst affected growth path, in the last decade. The Cement (PBFS), Oil Well Cement, Rapid growth profile. India was expected to sectors are the residential and slump in demand is only a temporary Hardening Portland Cement, Sulphate spend INR 645 billion in FY18-19 on the commercial markets. He adds, setback and the Bureau of Energy Resisting Portland Cement, White ‘Housing for All by 2022’ programmes and “There is a funding issue in these Efficiency India has predicted scaled Cement, etc., strictly as per the Bureau of close to INR 6 trillion on infrastructure. markets. Several players dependent growth in cement production at 500 shubhaam concrete floors pvt ltd, mumbai Indian Standards (BIS) specifications and The government also plans to extend its on cement trading and creating million tonnes by FY 2020 and 800 their quality is comparable with the best rural road network scheme connecting cement-concrete based products are million tonnes by FY 2030. in the world, however we manufacture all eligible habitations under Phase III of badly affected. The annual average Ordinary Portland Cement and Portland the Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana turnover now is 50 percent down, NOTE : The views expressed by Pozzolana Cement.” (Prime Minister’s Rural Road Scheme); compared to the last year.” Arvind Bodhankar in this feature, set up new government medical colleges are his personal views on the topic wonder cement and hospitals, renovate about 600 The COVID-19 pandemic has and do not represent the official railway stations and suburban railway undoubtedly curtailed the steep views or position of the organisations infrastructure, and renew 26,000 km of growth seen by the industry in earlier he is associated with viz. Ultratech railway lines. years. Arvind Bodhankar says,”This and Global Cement And Concrete outbreak has caused unprecedented Association (GCCA) India. Besides the government sector, other shubhaam concrete floors pvt ltd, mumbai big buyers include individuals and organizations involved in construction, real estate, infrastructure, institutional projects
T 2020 in both rural and urban markets. “The market is spread across the country and the thrust on infrastructure development and housing is a major demand driver for S JULY-AUGU cement,” says Vivek Patni.
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW text maithili salunke text maithili salunke
Raghunath Gupta Arvind Bodhankar Director, BCC Cement, New Delhi Jt. Executive President & Chief Sustainability Officer, Ultratech Director of Global Cement And Concrete Association (GCCA) India Company BCC Cement was founded by my father OP Gupta, in 1966, when he started retail trading under that name. In 1994, I took his initiative Market and Industry The cement industry in India to the next level by getting into As one of the rapidly growing is fairly organized with a total wholesale trading. We were involved economies in the world, India installed capacity of approx. 545 in wholesale trading of cement has a lot of potential for million tons per year. There are until 2008. In that year, noting the development in infrastructure - about 560 cement plants in India. increase in demand and popularity both in rural and urban areas. However, 20 large companies of products nationwide and also to The cement sector is expected account for almost 70% of ensure continuous production of to largely benefit from it. The cement production in India. quality cement products, I set up a growth rate of cement production UltraTech Cement, with a manufacturing unit in Kothputali, in the first half of the last decade production capacity of about Jaipur, Rajasthan. We still have a retail was around 5%, however, the 117 Million Tons, is the leader. A shop that is managed by my younger launch of the low-cost housing, major part of the production is brother. Right now, we deal with the Primer, Paint, POP, Tile Adhesive etc. smart cities projects and other consumed by individual home retail segment and have a network of The raw materials for these products infrastructure initiatives provided builders, but a large share goes 500 dealers in Delhi and NCR. are mostly available in the domestic a major boost, and resulted in a towards infrastructure and market. But the chemicals are usually steep rise in cement production Institutional projects. change; there will be a tendency Market and Industry obtained from China. over the last two years. to conserve cash. However I am The market has slowed down a little Impact of COVID and Future very optimistic as far as the cement since the pandemic; it’s around a 40 The manufacturing process includes The cement industry is one The average turnover of the sector is concerned; the demand to 50 per cent decrease in Delhi, while one big mixer, into which all the basic of the eight core industries of Indian cement industry is more will start picking up from Nov-Dec in areas like NCR there has been a 20 ingredients are poured, then mixed the country and contributes than INR 2 lakh crore. However, onwards - the reason being the to 25 per cent fall in demand. Last and the paste that forms is called substantially to the economy. due to the current pandemic, extended monsoon in most of the year, the annual average turnover for paint. For concrete furniture, as far as India is the second-largest the steep growth seen by the country will be over, and road and BCC Cement was Rs 70 crore; and even I know, there is not much of a demand producer of cement in the world industry in the earlier years other infrastructure projects must this year I feel we will achieve around in India, apart from cement benches in and the construction sector is may not sustain and will be go on. Also, migrant workers have Rs 70 to 75 cr. The active markets public places. The demand for concrete the biggest employment provider sluggish in the year 2020-21. started returning and the rural for cement are general (household) furniture is higher in other countries. after agriculture. Ever since The Covid-19 outbreak has economy is less impacted due to customers, then the real estate sector, cement was deregulated in 1982, caused unprecedented economic the lockdown. corporate sectors, contractors, etc. Impact of COVID the Indian cement industry has shock and the cement industry The main impact has been that people attracted huge investments, both is no exception. There will be NOTE : The views expressed by Products and Process have been using the pandemic as from Indian as well as foreign demand contraction mainly Arvind Bodhankar in this feature, are Along with the manufacturing an excuse to hold back payments. investors. Currently, the per due to reduced spend on Capex his personal views on the topic and and trading of cement, we have Therefore, the circulation of money capita consumption of cement and slowdown in the real estate do not represent the official views T 2020 now started finishing work. We do has stopped in the market. This has in India is around 235 kg which sector. In terms of the future, or position of the organisations the finishing levels for building made survival a little difficult for is far less than the world average the post-Covid-19 situation he is associated with viz. Ultratech construction, which includes the traders like us, and could lead to a loss of 563 kg. Thus, there is huge will be quite different. The and Global Cement And Concrete making of plasters. We have started
S JULY-AUGU of Rs 1 to 2 crore at least. According to growth potential. spending pattern of people will Association (GCCA) India. manufacturing a new range of me, I feel everything should get back products over the last few years, on track by December this year. which includes Wall Care Putty, MARKET SPEAK text maithili salunke
Vivek Patni Director, Wonder Cement, Rajasthan
Company in FY20, there is tremendous Wonder Cement was founded in expectation that the capacity is 2010 when my father and uncle estimated to touch 550 MT by wanted to build a brand that 2020. The Indian cement industry is synonymous with trust and is dominated by industry giants, transparency and which also and the top 20 cement companies believes in helping people turn account for almost 70 per cent of their dreams into reality. Cement the total cement production in is the foundation upon which we the country. Statistically, a total of construct our homes, our schools 210 large cement plants account quality assurances using the ‘Robotic Impact of COVID Income Tax Act till March 31, 2020, to and our societies. With a vision to for a cumulative installed capacity (Polab)’ system. PPC is manufactured Sale of cement in India stood at promote affordable housing in India. not only serve the generations of of over 410 MT, with 350 small by inter-grinding well-burnt OPC Rs 58,407 crore (US$ 8.29 billion) The Union Budget has also allocated tomorrow but also carry a legacy. plants accounting for the rest. Clinker with gypsum and pozzolanic in 9M FY20. However, the global Rs 139 billion (US$ 1.93 billion) for Of these, 210 are large cement materials like power-station fly ash pandemic resulted in a slowdown the Urban Rejuvenation Mission: Market and Industry plants; 77 are in the states of or siliceous earth. The major raw of the country’s economic growth, AMRUT and Smart Cities Mission. The India is the second-largest Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Product and Process material for production is limestone thereby affecting the overall growth of government’s infrastructure push producer of cement in the world. Tamil Nadu. We produce Ordinary Portland and it is sourced from our captive the sector as well. Given the delayed combined with Housing for All, Smart One of the key drivers of the Cement and Portland Pozzolana mines. Other raw materials such as infrastructure development due to Cities Mission and Swachh Bharat Indian economy is infrastructure, Major industry giants include Cement. Ordinary Portland cement red ochre and laterite are sourced the current pandemic, the cement Abhiyan is going to boost cement employing more than a million Ultratech Cement, Ambuja is prepared by a fully-automated, from nearby mines. The fuel, Petcock, and concrete industry has undergone demand in the country. The move people, directly or indirectly. Cement, ACC Cement and dry manufacturing process using is sourced both domestically and a massive hit post the pandemic is expected to boost the demand of Ever since deregulation in 1982, Shree Cement. There are a few state-of-the-art technology under imported from the USA. lockdown. Cement demand has cement from the housing segment. the Indian cement industry has regional players as well, who strict quality assurance at all stages contracted by 20 - 30% pan India. attracted huge investments, have significant capacity like of manufacturing with the help of Technology-wise, digitization has Wonder Cement has done well and As per the Union Budget 2019-20, both from Indian as well as JK Cement, J K Laxmi Cement, ‘Robotic (Polab)’ system. The product always been on top of our agenda and we can maintain the same level of the Government has planned to foreign investors. Some of the Nuvoco Cement, etc. And the comes in a range of specifications a part of our core business strategy production as last year at the end of upgrade 125,000 km of road recent initiatives, such as the major buyers are people and to suit various conditions and since inception. Apart from investing Aug 20. However, this year our focus length over the next five years. An development of 98 smart cities, organizations involved in applications such as dry-clean mixes, in essential business applications is to optimize the production cost outlay of Rs 27,500 crore (US$ 3.93 are expected to provide a major Individual house construction, general-purpose ready-mixes and like ERP, CRM etc, we were one of the and uplift the industry position in billion) has been allotted under the boost to the sector. Aided by real estate, Infrastructure, even high strength pre-cast and pre- early adopters of latest technologies the market by consistently delivering Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in the suitable government and foreign institutional buyers, etc. Cement stressed concrete. OPC is available in to improve operational efficiencies, supreme quality products. Union Budget 2020-21. The industry policies, India has a lot of is largely being consumed by OPC-43 Grade & OPC-53 Grade. customer experience, and to have wants the government to start potential for development in the both rural and urban markets. real-time visibility into operations, To help private sector companies construction activities in full swing infrastructure and construction The market is spread across the Portland Pozzolana Cement, the supply chain, etc. We are the first thrive, the government has been and revive the construction market,
T 2020 sectors, and the cement sector is country because the thrust to ‘Product of the Future’, is also Indian cement company to move approving their investment schemes. especially the realty sector and large expected to largely benefit from it. infrastructure development is prepared by a fully-automated, to the Cloud (IaaS & SAS model). We In the Union Budget 2020-21, the infrastructure projects. While cement production has directly proportionate to the dry manufacturing process using work with Cloud first & Mobile-first government of India has extended reached 334.48 million tons (MT) demand for cement. state-of-the-art technology and strict
S JULY-AUGU approach in all our IT initiatives. benefits under Section 80 - IBA of the
MARKET SPEAK text maithili salunke
Kiran Shah Owner, Shubhaam Concrete Floors Pvt Ltd, Mumbai
in infrastructure. It will take a little longer for developers to gear up.
The cement and concrete industry is so big that I can’t comment on the entire size and value of the market, but the industry is quite organized, in all the sectors i.e commercial, now; there is a very small residential, etc. quantum of people who are looking into concrete furniture. Products and Process As I mentioned earlier, our core Impact of COVID business is concrete flooring, but The industry has been very highly Company we also deal in the warehouse affected due to COVID. The most Shubhaam Concrete specializes and industrial sectors, i.e affected areas are the residential in concrete flooring. In 1991-92, industrial flooring. Another and commercial markets. There there were several industries in product we have is ‘stamped are a lot of funding issues • COMMERCIAL PLYWOOD Bombay that needed their existing concrete’, which also has very currently and I do not anticipate • MARINE GRADE PLYWOOD floors to be resurfaced. This is good demand in the market. much development in this area for how we got started, because the There is no special technology the next 3 to 6 months. The main • HARD WOOD MARINE PLY chemicals that were required involved in the manufacturing reason for this is that there are no • PINE WOOD BLOCK BOARD for such flooring were already process, it’s just one formulation projects available in the market available with us. After completing and a few machines are and builders and developers • PINE WOOD FLUSH DOOR a couple of similar projects, we involved. We use a floor are facing funding issues. The decided to focus on concrete hardener machine and don’t annual average turnover now is 50 flooring as our main business, and require any high-tech machinery, percent down compared to earlier. have been evolving different types but for the flooring industry we and designs ever since. do import the machines from As far as the government is the USA and other countries concerned, they are already Market and Industry as those are very important helping the industry on many The commercial sector has been for carrying out flooring work levels, and they have developed doing well all these years. The efficiently. One such machine quite a lot of loans at low biggest improvement in the is the Laser Screed which is not percentages. But, at the end of market has been the boom in the available in India; the entire the day, it comes down to builders infrastructure sector, primarily due market has been importing this T 2020 and developers facing funding to the involvement of government. machine from the USA, Spain issues, as there are either no Right now, demand is a little and some other countries. projects or those that are there, down, but I feel confident that are already stuck. There is also a S JULY-AUGU over the next six months, there In India, there isn’t much labor shortage, but we can hope Dealers are invited for PAN India might be a good deal of progress demand for concrete furniture for the best in the future. and scientific and ISO conformant LCA of the environmental impact of each individual U.S. hardwood specification at the point of supply New report demonstrates the to manufacturers in export markets. AHEC has highlighted the importance of a risk-based approach to responsible timber sourcing in which the first step is to assess the sustainability of U.S. hardwoods quality of forest governance in a supply region by combining data on forest resources with information on forest laws and institutions. AHEC's strategy goes beyond forest certification systems like FSC and PEFC As such, the AHEC website hosts an interactive forest map to provide easy access to data and is much wider in scope than most timber procurement policies derived from the USDA Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program on forest volume, “We have developed the that the choice of American growth and harvest. Users can drill down to American Hardwood hardwood is environmentally show data on individual hardwood species at Environmental Profile (AHEP) sound and exceeds all legal national, state and survey unit level. This level system to provide our members requirements,” concluded Wiles. assurance, in isolation, that timber A new report released of access to data on the distribution growth with a simple mechanism to is at negligible risk from illegal by the American Hardwood Export and harvest of commercial species at national deliver species-specific data Note : The American Hardwood harvest,” said Roderick Wiles, AHEC Council (AHEC) has demonstrated level is unprecedented in the global forest required to be reported for Export Council (AHEC) is Regional Director. the sustainability of U.S. hardwoods products sector. EUTR and similar regulations, the leading international by comparing the requirements trade association for the U.S. Forest certification systems like alongside sustainability data for responsible timber sourcing in hardwood industry. They run FSC and PEFC require compliance In addition, AHEC was also one of the first to from the FIA, the LCA and the regulations (such as in EUTR in the EU a worldwide programme to with a wide range of good forestry commission a comprehensive LCA study of Seneca Creek Assessment, and Lacey Act in the U.S.) and typically promote American hardwoods practices to be demonstrated by an the cradle-to-gate environmental impacts of to their overseas customers. contained in public and corporate in over 50 export markets accredited third party. It also requires delivering U.S. hardwood lumber and veneer Looking ahead, we want to push procurement policies. The results and produce a full range of that wood be traced through the in 2012. AHEC has subsequently used this for full integration of scientific of the report proved that, in several technical publications. For more supply chain to a certified forest data to inform LCAs of finished products and life cycle data into the design important respects, AHEC’s strategy information, please visit: management unit. The concept structures containing U.S. hardwoods regularly and procurement process, goes beyond what is deliverable by www.americanhardwood.org. has proved valuable for buying undertaken for AHEC demonstration projects. confident in the knowledge forest certification systems like FSC and Roderick Wiles, organizations seeking to demonstrate The AHEC website hosts an LCA tool providing PEFC and is much wider in scope than Regional Director, AHEC. that their timber products derive easy access to environmental impact data. most timber procurement policies. from well managed forests. However, AHEC’s strategy to date has been to “Many of the requirements certification has certain limitations. AHEC also commissioned the first ‘Seneca demonstrate sustainability against focused on certification do not While it can work well when timber Creek’ study in 2008 and an update of this environmental attributes identified in accommodate the need for is traded in large and relatively study in 2017. The studies aimed to facilitate scientific life cycle assessment (LCA) as broader metrics of sustainability undifferentiated commercial volumes U.S. hardwoods’ continuing market access by relevant to U.S. hardwoods. in the forest products sector and from large state and industrial forest providing a credible third-party assessment of to recognize the importance of holdings, it is technically more the risk of illegal and unsustainable practices Technical requirements for ‘sustainable other issues not covered by forest challenging to implement where with respect to U.S. hardwood exports. The timber’ are still typically equated certification including carbon forest management units and supply results of both studies have been very positive. with FSC and PEFC certification. These footprint and other life cycle chains are more fragmented. are however increasingly out of step impacts; transparent information with the growing recognition that the on national forest governance; In the absence of large-scale forest major problems associated with the quality of forest resources at certification, the U.S. hardwood forests in some parts of the world, national and regional level; clear sector has developed innovative such as deforestation and poor data on species volume, growth mechanisms to demonstrate and governance, cannot be addressed and harvest; efficient use of the communicate the sustainability through forest certification. full range of species and grades; of products drawing on
T 2020 Unlike strategies based on forest product durability; and waste comprehensive national data sets certification, AHEC aims to address management and disposal. These on forest resources, governance all these environmental aspects amongst other factors have led and management; independent while recognizing the importance of the European Commission and risk assessment involving the S JULY-AUGU independent assessment and expert other authorities in the EU, to collection and systematic analysis review to ensure the credibility of conclude that neither FSC nor of data to demonstrate that all U.S. sustainability claims. PEFC certificates are an adequate hardwood is legal and sustainable; Technical talk Ocean Collection: Mater Rubab Collection: Obeetee Inspired by a 1955 classic by Jørgen and Nanna Ditzel, the India’s largest hand-woven luxury carpet makers have launched furniture collection is primarily made from ocean plastic their newest hand-loomed collection, Rubab. This portrays waste. Sustainable in approach, the product is equally tessellated patterns inspired by Islamic architecture with motifs in functional and durable with its metal frames, repeated pure silk and natural wool texture with the hand-sheared pile. slats and ability to be dissembled and rebuilt into other furniture pieces. Website: www.obeetee.com Website: www.materdesign.com
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