Making Waves in Equipments Market
Transcription
Making Waves in Equipments Market
Winner of CIDC VISHWAKARMA Award 2011 Volume - 7 | Issue - 3 | January 2014 | `.30/- Logon: www.bandcpublications.com Real Estate Building Construction Materials Equipments Interior / Exterior Home Loans BULL MACHINES –Making Waves in Equipments Market DEEPA SAND MACHINE AN IDEAL CHOICE FOR MSAND Deepa Crushers, a name synonymous with stone crushing for over four decades now introduces an Impact Crusher to manufacture. MSAND A Horizontal Shaft Impact Crusher designed to manufacture M Sand as per ISI Requires very low power 45 KW only. Feed size upto (-) 40mm Consistent quality with cubical sand out put. Crushes 30 Tons per hour Simple mechanism; Easy to maintain and operate. In the present power situation, an ideal machine and can be easily installed in all quarry/ Crusher units. Quarry spalls, aggregates upto 40mm not readily marketable can be profitably converted into M Sand. DEEPA MACHINERY MANUFACTURERS PVT. LTD. 28, SIDCO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE POST, COIMBATORE - 641 021 0422 - 2672721, 2672731 Fax: 2676731 Mobile: 98430 87273, 91595 01197, 98438 09164 E-mail : [email protected] 2 | Our Building and Construction | January 2014 January 2014 | Our Building and Construction | 3 6 www.bandcpublications.com Volume - 7 Issue - 3 JANUARY - 2013 Liebherr‘sA 934 C Litronic Material Handler Editor In Chief: Dr. KR. Thooyavan 10 B.E., M.T.P, F.I.E., FITR, F.I.V., PG.DIP.US (ITC-Holland) Ph.D Chief Planner & Member (Retd), CMDA Former Dean Hindustan College of Engg. Consulting Editor: Architect R.R. Siva, B.Arch., Editorial Advisory Board: Er. A. Veerappan M.E. (Struct), RLE., M.I.C.I, Dip [email protected] Former Special Chief Engineer TNPWD, Structural Consultant Prof A.R. Santhakumar Emeritus Professor. Dept. of Civil Engg. I.I.T, Madras, Chennai 18 Architecture In Antwerp - Flanders BULL MACHINES – Making Waves in Equipments Market Former Dean of Civil Engineering Anna University, Chennai ER.R.MOHANRAJ B.E.,M.I.E, F.I.V, PG. Dip. In QS&V. President, FACEAT&P (Federation of All Civil Engineers Association of TamilNadu & Puducherry) Member Welfare Trust T.V.N. Duraipathy Interior Counsultant, Chennai Editor /Publisher Causes Of Cracks In Concrete Structures AL. Alagappan Associate Editor Ragavan Mohan 30 Photographer Vimal Creative Head B&C Design Studios Legal Advisor TRK. Muthuraman, B.Sc, B.L., 26 New RX24 breaker from Chicago Pneumatic Use Deepa Sand Machine Marketing Team M.Karuppan Chetty (Ravi) Admin Head: Uma Our Bank: IDBI Bank 39 Regular Feature Plan - Page No. 48 Mogappair, Chennai - 3 Disclaimer: The information and opinions contained in this magazine have been compiled from sources believed to be reliable. Use of data and information contained in this publication is at your own risk. This publication is not, and should not be construed as, an offer to sell or solicitation to buy any property. This publication may not be reproduced, distributed or published, in whole or in part, by any recipient hereof for any purpose without prior written permission from Our Building and Constructions. The products / projects discussed and opinions expressed in this publication may not be suitable for all investors, who must make their own investment decisions, based on their own investment objective, financial position and needs. This may not be taken in substitution for the exercise of independent judgment by any recipient. The recipient should independently evaluate the investment risks. Our Building and Construction and affiliates accept no liabilities for any loss or damage of any kind arising out of the use of this magazine. FACEAT & P Association News COCENA Meeting – Page No. 40 FACEAT&P Trust President Message - Page No. 42 FACEAT&P President Message - Page No. 46 B&C Publications Block No. 2, Door No. 431, Behind MMM Hospital, Mogappair East, Chennai, Tamilnadu - 600 037. India. Ph : +91- 44 - 6454 3377/ 4354 0330 www.bandcpublications.com Email:[email protected] 4 | Our Building and Construction | January 2014 The 234-metre, 44-storey China Central Television (CCTV) headquarters in Beijing, China, has been declared the ‘Best Tall Building Worldwide’ by the U.S.-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) at its 12th annual awards ceremony and dinner in Chicago in November 2013. The CCTV tower, designed by OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture) and now a prominent landmark in Beijing’s Central Business District, was one of four highly distinctive structures which were earlier named regional winners for 2013 by CTBUH. Representing the Asia/Australia region, it prevailed over the other three entries: The Bow in Calgary, Canada (Americas region), The Shard in London (Europe), and Sowwah Square in Abu Dhabi, UAE (Middle East and Africa). CTBUH received more than 60 entries from around the world for the Best Tall Building Awards. “The winners and finalists include some of the most striking buildings on the global landscape,” said Jeanne Gang, awards jury chair and principal of Studio Gang Architects. “They represent resolutions to a huge range of contemporary issues, from energy consumption to integration with the urban realm on the ground.” The CTBUH Best Tall Building Awards are an independent review of new projects judged by a panel of industry executives. Projects are recognized for making an outstanding contribution to the advancement of tall buildings and the urban environment, and for achieving sustainability at the broadest level. In 2013, the CTBUH Board of Trustees awarded the Lynn S. Beedle Lifetime Achievement Award to Henry Cobb, founding partner of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners. His list of tallbuilding achievements includes Hancock Place in Boston and the Library (US Bank) Tower in Los Angeles. The Fazlur R. Khan Lifetime Achievement Medal went to Clyde Baker, retired senior principal engineer at AECOM, who has been credited with geotechnical engineering for seven of the 16 tallest buildings in the world, and a major portion of the high-rise buildings in downtown Chicago over the past 50 years. -- ACHAL NARAYANAN China TV HQ is the ‘Best Tall Building Worldwide’ January January 2014 2014|| Our OurBuilding Buildingand andConstruction Construction || 5 Liebherr‘s A 934 C Litronic Material Handler Liebherr’s high-performance A 934 C Litronic material handler has an operating weight of approximately 37 t. The power unit is a robust Liebherr diesel engine with turbocharger and charge-air intercooler, which complies with Tier 3 / Stage IIIA limits. It is of 7,000 cc capacity with an engine output of 150 kW (204 hp) available at an engine speed of only 1800 min-1. The A 934 C Litronic material handler has a wide support base with large pads for maximum stability. Depending on the working equipment, extremely heavy loads can be raised by up to 17 m and moved out to the same working radius. Thanks to the “Vario Lift Plus” system, the desired working equipment can be pinned into position individually to suit the local operating situation and the nature of the load being handled. Attachment holes on the boom and slewing platform can be used to reposition the lifting cylinders for maximum load capacity within the same working range. “Vario Lift Plus” makes it possible to combine a wide variety of working situations individually with the most suitable kinematics for high load capacity. There is even a specially optimised mounting pattern for efficient loading and unloading from ships. Standard equipment on the A 934 C Litronic is a reliable semi-automatic central lubricationsystem, which can be upgraded without difficulty as an option to fully-automatic operation if desired. The spacious Liebherr cab provides distinctly more freedom of movement; the version exhibited at Excon 6 | Our Building and Construction | January 2014 is mounted on the hydraulic elevating cab mounting that is available as an optional extra. With the aid of the hydraulic elevating system the driver can select the most suitable position for an ideal view of the work area during material handling. The ergonomically designed seat in the cab has a wide range of position settings and can be adjusted to suit the driver’s weight. Automatic air condition is a standard feature, and helps to keep the driver fit and free from fatigue during the entire working day. For maximum driver protection, strongly constructed protective guards can be mounted as an optional extra on top of and at the front of the cab. The tried-and-trusted multitine grapples, wood grapples as well as clamshell grabs are essential tools for every Liebherr material handler. Thanks to their carefully designed geometry, Liebherr attachments are ideally matched to Liebherr machines – resulting in excellent loading behaviour and high productivity. Further information: Thomas Baeuerle Telephone: +49 7354 80-7364 E-mail: [email protected] www.Liebherr.com RAK Ceramics Brings in New Trend - Bathroom Vanities RAK Ceramics India has launched a wide range of bathroom vanities that are just now getting popular in the Indian bathroom scenario. These vanities are marketed under its premium brand “RAK Elegance”. The vanities are available in a range of one door and two door designs. The material of construction is High Density PVC, with Stainless Steel hardware incorporated in it. All this makes the units totally waterproof and suitable for wet bathrooms. Soft close fittings are an added feature. Currently, the customer has a choice of 15 different vanities to select from, with a good choice in the pricing. The units are on display at the RAK Showrooms across India and will be on display at the ACETECH show in Kolkata. January 2014 | Our Building and Construction | 7 To meet the challenges posed by the core areas of the aging cities like Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, planners suggest two prong approaches which include urban renewal, and planned development of new towns at the periphery. These measures have to go hand in hand to achieve the desired results. Attempts are being made in Chennai like other cities in India. Chennai the fourth largest metropolis in India in the focus for economic importance, since being both administrative and financial capital for Tamil Nadu. The foundation for Chennai, formerly known as Madras was laid in 1639 by the British East India Company who constructed a fort-namely Fort St.George for expanding their trade. Due to lot of activities in and around the Fort, the development of Port Royapuram and Central Railway lines accentuated the growth around the Fort. To the north of the Fort, the area covering 5.5 Sq.km bound on the north by old Jail Road, the South by General Hospital Road the East by North Beach Road now known as Rajaji Salai and the West by Wall tax Road now VOC Road, are knit by narrow lanes has become the home for numerous specialty markets such as clothe, diamonds, coral, 8 | Our Building and Construction | January 2014 pearl, silver and other goods and banking. Renamed after Prince. George of Wales George Town emerged on the CBD of Chennai. Rapid expansion of the metropolis, George Town also experienced high growth in trade and commerce consequently to congestion due to maze of activity. George Town due to historic reasons has many heritage buildings, public Institutions and commercial establishments. Though much of the character of the George Town remains intact in the nature and variety of its street scape, many of the old buildings are a constant target of large scale commercialization. The streets and roads form a mesh of large vehicular roads leading on to smaller ones that finally engulf a maze of tiny lanes. By natural growth and historical reasons whole sale activities of all kinds of goods started crowding in this area which ultimately caused heavy congestion and provided jobs for million. The character of the area is also noted for residences for poor and downtrodden. Areas around seven wells with different kinds of activities became blighted. To relieve congestion, steps were taken to remove the whole sale activities from George Town. In this connection the whole sale market complex at Koyambedu has been developed as part of the First Master Plan strategy to decongest the CBD in an area about 296 acres to house the whole sale of perishable goods, food grains, textiles and other allied activities with basic amenities. Out of 296 acres of Koyambedu whole sale Market Complex (KWMC) the perishable goods market (flowers, vegetables and fruits) is functioning over an extent of 51 acres. In the mean while, CMDA and Chennai Corporation are struggling to evict the whole sale flower traders in Badrian Street, George Town. After a long struggle food grain merchants have agreed to move out from George Town (GT) to KWMC, whereas textile merchants have not extended their willingness to move out to KWMC. There is still stiff resistance from the textile merchants. By that time CMDA had to hand over about 75 acres of land ear marked for textile shops to CMRL for their depot and terminal facilities. Hence forth it is bleak for the Textiles to move out from G.T to KWMC. following could be mission: Royapuram Railway crossing being a bottleneck to more to north Chennai from George Town was grade separated. 3. Augment Infrastructure in G.T. As part of the dispersal strategy the inter city and inter state express bus terminus functioning at the Broadway had been shifted to new terminus at koyambedu in 2002 In spite of the arms of traffic police and legal weapons such as “specified commodities Act” enacted by CMDA for solely dealing with whole sale trade, the G.T area still experiences congestion, mainly due to non Co-operation of traders, lack of public participation. CMDA expressed its vision in Second Master Plan as to” make Chennai a prime metropolis which will become more livable, economically vibrant, environmentally sustainable and with better assists for the future generations”, which of course includes the people in G.T. Taking stock of the situations arising out of the efforts made for decongesting the G.T. the January 2014 | 1. Suitable urban renewal policy for sustaining the jobs and economy for the population who live in G.T. 2. Rehabilitation of the poor and down trodden. This needs redevelopment of blighted areas in G.T 4. Making advantage of the high land value in G.T attract the realtors to GT for property development. The property owners in GT have to be mobilized for reconstitution of properties and joint ventures. 5. Efforts for conservation of heritage buildings are needed. The “Madi Poonga” – Hanging Gardens on the British Rules can be revitalized for attracted the locals and tourists. 6. Preparation of budget and findings probably from JNNURM 7. Above all, Public – Private partnership for the Urban Renewal programs both for infrastructure development and for housing is to be undertaken. “Any city which denies / removes jobs and housing cannot thrive”. -Dr. KR. Thooyavan Editor in Chief. Our Building and Construction | 9 ARCHITECTURE IN ANTWERP - FLANDERS Flanders is noted for its fantastic architecture and artwork, a legacy from its monasteries and wealth created by trade. In Flanders, the city of art, Antwerp, is famous for its galleries and historic buildings and there is only one way to arrive in Antwerp: by train. No other approach begins to match the splendour and lavish decoration of newly restored Antwerp Central Station which astonishes first-time visitors. It is only the first of many surprises that Antwerp has to offer. It’s a city that takes time to get to know, partly because its districts have very different identities and characters, but also because each street can be extraordinary mix of architectural styles. Central Station 10 | Our Building and Construction | January 2014 World renowned for its architecture, the Antwerp train station has been selected by Newsweek as one of the most beautiful in the world. The locals call Antwerp’s Central Station the ‘Railway cathedral’. And when you step inside this cavernous station it becomes immediately obvious why. The station’s impressive glass cupola is 75 meters high, and the rays of sunlight that stream through its four enormous windows act like a sundial. The platforms are covered by a huge iron and glass vaulted ceiling, which is 66 meters wide, 186 meters long and 43 meters at its highest point. And with more than 20 different kinds of marble and stone, the lavishly decorated interior rivals the opulence January 2014 | Our Building and Construction | 11 of many palaces. In 2009, the American weekly Newsweek named Antwerp Central Station fourth in its ranking of most prestigious stations in the world. The station is often used as the setting for films, such as the opening scene of the police thriller ‘De zaak Alzheimer’ (the Alzheimer Case) by director Erik Van Looy, one of the most popular Flemish films of all time. Take a train to Antwerp: it’s well-worth the trip! Rubens’ Antwerp Rubens remains an almost ubiquitous presence in Antwerp. The elegant home and workshop he built for himself is an attraction to visitors today, just as it was in his own time. It is, in fact, a pair of buildings, one Italian style that Rubens designed himself, the other Flemish in character that he renovated; making the whole representation of the two artistic traditions that inspired him. One of the most visited museums of Antwerp is Ruben’s House, the 17th century patrician home of Peter Paul Rubens. The palatial house served as both a studio and as the artist’s home from 1616 until his death in 1640. Rubenshuis has paintings by the master as well as from his pupils including works from Jacob Jordaens and Anthony Van Dyck. The museum is well worth a visit not only for its artwork, however. It also gives an idea of how Rubens lived and worked. His house was not only a studio, it was also a meeting place for the rich and famous – his clients included wealthy merchants, diplomats and aristocrats, including royals. Rubenshuis also displays beautiful furniture and household items. And the garden is certainly worth a visit: the landscaping and choice of plants are appropriate to the time in which Rubens lived. Even re-discovered 17th century decorative potatoes and carnations have been planted. Antwerp Cathedral The largest Gothic church in the Low Countries, the Antwerp 12 || Our OurBuilding Buildingand andConstruction Construction || January November 2014 2013 Cathedral is a must-see. Right next to the Grand Place, where you will find yourself surrounded by 16th century architecture. The construction of the Cathedral of Our Lady was a long-winded process: over a period of 169 years, from 1352 to 1521, generation after generation contributed to the construction of the city’s most beautiful structure, brick by brick, slowly but surely. The result is outstanding: a Gothic masterpiece rises up among the medieval dwellings, a lacework of stone with a spire that extends 123 meters above the city. Inside, the church is also an epitome of splendour, adorned with some masterpieces. The church has four works by Rubens, viz. “The Descent from the Cross”, “The Elevation of the Cross”, “The Resurrection of Christ” and “The Assumption”. For more information please visit website: www. visitflanders.in ENJOY GUARANTEED RENTALS From KG Foundations KG Foundations has come out with a unique concept of ‘Guaranteed Rentals’ for its Poonamallee project - KG Centre Point. The deal will be for one year from the date of possession. As per the scheme, started during December, rent at the rate of Rs 10 per sqft per month will be paid to the customers by the builder. The offer is valid till such time a suitable tenant is found but for a maximum period of one year. The prevailing rent in Poonamallee is Rs 4500-6000 for single bedroom apartment and Rs 7500-9000 for double bedroom at Poonamallee. A 3-bedroom flat fetches Rs 10000-12500 rent per month. The prevailing rent in Sriperumpudur is Rs 4500-5500 for single bedroom apartment and Rs 6000-9000 for double bedroom at Poonamallee. A 3-bedroom flat fetches Rs 9500-13000 rent per month. KG Centre Point at Poonamallee is centrally located and perfectly secluded. The project, coming up in an extent of 7.2 acres, consists of 644 apartments spread across 16 blocks with stilt + 4 stipulation. It has been designed with 63 percent open and landscaped space offering a host of outdoor activities to relax your mind. The project will have studio (1 BHK) apartments of area in the range of 515 to 540 sqft, 2 BHK of 690-915 sqft range and 3 BHK of 1055-1120 sqft. Out of 16 blocks, seven blocks have been launched already, under construction and will be ready for possession that will commence by September 2014. In KG Centre Point, every apartment has been architecturally designed keeping aesthetics in mind. The apartments are well-ventilated and based on Vaastu tenements. Kitchens have been conceptualised on the triangular work flow for maximum space utilization and efficiency in movement. Every apartment has been dressed in international quality and branded specifications, ensuring perfect home. Every home is given access to the outdoors and breath-taking January 2014 | views of lush greenery, while staying close to facilities available in the city. There is a 9000 sqft Club House complete with every lifestyle and recreation facility. The site is close to the proposed Greenfield International Airport, and located in India’s Detroit close to a host of MNC manufacturing facilities like Nokia, Dell, Hyundai and Saint Gobain to name a few. Lying close to Chembrambakkam Lake, the site has copious drinking water. It is a stone throw away from St. Johns International Residential School and 10 minutes to Sriperumpudur, Saveetha Medical college/ Panimalar Engineering College. It takes only one minute to reach Bangalore Highway (NH4). A two-minute drive takes to Queens land amusement park and EVP Theme park and 10 minutes to Poonamallee Bus Terminus. For contact: Ph: 044 2499 9999 web site : www.kgbuilders.com email : [email protected] Our Building and Construction | 13 Casa Grande’s TROPICAL LANDSCAPE THEME PROJECT @ killer price Here is a garden-themed apartment project in Chennai while many apartment projects are simply concrete jungles. Casa Grande Pvt Ltd is coming up with the first of its kind tropical garden themed apartment project. The Chennai’s largest villa developer has launched Casa Grande Aldea in Thoraipakkam. The project will encompass 184 units over an expanse of three acres with a focus on green spaces. The project has 1, 3 and 4 BHK apartments of sizes ranging from 600 sqft for 1BHK to 1960 sqft for 4BHK. In this project every square inch is based on the theme of tropical gardens. Be it the terrace garden or the center court- yard with a landscape podium in the centre or the pocket gardens, this project will be one of its kind with enjoyable and utilizable green environs. Complementing the green, Aldea offers 25 features and amenities including a clubhouse, swimming pool, rock garden, gazebo, terrace amphitheatre, movie room, children’s play area, gym and many more. The prices for apartments are fixed at a killer price of Rs 5150 per sqft compared to Rs.6200 per sqft and above prevailing at Thoraipakkam. The prices start from Rs 73.2 lakhs onwards for the 3BHK and 30 lakhs for 1BHK. Considering the price of about Rs 5200 per sqft at locations as far away as Sholinganallur, which is seven kms farther, Casa Grande Aldea provides killer value for investors and end users. It should also be noted that Thoraipakkam has become more of a city location given the fact 14 | Our Building and Construction | January 2014 that it is about 10 minutes drive from Adyar. Thus Aldea commands a heavy demand in the market. Speaking at the project launch, Arun Kumar, founder and managing director, Casa Grande, said, “Casa Grande has always believed in giving customers innovative products. This project epitomizes green spaces inside the apartment and will be a joy to live in.” “It will be a one of its kind thematic project with extensive landscaping as the main feature. The apartments overlook the centre courtyard making living spaces interesting and keeping the community interactive. We are personally excited about his project and will make this project one of the best places to live in Chennai. We are also happy to bring Aldea to the market at an excellent price of Rs.5150 per sqft.” January 2014 | Our Building and Construction | 15 Rental Market also Feels THE PINCH OF DOWNTURN Retail chains jump at the opportunity T he downturn in real estate has not only impacted sellers of properties but also those who rent their properties. Recent renting pattern in commercial complexes that is built in with discounts and flexi-offers only goes to prove the trend but this is just a beginning. Slowdown in Indian economy has pushed usually tight- fisted retail landlords to be uncharacteristically flexible on rents. And many retail giants are catching up with the trend in the rental market. An obvious example was Lacoste India. Many others are following suit. The French brand name has been offered space at a mall in the north Indian city of Jalandhar. In this case, the landlord has gone in for a cut of Lacoste’s revenue, a concession to the tenant to help it protect its sales margins instead of seeking a fixed rent. Discounts for a foreign lifestyle brand in a premium property were unheard of even a few months back, according to Lacoste India CEO Rajesh Jain,. But now developers are coming to the table and are offering revenue share instead of rentals. And it seems the landlord had also offered to furnish the store to secure Lacoste’s tenancy. Many are expected to join the bandwagon because of the expectation of a shortage in the supply of new retail space from 2015. Retailers in India believe they can now negotiate revenue sharing deals or discounts on rent of up to 20 percent. 16 | Our Building and Construction | January 2014 Saloni Nangia, president for etail at Technopak Consultants does not expect the discounts to cross above 20 percent even if the economy does not improve in the next two quarters as she believes there will be lack of supply in retail space. Construction of new malls has declined, according to her. Landlords cut rents during the global financial crisis but traditionally have not been sensitive to changes in the economy, largely because they were cushioned by wide margins. Now, they have been hit by a combination of factors. They have a lot of idle space, some of it expensive, after betting heavily on efforts by the government to open up the retail sector to foreign competitors. But the expected wave of foreign retailers failed to materialise, forcing landlords to offer discounts even in the premium malls and popular high-street locations long impervious to a weakening economy. That has coincided with the broader slide in the economy and the fall this year in the rupee to a record low. GDP growth is running below 5 percent, less than half the rate seen in early 2010, and the pace of retail sales this financial year is expected to be its weakest in three years. There were also some renegotiations going on with the existing leases recently that had fetched a discount of 5-8 percent. Amanora Town Centre, a 1.1 million sqft mall in the city of Pune, is one such mall to have arrived at the deal. Brands such as Hong Kong fashion chain Esprit Holdings Ltd, US clothing brand Levi’s and Britain’s department store Marks & Spencer, are located in the mall. Similarly, relocation of stores is also happening at the back of downturn in the rental market. Prompted by the opportunity of a deal for cheaper rents, Future Retail has relocated stores as against opening new ones. It has opened only two of its flagship Big Bazaar hypermarkets this year through July, compared with 20 a year earlier. It has, however, relocated several to locations offering more competitive rents. Whitbread Plc, is finding better deals on high streets than in malls, with prices down 10-15 percent in the past two to three months. Its India managing director, Santhosh Unni, expects rents to keep falling in the next 6-8 months. Hypermarket chain Spencer’s Retail, owned by power utility CESC Ltd, said rental costs have dropped as much as 20 percent and it has been negotiating for 40 properties ahead of plans to open 80 stores over four years. What JLL has to say, Real Estate Intelligence Service of Jones Lang LaSalle estimates that about 20 percent of retail space is vacant and the gap might increase to 24 percent in 2014. This itself details the pressure undergone by the landlords. Jones Lang LaSalle expects the supply of new mall space to drop to 7.3 million sq ft in 2015 from a record of 13.8 million sq ft (1.3 million square metres) in 2011. Costa Coffee, a unit of Britain’s January 2014 | Our Building and Construction | 17 Agriculture and construction are the major constituents of the Indian GDP. And the GDP growth is driven mainly by these industries. That said, these two industries have seen many a revolutions to the core. Man has been innovating construction activities for ages and civil engineering, considered to be the mother of engineering, has seen many developments all over the world over the years. Yet, India was not catching up with these developments that fast enough for many years. But towards end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century, there was enormous developmental activity in the country, especially in recent times. The field has been growing phenomenally in the last 2-3 decades that many monumental and high rise buildings were swiftly coming up at least in tier I and II cities. This kind of development necessitated the usage of construction equipments. Here, it must be mentioned that numerous historic structures have been raised in those days also and one could realise how the rulers of that period would have struggled to erect such buildings without the availability of equipments. But modern day construction activity is supplied with plenty of equipments and armour and the civil engineers can relax themselves from the issues of labour handling, time factor and customer satisfaction. Further, as the society transformed into a more civilized and modern, there was a dearth of labour and skills forcing human-being to search for a better alternative - that was only equipments. Visualizing of the use of animal resources, such as elephants, in addition to human resources creates horrific feeling. Imagine big blocks of granite being lifted to the top of the tower of the Big Temple in Thanjavur or raising Qutub Minar in Delhi to such a height without the help of construction equipments. One could find out how labour intensive and time consuming it would have been. And in the field of construction equipments, the trend is global in India given the fact that many American, European and Asian manufacturers vie for a cut in the market share. It is to be applauded that many Indian manufacturers are competing with these global players. Tough competition prevails and the adage ‘survival of the fittest’ aptly fits here. BULL MACHINES –Making Waves in Equipments Market Holds Market by its Horns with Vision of Becoming a Global Player 18 | Our Building and Construction November | January 2014| 2013 One such company is Coimbatore based Bull Machines Pvt Ltd that is making waves in the field of construction and agricultural equipments. It may not be surprising that the company could overcome all challenges to reach where it is now and stand tall in the field. Having over half a century of standing in its field since the inception of the parent company, ‘sandfitsfoundaries’, Bull Machines had foreseen the need for the machineries and set up a production unit 16 years back. Now the company has its brand ‘Bull’ well-established in the Indian construction equipment market. Now the company is Our Building and Construction | 31 on the verge of expanding its horizon beyond India. “We are targeting African countries,” quoted the company’s managing director, Mr Parthiban with whom we had informal chat. Here are the excerpts of the discussion. Started in 1997 with an investment of Rs.8 lakh and seven employees, the Bull has grown into an invincible supplier of machineries and implements for construction and agriculture purposes. Now Bull has eight regional offices across the country with staff strength of over 500 personnel. The company has in its list of products 39 tractor attachments for various applications - dozers, loaders, fork lifts. To name a few are 17 feet loader, back hoe loader,dozer, loader with bale grabber, scrap handling front loader, tallest loaders (13.12 ft, 17 ft,18 ft), sugarcane grabber, sand loading, salt loading, front end loaders, cotton handling/ loosening grabbing forks, coal loading, wood handling, booster buckets, loader detachable, radial loader, back hoe dozer, etc.. All the attachments are scratch resistant, dent resistant, and powder coated to ensure high durability and rust proof. These implements come with BQRSL Mechanism which enables exchanging of the attachments within seconds by operating a single lever. As a part of expansion, Bull tarted manufacturing earth moving equipments. These machines were fitted with Kirloskar engines and Carroro synchro shuttle transmission with integral torque converter. And the Bull started marketing its products in the name of BULL SMART since 2011. I can claim with pride that our products, designed to protect the tractor even in worst conditions of maintenance, have been conquering the market since then. Till 2007, equipments/ attachments available to these industries were designed and manufactured exclusively to the European standards and applications and hence were not January 2014 | Our Building and Construction | 19 not supporting either some of the vehicles or some applications and thus were lying idle. As they were not multipurpose and were risk-bound at times, the machines became expensive. There needed a solution to this issue. The research & development (R&D) wing of Bull took up this challenge and designed by 2007 attachments suited exclusively for Indian conditions. Some of our achievements were 17 feet loader for loading rice husk, high dumping at 13.12 feet, tallest loader in India, 18 feet loader and 21 feet sugarcane grabber with HD loader. We have patent for nine products. That said, it is no surprise that our in-house R&D wing is recognised by the union ministry of science and technology. I can also proudly claim that all our products have OEM approval of market giants like John Deer, Mahindra, etc. Here I would like to inform that a BULL SMART can save for its user Rs 11,41,036 in five years. In fuel itslef, the savings can be Rs 6 lakh. Hydraulics of the Bull machine is faster by 6 percent over the pioneers in the field. Bull Smart is the only vehicle to serve both agriculture and construction industry needs. Our manufacturing unit has a capacity to produce 3000 vehicles per year. It has a world class final assembly line unit and state of art powder coating unit spread in an area of 1.20 lakh sqft. We have sold around 15,000 machines across the globe since inception of the unit. And our 20 | Our Building and Construction | January 2014 journey continues towards our vision - A Million Dollar Business Turnover in the next two years. We plan to go global and our target is growing nations like African countries. Our mission will go on and on towards fulfilling the set goals and promises. And we plan to celebrate the New Year 2014 with the launch of our new products -BULL HD 76 and BULL HD 100. Our target next to Indian market is the Hope, Bull will serve continuously with set promises in coming years too. Let the industry cheer as Bull the hard worker - can lead. -K.SRINIVASULU BUILDON GYPSUM PLASTER – An alternative to tackle current sand crisis in the city Buildon - one of the leading manufacturer and importer of gypsum plaster and blocks has introduced into the retail market, a premium variety of gypsum called `Gypsum Plaster One Coat’. The product replaces sand and cement used for plastering of interior walls and ceiling, thus saving 100% of sand and cement consumption of interior plastering works. The green product in powder form is sourced from Iran, the world’s producer of the finest Gypsum Plaster. It has a hardness of about 40% more than any other gypsum plasters available in the Indian market. Priced Rs. 375, `Gypsum Plaster One Coat’ is available in 25 kg bags. With addition of water, the product can be directly applied onto the walls and with Bondit adhesive it is suitable for ceilings. The eco-friendly product is highly safe and the coverage per 25 kg bag is 18 Sq. Ft. with a thickness of 12 mm. The Fineness of 250 Mesh and purity over 96% gives the best atomic bond and an absolute mirror finish. Being pristine white in colour, the surfaces plastered with Buildon Gypsum can be left unpainted if white hue is one’s choice. Certified for quality by the Indian Institutions Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute and Structural Designers & Consultants Pvt. Ltd., of Mumbai, the product in its pure form takes a 15 minutes’ setting time and demands no curing procedures or putty as required for sand -cement plaster. This speeds up the work saving labor in a never-ever-experienced way. Internal finishing works can be done just in 1 week’s time that more details, call 9840047503. “This is the material of the future, given the scenario of uproars to save sand, environment and ecological balance. It saves cost as it reduces nearly 5% of sand and 5% of cement requirements of the entire building construction and involves no putty work for walls. A twin advantage of saving money through minimizing sandcement requirement as well as speeding up the construction work is the best part of the product,” said Mr. Nirmal K Dhiran, Director of Signature Lifestyles P Ltd., Distributor of Buildon Gypsum in Tamil Nadu. Use of gypsum is a long lasting solution to wall plastering, as it will stay intact as long as the building exists. As Buildon Gypsum is in its finest form, it leaves no cracks while nailing the walls. Use of gypsum is already in practice with major reality players of North and West Indian regions including Delhi and Rajasthan that stands evidence to its safety in building constructions. would otherwise take 1 month. The walls will get ready for painting within 4 - 7 days’ time depending on the weather. For January 2014 | Buildon, a member of IGBC (Indian Green Building Council) is the supplier to all major leading builders of Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore, including L&T, Sobha Developers, Unity Infra, Chaitanya Projects P Ltd., Goel Ganga, and Kolte Patil. Our Building and Construction | 21 Samsung’s New Silicon Valley HQ The Samsung site is split into four zones. A plaza contains stone paving, ample green space and selected art. Surrounding this plaza is a café and exhibition space for Samsung to show off its latest gadgets and gizmos. Near to both sits a 10-storey office tower which will house 2,000 of Samsung’s R&D staff and sales personnel. This is the primary focus of the project, and will contain lots of greenery inside, so that employees are never more than a floor away from the benefits of healthy vegetation. Construction of Samsung’s new Silicon Valley (California) headquarters designed by architecture firm NBBJ has begun. The San Jose-based project will cover 1.1 million square feet and feature a 10-storey office tower, multiple garden areas, a green-walled parking complex, and a degree of sustainable technology, including solar power. NBBJ was previously engaged by Google to build its California headquarters. Like Google’s HQ, the new Silicon Valley home of Samsung Semiconductor Inc. will boast some green credentials, such as a rooftop solar array and a tower façade designed to reduce solar heat gain. Natural light will also be maximised where possible, and NBBJ is aiming for eventual LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification. The office tower is clad in white metal and clear glass, optimised to reduce solar heat gain and fill the offices with natural daylight. A large central garden space is placed in the middle of the plot, and at the far west is a sports garden with workout equipment and yet more native trees and plants. Finally, a seven-storey parking garage, featuring a folding green wall, is provided for those who choose not to make use of public transport options like light-rail or bus. Work started on Samsung’s new HQ in July 2013, and the project is due for completion in mid-2015. 40 || Our 22 OurBuilding Buildingand andConstruction Construction || January December 2014 2013 --- ACHAL NARAYANAN LIEBHERR 85 EC-B 5i Flat-Top Crane Liebherrpresents the 85 EC-B 5i Flat-Top cranes. This crane model is being assembled at Liebherr’s Pune plant since 2012. The 85 EC B 5i has the potential to exceed the 71 EC-B, currently Liebherr’s most popular model in India, which offers widely similar specifications. The 85 EC-B 5i has a maximum load capacity of 5,000 kg and can lift 1,300 kg at the jib end, up to a maximum working radius of 50 m. When the 85 EC-B 5i was developed, the emphasis was not only on the superstructure but also on the low-width 85 LC tower system, which has been optimally matched to the new crane and has new pin connectors among the many features that qualify it ideally for inner-city operation. A typical problem when working in town and city centres is limited space. A decisive advantage is that the dimensions of all the assemblies of the new 85 EC-B 5i are so compact. The new 85 LC tower system has a cross-section of only 1.2 x 1.2 m, which simplifies both transportation and erecting work if the innercity site is small or access is difficult. The 85 EC B 5i City Crane can be erected quickly and safely in just about every gap in the building line. in each tower and jib section also ensure efficient erection. The pins are always accessible during erecting work and can be stored conveniently for transport after removal. The 85 LC tower system consists of 11.7 m, 5.85 m or 3.9 m tower sections, with a tower base element 12.0 m long. The 3.9 m long climbing tower section is highly versatile, and can be used inside or outside the building. The 85 LC tower can climb to extreme heights when used outside the building. If other structures prevent this, the new climbing tower can be installed in an elevator shaft. The 85 EC-B 5i, like all Liebherr Flat-Top Cranes, features Liebherr’s “Connect and Work” erecting technology as well as the patented LiConnect jib connector and electrical connections for the drives and switchgear. For further information: Internet: www.Liebherr.com The 22-kW hoist gear, which is standard equipment, permits lifting heights up to 278 m. The maximum free-standing height under the hook is 46.2 m. Connecting pins that can be inserted in either direction are a very practical feature, especially when the 85 LC tower has to be erected or taken down in an elevator shaft where room to manoeuvre is limited. The new pins can be inserted and removed from the inside or outside. Pin magazines installed 18 | Our Building and Construction |January November 2014 2013 | Our Building and Construction | 23 Grundfos Pumps India Pvt Ltd has received the Commendation Certificate for ‘Strong Commitment to Excel on the Journey Towards Sustainable Development’. Rangarajan Ramaswamy, director – service & training, Grundfos India accepted on behalf of the This award helps validate that we are on the right path to achieving our sustainability objectives.” Grundfos India won this recognition based on its sustainability focus and efforts. The company is focussed on reducing energy consumption through the energy and water audits it conducts. The company also contributes towards energy and water conservation by reducing its own impact on the environment. Its headquarters in Chennai is India’s first gold-rated green building (LEED certification by USGBC in 2005) and is energy Grundfos India’s Commitment to Sustainability Recognized efficient with 100% recycling of the sewage, rain water harvesting and with solar collectors and photovoltaics. company, the award presented during the Awards Ceremony 2013 held in New Delhi. Instituted by CII-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development in 2006, the CIIITC Sustainability Awards are conferred on India’s most sustainable companies demonstrating exemplary performance in economic, environmental and social dimensions. Participating companies undergo a rigorous evaluation process that is based on a business excellence model and tailored for the Indian business environment. Commenting on this recognition, Grundfos India managing director Ranganath NK said, “Grundfos believes in doing our part in contributing to a more sustainable world. We therefore first take our own medicine and commit to reduce our environmental footprint throughout our value chain in buildings, processes and activities regardless whether it is a production line or an office. related to its activities and reducing its customers’ energy consumption as well. Further, Grundfos India has been committed to reduce itstotal water consumption by 50 percent of 2008 level by 2025 Grundfos India’s factory also received the gold certification in 2011 from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). In August 2013, Grundfos was the first in India to go for voluntary recertification of LEED and building has been elevated to a LEED EB Platinum certification from Gold. Grundfos India has launched a forum through the social media site, Facebook called ‘Ek Boondh Pani’ – signifying the importance of each drop of water. Through this page, members share water conservation tips and facts to encourage this awareness to be driven home. and to improve the quality of discharged water aiming for zero impact on the surrounding environment. The company is also working towards helping Indian industries and corporates save both energy and water not only through its highly energy efficient products but also 18 || Our 24 OurBuilding Buildingand andConstruction Construction || January December 2014 2013 Grundfos India is also working with students from elementary schools to universities to spread awareness on sustainability energy and water conservation. The company encourages school visits to its facility to showcase the Green Building concept. Grundfos India has been successful in reaching out to more than 503,000 students since 2010. Through these students, the company is influencing their family, friends and communities to conserve water. January 2014 | Our Building and Construction | 25 Developed specifically to provide reliable operation and long working life in the challenging operating conditions frequently encountered in India, the new RX24 medium hydraulic breaker from Chicago Pneumatic combines hybrid gas/oil technology for maximum efficiency with a newly designed breaker box engineered to withstand even the toughest of operating conditions. The advanced hybrid technology used in the breaker ensures optimum transmission of energy from the piston to the working tool, thereby delivering the best possible efficiency and high impact energy. Further performance gains are provided by Chicago Pneumatic’s Power Booster system, which converts recoil energy into usable energy, allowing the breaker to deliver more usable performance for the same hydraulic input. the breaker has been designed with a minimum number of parts, and it has readily replaceable cylinder sleeve that cuts time and costs if repairs should be required. The active ventilation port protects the breaker by reducing dust intake into the tool guiding area, while the unique breakerbox guiding system minimises recoil forces and noise levels and hence reduces the strain on New RX24 breaker from Chicago Pneumatic COMBINING EFFICIENCY & DURABILITY With a service weight of 1,650 kg, the RX24 breaker is suitable for use with carriers in the 18 to 29 tonne range, and provides an impact rate of 520 to 680 blows per minute with 135 mm diameter tools. Typical applications include demolition, rock excavation and quarrying. Other key features of the RX24 include a heavy-dutybreaker box with rock claws and lateral wear protection, a novel gas seal configuration, and a one-piece cylinder and tool holder that eliminates strain and the risk of seizures. To optimise durability and to ensure ease of servicing, 26 | Our Building and Construction | January 2014 the carrier, the operator and the breaker. For further information: www. cp.com. SAFETY MEASURES TO PREVENT FIRE IN HOUSING SECTOR Dr.D.Sivaprakasam, M.Com., M.Phil., B.G.L., PGDCA., Ph.D., Principal, Dr.R.A.N.M.Arts and Science College, Erode. HOW TO REACT IN EMERGENGY? For a single house or for an apartment safety measures are very important. Though the houses are protected from fire, seismic dangers and theft when there is an emergency, the occupants do not know how to react. The architect, builder, building owner and the occupants have the responsibility of ensuring the safety norms. Apart from the mandatory provisions, the stakeholders can take several steps that will make the buildings safer especially from fire accidents. EMERGENGY EXITS There are so many suggestions that can be implemented to make the structures fire safe. Emergency exists are a must in all houses and apartments. The emergency exit signage should be displayed prominently and the occupants and visitors to a building should be familiar with it. The elevators should not be used if there is a fire. SPRINKLER SYSTEMS In the case of multi-storied buildings, sprinkler systems should be provided and all the building users should be part of fire drills. These should be conducted regularly so that everyone in the building is aware how to escape if there is a fire. Fire proof and low smoke wires and thermocols are now available. Though these are slightly expensive compared to the regular materials, they enhance the safety of the building. Battery-operated emergency lights can be provided on the staircases. FIRE ALARM All gadgets that are plugged in for charging should be removed after office hours and the switches should be put off. Since uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems have common and many offices have the systems switched on even after office hours or attach it to the server, a fire alarm should be attached to the server room. The room for the UPS January 2014 | Our Building and Construction | 27 should have adequate ventilation. Diesel-operated generators should not be placed on the terrace. SMALL EFFORTS HAVE GOOD EFFECT In the case of duct AC in offices, the room that has the air-conditioner should not have any other junction box. The building should include common open spaces such as large balconies. The doors should always open outside. If there is an emergency, the occupants tend to push the door and hence, it should open out. The grills for windows are provided for security. These can also be designed in such a way that it can be detached partly when there is an emergency. If a building is modified after some years, then the safety features should not be compromised. Small efforts will go a long way in making the buildings safer and even those who take a small house or a flat should give attention to these. EXCON 2013: ExxonMobil showcases its premium products help companies in the construction and mining industry enhance equipment performance and maximize productivity. ExxonMobil Lubricants Private Ltd featured its advanced lubricant technology for the construction equipment industry at the seventh edition of EXCON 2013. The event was held at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre, Bengaluru during November 2013. During this south Asia’s biggest construction equipment event, the fuels, lubricants and specialties marketing division of Exxon Mobil Corp, India showcased its advanced Mobil DTE 10 Excel Series of hydraulic oils. These products can The event also showcased how Mobil SHC gear lubricants offer valuable energy efficiency benefits across a wide range of industrial gearbox applications. The lubricants are expertly formulated to help reduce maintenance costs, extend oil drain intervals and deliver exceptional protection for key components, even under the extreme weather and load conditions. Another product that was displayed at the show was Mobilgrease XHP. The multipurpose lithium complex greases that are designed to deliver exceptional performance for a wide range of applications and operating conditions, including high temperatures, water contamination and shock loading and extended re-lubrication. 28 | Our Building and Construction | January 2014 In a move that will improve the company’s penetration in the core earthmoving segment and extend its presence in light mining, Volvo Construction Equipment has agreed to acquire the off-highway hauler business of the Terex Corporation for a purchase consideration of approx. USD 160 M (approx. SEK 1 billion) on a cash and debt free basis. December 12, 2013; Bangalore, India: Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has announced that it has agreed with the Terex Corporation to acquire the hauler manufacturer Terex Equipment Ltd including related assets and intellectual property. The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, includes the main production facility in North Hauler Joint Stock Co (NHL), which manufactures and sells rigid haulers under the Terex brand in China. NHL is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Commenting on the rationale of the deal Volvo CE’s president, Pat Olney said: “This is a strategic acquisition that offers Volvo CE considerable scope for growth. The addition of a wellrespected range of rigid haulers extends the earthmoving options for customers involved in light mining applications.” In 2012, the businesses in the acquisition (excluding NHL) had net sales of approximately USD 370 M (approx. SEK 2.5 billion) and an operating income of approximately USD 33 M (approx. SEK 220 M). In will increase the Volvo Group Industrial Operation’s net financial debt by SEK 1billion. The acquisition includes five models of rigid haulers, with proven designs and payloads ranging from 32 to 91 tons. The introduction of rigid haulers will extend Volvo CE’s position in light mining; an industry area that is complementary to general construction, oil & gas, aggregates & quarrying and road building – segments that Volvo CE is already active in. The deal also sees a further three models of articulated haulers added to the Volvo portfolio, with payloads ranging from 25 to 38 tons. These machines support Volvo CE’s already established position in the articulated hauler segment, and offer an extensive field Volvo Construction Equipment set to acquire Hauler business from Terex Motherwell, Scotland and two product ranges that offer both rigid and articulated haulers. It also includes the distribution of haulers in the U.S. as well as a 25.2% holding in Inner Mongolia the first nine months of 2013 net sales amounted to approximately USD 172 M (approx. SEK 1.1 billion) and operating income was approximately USD 5.5 M (approx. SEK 35 M). The holding in NHL will likely be accounted for using the equity method in accordance with IAS 28 (one-line consolidation). The purchase consideration amounts to approx. USD 160 M (approx. SEK 1 billion) on a cash and debt free basis. The acquisition January 2014 | population and opportunities for considerable growth in emerging economies. If approved, the acquisition adds some 500 employees to Volvo CE’s existing workforce. It also allows for the continued use of the Terex brand name on the relevant machines for a transitional period. The transaction is expected to be finalized during the second quarter of 2014. For implementation, approval is required from relevant authorities. Our Building and Construction | 29 B.N. Krishnaswami, Ph.D, Former Faculty, Department of Civil Engineering, NITT, India Director, Time Institute for Materials Testing, Trichy ABSRACT: A thorough knowledge on concrete, being a heterogeneous and artificially made building material, is required in making good concrete at the initial stage, placing and curing of the concrete. This lack of awareness may lead to deterioration of the concrete structure due to various factors. Formation of cracks and corrosion of reinforcement are the major causes for the attrition. At this stage, the repair and rehabilitation becomes warranted. That said, we have taken up here the study of cause of cracks and some remedial measures. INTRODUCTION: Failures in concrete are global phenomenon that brings to light the inconsistencies in our approach and allow us to improve upon. The cracks in a concrete structure upset engineers and public alike and increase their concern about the safety and durability of the structures. This certainly calls for an in-depth study about causes of cracks in concrete structures. CAUSES FOR THE FORMATION OF CRACKS: Physical effects Micro cracks at the interface beetween aggregate & matrix Structual effects Chemical and electrochemical effects Design load Creep Construction effects Plastic shrinkage Sulfate attack Drying shrinkage External temperature variation Alkali - aggregate reaction Accidental over load Formwork movement Construction movement Settlement Vibration Internal temperature gradient Corrosion of reinforcement Frost and freeze-thaw damage 30 | Our Building and Construction | January 2014 Fatigue Deflection BEHAVIOR OF CONCRETE: A variety of factors influence concrete behavior. These factors include design, materials, construction, service loads, service conditions and exposure conditions. Most of the observed behaviors are a combination of these factors working together. EMBEDDED METAL CORROSION PROCESS: Concrete is a high alkalinity material. The pH of newly produced concrete is usually between 12 and 13. In the range of alkalinity, embedded steel is protected from corrosion by a passivating film bonded to the reinforcing bar surface. However, when the passivating film is disrupted, corrosion may take place. CARBONATION: Carbonation of concrete is a reaction between acidic gases in the atmosphere and the products of cement hydration. Normal air contains carbon dioxide (CO2) in relatively low concentrations (0.03%). The level of carbon dioxide is higher in industrial atmospheres as well as due to vehicular movements. Carbon dioxide penetrates into the pores of concrete by diffusion and reacts with the calcium hydroxide dissolved in the pore water. As a result of this reaction, the alkalinity of concrete is reduced to a pH values of about 10, and consequently, corrosion begins if moisture and oxygen are present in the concrete. Carbonation will not occur when concrete is constantly under water. REDUCTION IN STRUCTURAL CAPACITY: The structural capacity of a concrete member is affected by bar corrosion and cracking of surrounding concrete. The research conducted on flexural beams found that in steel with more than 1.5 percent corrosion, the ultimate load capacity began to fall, and at 4.5 percent corrosion, the ultimate load was reduced by 12 percent probably a result of reduced bar diameter. It can be summarised that, in compressive members, cracking and spalling of concrete reduces the effective cross-section of the concrete, thereby reducing the ultimate compressive load capacity. presented the award to Mrs. Snehal Mantri, Director Marketing & HR at the grand award ceremony organised by CII at India Habitat Center in New Delhi. This year, Mantri Developers won a Commendation Certificate for Significant Achievement on the journey towards Sustainable Development. Mantri Developers gets CII-ITC Sustainable Award Again Mantri Developers Pvt Ltd, South India’s leading real estate developer, has been bestowed once again with the most prestigious CII-ITC Sustainability Award for 2013. The award came in acknowledgment to Mantri Developers strong perseverance to excel on their endeavor towards sustainable development. The CII-ITC sustainability awards are an industry benchmark to recognize the contribution of notable thought leaders, promoters and institutions which helped to translate the vision of creating a sustainable world into reality and have successfully instituted sustainability in some element of their business. The label aims at communicating to consumers, investors and business partners that the company is sustainable, responsible and well-governed. Sachin Pilot, union corporate affairs minister January 2014 | Our Building and Construction | 31 SULFATE ATTACK: Soil or water containing sodium, calcium and magnesium sulfates are often called “alkali” soil or water. Magnesium sulfates are less common, but more destructive. All sulfates are potentially harmful to concrete. They react with calcium hydroxide and forms calcium sulpho aluminate hydrate known as ettringite which expands and disintegrate the concrete.Sulfate resistance of the concrete is improved by a reduction in water-cement ratio and an adequate cement factor, with a low tricalcium aluminate and with proper air entrainment. Proper proportioning of silica fume (micro silica), fly ash and slag generally improves the resistance of concrete to sulfate attack. ALKALI-SILICA REACTIONS: Alkali-silica reactions (ASR) may create expansion and severe cracking of concrete structures and pavements. Certain aggregates, such as reactive forms of silica, react with potassium, sodium, and calcium hydroxide from the cement and form a gel around the reacting aggregates. When the gel around the aggregate is exposed to moisture, it expands, creating forces that cause tension cracks to form around the aggregate. [Moisture content of the concrete must be approximately 80 percent: relative humidity at 21°C-24°C.] The alkali-silica reaction may go unrecognized for some period of time, possibly years, before associated sever distress. Thomas E. Stanton was the first to provide a comprehensive explanation for the damages that occurred in the California Highway system in the late thirties. In plain concrete, alkali-silica reaction generates cracks in the form of ‘map’ or ‘alligator skin’ (fig.a). However, in reinforced concrete, the cracks tend to form parallel to the reinforcing bars (fig.b). DRYING SHRINKAGE: On exposure to the atmosphere, concrete loses some of its original water through evaporation and shrinks. Drying shrinkage, if unrestrained, 32 | Our Building and Construction | January 2014 CRACKS CAUSED BY THE ALKALI-SILICA REACTION results in shortening of the member. If the member is restrained from moving, stress build-up may exceed the tensile strength of the concrete. This over-stressing results in dry shrinkage cracking. Correct placement of reinforcing steel in the member distributes the shrinkage stresses and controls crack widths. UNEVEN THERMAL LOADS FOR CONTINUOUS SPANS: Solar heating affects structures differently, depending upon their configuration. Simple span structures deflect up and down and are free to rotate at supports. Continuous structures may behave differently because they are not free to rotate at supports. If enough thermal gradient exists, together with insufficient tensile capacity in the bottom of the member, a hinge may form. Hinges may occur randomly in newly formed cracks, or may form in construction joints near the columns. Hinges open and close with daily temperature changes. LOAD EFFECTS: Concrete problems, such as excessive deflection, cracking, or spalling may be caused - Contd in Page 36 January 2014 | Our Building and Construction | 33 and deep colour, teal symbolises balance and has a subdued richness which is often used to describe tropical seas of shimmering bluish green. When combined with neutral tones and shades of wood, the colour teal is versatile and gentle. Teal has been variously described as a colour that reflects Colour Futures 2014 picks up teal as the dominant colour for the season. This colour has been chosen along with five different inspirational colour trends for interior and exterior decoration. Colour Futures 2014 is part of an annual patented global colour study by paints and coatings firm AkzoNobel, maker of Dulux Paints in India. Every year, AkzoNobel unveils ColourFutures, a colour trend research that forecasts the dominant colour and themes of the year for interior and exterior house decoration. A tertiary colour, teal is a combination of primary blue and secondary green. A sophisticated the times we are living in, of change and of opportunities. It reflects a subtle combination of the natural harmony of green with the tranquility of blue. 34 | Our Building and Construction | January 2014 A set of experts from the fields of design, architecture and fashion draw on cultural sources and influences to unveil these colours and styles. The themes are inspired from fields such as fine art, technology, nature and pop culture. For More details: akzonobel.com www. January 2014 | Our Building and Construction | 35 - Continued From Page 33 by volume changes associated with load effects. REINFORCED CONCRETE: Concrete has excellent compressive properties, but low tensile properties (about 10% of its compressive strength). When subjected to tension, reinforcing bars elongates. Consequently, concrete around the reinforcing bars is also under tension and elongates. When the tensile strength on concrete around the reinforcing bar reaches the limiting value transverse cracks may appear near the reinforcing bars. LATERAL MOVEMENT IN COLUMN: When the column is subjected to compressive load, reduction in height occurs and lateral expansion takes place as well. Lateral strain = Linear strain x Poisson’s ratio (0.1-0.2). The lateral strain generates tensile force that are restrained by steel reinforcement (column ties). Shortening of column consists of the following. 1.Elastic shortening – elastic shortening occurs as soon as loads are applied 2.Creep shortening – creep shortening occurs over long period of time REHABILITATION: Based on the evaluation of the damaged structure and the cause of crack, a suitable repair procedure can be adopted. Various repair procedures recommended by ACI Committee 224 are listed below. or member exhibits inadequate strength, behavior, or stability, it may be feasible to modify the structure using various stabilization and strengthening techniques. q Stabilization is the process of halting a particular unwanted situation from progressing. Settlement of a structure can be stabilized by grouting to halt further movement. q Strengthening is the process of adding capacity to a member or structure. Concrete jacketing of an existing column will add compressive loadcarrying capacity. 1. The resin injection 2. Strengthening and CONCLUSION: stabilization Considering these effects on 3. Bonding of external concrete structure, it should be reinforcement made durable so as to function 4. Drilling and plugging properly for the expected period 5. Chemical grouting of life. Attention is required in 6. Flexible sealing every endeavor on quality of 7. Cement grouting concrete and reinforcement to STRENGTHENING AND create sustainable development STABILIZATION: in concrete structures. q When a concrete structure Tata Housing’s Thane project to have concierge service Tata Housing Development Company Ltd announces the launch of the life style concierge services at Amantra, Mumbai. Concierge services will be a part of the newly launched ‘AUM Tower’. Tata Housing is the first company to launch this service, provided normally in highend luxury projects only, in a residential project in Thane. The company has tied up with Les Concierges, who are pioneers in managing concierge programs with superior service delivery culture and ethics. Through this additional service, Tata Housing will offer their customers a bespoke lifestyle experience by ensuring ‘your wish is their command’. Ranging from domestic to official work - all related jobs is handled by the concierge service providers. From electricity bill payments to payment of taxes, booking train tickets, everything is taken care of by them. Amantra’s AUM Tower, comprising of an exclusive 3 BHK residences starting from 1491 sqft to 1530 sqft, is designed for higher-living which is 30 | Our Building and Construction | November 2013 personified in the state of the art residences that celebrate life. The tower is 34 levels high and provides unrestricted views from all residences. Amantra is the tallest residential structure in Thane-Kalyan road and is also a green haven with 80% open area. Designed by world renowned architectural firm HOK of USA, Amantra’s master plan incorporates an interesting interplay of high and mid-rise towers that weave in the elements of nature. The project offers an elevated jogging tower on the 14th floor. not expose workers to heat or require refinishing of burn ridges. Hereafter, manufacturers and structural works don’t need mechanical fasteners such as welds, rivets and screws.3M India has come out with a new solution for large structure bonding. The key is with 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ LSB Structural Adhesives. These highperforming adhesives are available as toughened or flexible two part epoxy formulas. These offer convenient options that allow manufacturers to replace mechanical fasteners. With a hold that resists vibration and impact to last for the long term, 3M™ ScotchWeld™ Structural Adhesives offer a superior alternative to mechanical fasteners. The products are available in three formulas. These are namely 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Toughened Epoxy Adhesive LSB60, 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Toughened Epoxy Adhesive LSB60NS, and 3M™ Scotch- Weld™ Flexible Epoxy Adhesive LSB90. 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Structural Adhesives help reduce work and worries, with multiple production and end-use benefits. Use of an adhesive distributes stress uniformly over the bonded area and maintains the surface integrity and physical properties of the panel. It also allows manufacturers to use thinner, lighter panel materials without concerns about distortion, splitting or crazing. Unlike welding, bonding does January 2014 | Structural Adhesives can secure even small or thin bonding edges such as honeycomb, and can be applied in irregular patterns to follow contours and random shapes. They also save the work of drilling and surface refinishing, helping keep panels smooth and clean for a more attractive appearance. Finally, Structural Adhesives enable bonding of dissimilar materials without worries of galvanic corrosion or stresses of different coefficients of thermal expansion and contraction. The adhesives are easy to apply, with availability in 400 ml EPX™ cartridges as well as pails and drums with a convenient 1:1 mix ratio for use in meter mix equipment. Competitively priced, 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Structural Adhesives provide the quality and reliability that you trust, and are also backed by 3M’s renowned technical support. The company will provide complimentary application testing and other advanced services at its laboratory for prospective customers. Our Building and Construction | 37 38 | Our Building and Construction | January 2014 Use Deepa Sand Machine MAKE YOUR OWN M-SAND From time immemorial sand is the basic raw material for construction activity. It is required everywhere, be it large metropolis or small village. The quantum of requirement may vary from place to place, but the ushering in of globalization and steadfast development works in a large scale has resulted in greater demand for all construction materials, sand in particular. Consequently, our river beds formed by the natural forces and evolution over thousands of years are now being exploited ruthlessly resulting in a dreadful situation. A situation, we fear what nature preserved for us over thousands of years will be extinct in a couple of January 2014 | years as man goes on dredging the riverbeds with giant machines. Not a day goes without television channels and news media talking about illegal sand mining and government bringing in strict measures to discipline, but the problem persists with increasing demand for sand. So the search for an alternative to river sand began, and after extensive study, a workable, practical solution has been found in manufactured s Our Building and Construction | 39 M Sand is now used worldwide and M Sand is the best and only solution to meet the ever increasing demand for sand. This Sand is manufactured by converting small size stones into sand fines using Impact crushing technology. Since this process utilizes the locally available rock and no transport cost is added on to raw materials or end product, M Sand can be made available at a cheaper rate at all places. Deepa Sand Machine is designed to achieve the above objective of utilizing the locally available raw materials and convert the same into the much needed sand fines using latest crushing technology. The machine is an Impact Crusher designed as per ISI to manufacture M Sand by impact crushing method. Deepa Sand Machine crushes -40 mm stones into sand fines and it requires low power 60/70 HP and crushes 30–50 TPH. Due to low power requirement, the machine can be easily installed in any crusher unit or quarry site in the country side. The crusher is a simple machine and can be easily operated by even semiskilled persons. No high tech person is required for operating and maintaining the machine. Deepa Sand Machine produces cubical sand fines due to impact crushing and maintains consistent quality throughout. It is a sturdy machine, the entire body being lined with special wear resistant alloy steel. Sand fines from Deepa Sand machine is further processed by screening and washing to get various grades of scan as per ISI. Manufactured Sand is graded and washed to ensure correct quality of sand required for the respective work, namely Concrete, Masonry or Plastering work. Deepa Sand Plant is a comprehensive plant comprising Impact Crusher, feeders and Screens for grading and spiral classifiers for washing and conveyors, storage bins, etc., for material handling. All in a compact design requiring minimum labor and power and no pollution. Deepa M Sand Plant Advantages: • M Sand manufactured by Impact crushing method assures strength-stronger than river sand. • M Sand screening ensures proper gradation and sizing and hence workability. • M Sand washing ensures dust and debris free clean sand. • M Sand grading and washing ensures no wastage. • M Sand made locally, not transported from distant river beds- assures lesser price. • M Sand – a high tech product, now at everybody’s reach at most economical rate - All due to Deepa Sand Plant. For More details, please contact us – visit our Website. www. deepacrushers.com PH: +91- 422 -2672721, 2672731 Email: deepacrushers@hotmail. com members. He talked about the value of maintaining calm and patience during ups and downs in the market and cautioned on overstretching business activities in an excitement to reach the pinnacle of the business instantly. Motivational lecture marks last COCENA meeting for 2013 COCENA conducted its regular meeting for December, the last one for the calendar year 2013 at Hotel Jenny Residency, Avinashi Road, Coimbatore, on a fine evening of December 30, 2013. It was special given the fact that New Year celebrations and Special Lecture were the highlights of this meeting. The meeting commenced with houseful audience and the chief guest Tamilaruvi Manian, eminent orator, writer and politician, delivered special motivating speech for the benefit of COCENA 40 | Our Building and Construction | January 2014 The president of the association, Er M Balamurugan dwelt on schemes like Dial COCENA and family welfare scheme. He explained the significance of the schemes and stressed the members used them to their benefit. Advisors to COCENA, Er G Mounaswami, Er K Ragavan and Er A Manoharan, graced the occasion with their august presence. The meeting came to end with a grand new year bash. Planners especially for image building among the people. The key note address was followed by discussion by Members and vote of thanks by Mr. R. Shivakumar, secretary of the Regional Chapter. WORLD TOWN PLANNING DAY, 2013 The Tamil Nadu Regional Chapter of the Institute of Town Planners, India celebrated the World Town Planning Day on 30th Nov 2013. The theme of the World Town Planning Day, 2013 was “Water and Planning: the Fluid Challenge”. The role of Town Planners in the “Conservation of Water Bodies in Chennai” was the local theme. Thiru K.N. Sadhanandh, Chairman of the Regional Chapter welcomed the gathering. Dr. K.R. Thooyavan, former Member and Chief Planner, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and Professor of MEASI Academy of Architecture delivered the key note address on the theme of the World Town Planning Day. Dr.Thooyavan undercoated the importance of community planning and the role to be played by the Town SKT ENTERPRISES 36/9, 2nd West Cross Street, Amaravathi Nagar, Arumbakkam, Chennai 600106. Cell : 9791093003 E-mail : [email protected] January 2014 | On that day Dr. Prof. A.N.Sachithanandan, on his election as the President of the ITPI for a third term was felicitated along with members of the Regional Chapter, who attained superannuation since 2012. Thiru.AnanthaRanjana Doss, Former Member and Chief Planner, CMDA, chaired the felicitation session. The Chairman and other speakers congratulated Dr. Prof. A.N. Sachithanandan and recalled various contributions he has made to the planning profession in general and for the uplift of student communities in particular. Prof. Sachithanandhan finally responded to compliments paid. FIT – OUTS: Our works include * Joinery, partitions and custom made fit out works * False ceiling, glass works, modular kitchen works * Electrical, light fittings, Building Management Service, sprinkler & networking and UPS * Modular furniture and work station * Modular stainless steel, aluminium and Mild Steel * Utilities - carpets, wooden flooring, blinds etc,. * Painting works and wall papers all other works as part of interiors. Our Building and Construction | 41 FACEAT&P Member Welfare Trust President’s Message Happy New Year 2014 Dear FACEAT&P members, Wishing all FACEAT&P members a very happy new year 2014 May 2014 provide a strong foundation for our fraternity in building a constructive future May 2014 bring in a hale and healthy life For all Engineers Have a nice time! Thank you! Er. R. Mohanraj The $170 Million parent company of KLUDIRAK India Pvt Ltd has acquired majority stakes in the KLUDIRAK with quantum infusion of equity. Consequently, beginning 2014, KLUDIRAK India will be renamed as KLUDI India Pvt Ltd. Strategically, this is an extremely significant step not only from resource mobilization standpoint, but also in terms of the strengthening the brand awareness of KLUDI in India. Kludi to go it alone in India Germany based Kludi GMBH has decided to go about on its own in India. Hitherto the German bath fittings major was operating in association with RAK India Pvt Ltd. The decision was a part of its global expansion plans. The company will invest $1.50 million in India to support the expansion plan. This strategic move reflects the importance that KLUDI accords India in its global scheme. 42 | Our Building and Construction | January 2014 KLUDI is targeting a market share on a 5-year perspective of around 1820 percent of the high-end segment of the Indian market by 2018, according to Janusz Palarczyk, Group CEO - KLUDI. He believes the high-end and luxury segment of the market comprises approximately 5 percent of the overall organized market of Rs 400 crore. KLUDI India’s revenue expectations would be exceeding $5 million annually by 2018, growing at 35-40 percent year on year beginning 2014. KLUDI high-end range will be distributed in major metros through KLUDI Premier Stores and KLUDI boutiques in collaboration with high-end retailing partners. Close to 35-40 percent of all investments planned will be for building brand KLUDI. In India, KLUDI made its foray in 2010 by establishing its subsidiary, KLUDIRAK India, promoting the brands KLUDI, KLUDIRAK, Esprit and Joop!, all under one roof ent sessions during the conclave. CREDAI CONCLAVE 2013 Manifests Key Issues CREDAI (Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India) organized CREDAI CONCLAVE 2013 in New Delhi on December 13-14, 2013. The theme for the conclave was “Housing the Game Changer - Leading to Double-Digit GDP Growth”. The annual meeting took place against the backdrop of its continuous efforts over a period of time to persuade and influence the government to take up several reform measures and policy changes. Many topics such as “Road to Recovery”, “Urbanization: Dream of Young India”, “Building a Nation - Contribution of Real Estate in National Economic Growth”, “The Game Changer” were in discussion. Industry voices from across sectors such as real estate developers, parliamentarians and social activists came together for the conclave. Eminent speakers including Dr Girija Vyas, minister for housing and urban poverty alleviation, BJP president Mr Rajnath Singh, Dr Montek Singh Ahluvaila, deputy chairman, planning commission, SBI Chairperson Ms Arundhati Bhattachraya, Ms Naina Lal Kidwai, Head, Indian operations of HSBC, and Mr Uday Kotak, Executive Vice Chairman & MD, Kotak Mahindra spoke on differ- January 2014 | Mr C Shekar Reddy, National President of CREDAI, delivered the key note address. He dwelt on the main concerns of the real estate developers in the country. Reddy’s major concerns are the rising price of land, labour and inputs, high burden of taxation, high cost of funding due to lopsided funding by banks, stunted cash flows, delays in NOC and other clearances and approvals besides the outdated Floor Space Index (FSI) norms. He also emphasised on a need to restructure the approach to help the sector contribute more significantly to the Indian Economy. According to Reddy the key to this change should be by adoption of ‘Single-window and Online Approval System’ to facilitate this growth. The approving authorities will have to do away with their processes which are sluggish and cause inordinate delays in project plans, approval, etc. which translate into a cost escalation of 35-40 percent in the construction costs. The customers can also benefit with a saving of 15-25 percent and purchasing a house become more affordable. He urged the government to do away with the FSI concept, take Our Building and Construction | 43 the approval process online and reduce tax burden on the industry. He reiterated that tax burden of the real estate industry of 30-40 percent has to come down to less than 15 percent. Appreciating the policy of the government of Andhra Pradesh, he cited that Andhra Pradesh government has removed the concept of FSI thereby allowing the developers with unlimited FSI for the projects abetting wider roads and having bigger plots. By this simple initiative, even with higher land costs, the flats are working out to be less expensive making the houses affordable. He urged other states to do away with the FSI concept and help the home buyers. Citing McKinsey Global Institute report that expects the development of the country over the next 17 years to create 70 percent new job opportunities in the cities that are going to be twice as productive as equivalent jobs in rural sector, he believed the urban population is poised to grow to 590 million by 2030 with this rapid urbanization. He also suggested that given the existing housing shortage estimated at 18.78 million dwelling units and the need for about 60mn dwelling units by 2030 as per the report by MoHUPA, the housing and real estate sector is poised to grow rapidly in the next 15 years and require an investment of $ 1.2 trillion in this period. This will require a structured and massive housing program. He also believed the growth of the sector could be raised and costs of the house flats could be brought down aw well by making available funding from the banks. The drawback for the sector several restrictive norms in accessing the bank finance which is just three percent to developers, while it is nine percent to home buyers. Reddy also wanted major changes to registration charges and service tax. He cited the National Habitat Policy that suggests total registration charges of a maximum of 3 percent and urged the government to consider it as a mandatory reform of RAY and advice the states to implement to bring down the tax on housing. On the issue of service tax, he wanted complications in taxing double taxation to be removed. On the RERA Bill, Reddy pointed out that the target is the developer and other stake holders such as urban local boards, electricity authorities, and fire departments are not part of the proposed RERA. This means they are not answerable for their delays but the developer has to bear the brunt. Affordable housing was a much discussed topic at the conclave. The real estate developers present at the conclave agreed that though in the last five years, there has been a lot of progress on the affordable housing front, still a lot more needs to be done to give the housing segment the required boost. Vikram Jain, lead, low-income housing practice at Monitor Deloitte, a management consulting firm, said there is a huge demand for low income housing. “There is a demand for 15 million homes and the demand for these homes comes from buyers with an income of Rs 10,00025,000 per month,” he said. The solution to the rising demand for affordable housing is to build homes with clear title, provide water and electricity, 44 | Our Building and Construction | January 2014 said Jain. “The idea is to build small flats of 229 sq ft flat in space, with no wastage of space, costing around Rs 8 lakh,” he said. Lalit Kumar Jain, chairman, CREDAI, ruled that the real estate sector receives a step-motherly treatment from the government. Stating that the real estate sector’s contribution to GDP is 6.2 percent and it employs over 1 crore people, he said yet it has been ignored and there is a lot of frustration among real estate developers over the treatment meted out to the sector. At the conclave, Rajnath Singh, BJP president asked real estate developers to send a list of its demands to the party so that they can be included in the BJP’s Lok Sabha election manifesto. Rajnath Singh recalled that when the NDA government was in place, the government had focused on infrastructure development and housing sector development. Also, Rajiv Shukla, minister of state for parliamentary affairs and planning, asked the real estate developers to send a detailed report on the problems ailing the sector. Shukla asked CREDAI to create a delegation of developers and approach the planning commission. Union minister of housing and urban poverty alleviation, Dr Girija Vyas, assured real estate developers that the real estate regulatory bill will be suitably modified if necessary. Dr Vyas agreed that the government will do a rethink on multiple taxation of the real estate sector. “We will think about relaxing FSI norms as well and on relaxing loan facility to the sector,” she said. Sobha Developers, LMW combine with élan @ Kovai In an initiative of its kind, Sobha Developers Limited and Lakshmi Machine Works (LMW) Limited have launched a unique residential project in Coimbatore, one of the fastest growing tier II cities in India. The project, élan, will come up at Parasakthi Nagar, Ganapathy. advantage as Ganapathy in Coimbatore is a well- endowed industrial hub with IT concentration. élan is designed in such a way whereby 20% of its units will go in accommodating 1 BHK; 50% will accommodate 2 BHK and the rest will be 3 BHK. Combining comparative strengths of each other, two industry majors in their respective sectors - real estate and textile machinery manufacturing, have come together for the first time in Coimbatore. Some of the eco-friendly initiatives that will be woven into the project are water treatment, sewage treatment and solar heating. It also has excellent landscaping with abundant greenery and vehicle and pedestrian segregation. Furthermore, abundant parking facilities, clubhouse with swimming pool, gymnasium, indoor and outdoor games area along with a jogger’s path will be provided. With a population of over 35 lakhs, Coimbatore is the engineering, textile, educational and healthcare hub of Tamil Nadu. The number of young professionals is rising in the region who have real and aspirational need for good, safe and secure housing equipped with quality amenities. The Sobha-LMW venture looks to fulfill this need through élan. The 4.76 acre development offers 236 units of 1 BHK, 2 BHK and 3 BHK configurations. It has immense locational Sobha Developers entered the Coimbatore market 18 years ago with Harishree Gardens, a 132 acre township consisting of villas and row houses. élan is their second residential development in this market. January 2014 | Our Building and Construction | 45 FACEAT&P (Federation of All Civil Engineers Association of Tamil Nadu & Puducherry) President’s Message Dear FACEAT&P members, I am glad to be back interacting with you again through this journal. To start with, I wish you all a very happy new year 2014. In this issue, I would like to share interesting experience I had during this month with our affiliate associations. I was bowled over by their enthusiasm in coming together, whether it be a technical seminar or get-together. There were two technical meetings in Rajapalayam and Chennai, and two family get-togethers in Trichy and Pattukkottai. All went off in a fantastic manner. I am happy that our members participated with interest and commitment in all the programmes and it is good that we realized the worth of flocking together. Nowadays our engineers have shown interest in updating themselves as revealed by the overwhelming attendance in technical seminars. In December, Region X organized a technical seminar at Rajapalayam that was marked by a very reasonable attendance. The seminar had two key sessions, namely cement as a product and its use and values of sustainability. On cement, Area Manager - Marketing of The Ramco Cements Muthuganesh delivered an exemplary lecture. Hitherto, one would have dwelt on either chemistry or engineering while lecturing on cement, but this dignitary delivered a blend of both that was very useful for the attendees. Overall, it was a highly productive and exhaustive session. Later, Rev Fr Rayappa A Kasi, the catholic priest from Diocese of Vellore, addressed the gathering on the hot topic of current times – Values of Sustainability. It was another knowledge treat to all those present. We all know the Rev Fr is a vigorous campaigner of environmental conservation and on global warming and climate change. He discussed on values of life, nature and other existences. Thus it was a very constructive seminar for all those participated. Similarly, the technical meet organised by Chennai Civil Engineers Association (CHECEA) that followed Rajapalayam event was also eventful. In the meeting, CHECEA felicitated eminent personalities in our field. These included Dr P.Devadas Manoharan, former vice-chancellor of Anna University of Technology– Tiruchi (AUT-T), Naveen Housing CEO Dr Kumar, Dr Ganesan of Royal Institute of Arbitrators, Col Nallathambi from Institution of Engineers and Ar Gopalakrishnan, Retd 46 | Our Building and Construction | January 2014 chief architect from Ponidcherry. All these celebrities shared their experience and knowledge with the engineers gathered over the function. Naveen Housing CEO disclosed how his career shaped up from a humble beginning with CMDA. Dr Ganesan discussed on the assignment and features of the Arbitrators Institute and talked about membership details. Col Nallathambi revealed the origin and growth of Institution of Engineers and its role in shaping up engineers’ careers. He also explained about the recently concluded 28th Indian Engineering Congress held at Chennai. Er MohanRaj talked about FACEAT&P Welfare Trust. I was the chief guest of the function. Complementing these event were the New Year celebrations, a family get-together, in Trichy and Pattukkottai. Members of these associations participated in the functions with zeal and integrity. This spirit is important for us to thrive in future. Once again, New Year wishes to all. We shall continue to discuss more topics in the forthcoming issues. Have a nice time Thank you Er. S. Rajendran READY FOR OCCUPATION @ MUGAPPAIR ONLY 2 FLATS AVAILABLE January 2014 | Our Building and Construction | 47 This House is in the range of 914 Sq. Ft. Building 48 | Our Building and Construction | January 2014 Plinth Area 914 Sq. Ft. Design By: BHARATH CAD TECH, Chennai - 600 004. Cell: 94443 43490 January 2014 | Our Building and Construction | 49 First Time in Tamil Nadu Proper addresses of Building Industry! In your hands! NOW ON SALE 708 Pages 10,000+ Address One Reference… GRAB YOUR COPIES Building Industry Directory Tamil Nadu Edition Vol – 1 (Except Chennai) Rs. 450/- Only For Copies: B&C Publications, Chennai - 600037. Ph: 6454 3377 /98410 76576 Email: [email protected]; www.buildingandconstruction.org ALSO AVAILABLE AT LANDMARK, CONNEXION & OTHER LEADING BOOK STANDS 50 Owned & Published by : AL. Alagappan, at New No. 73, Old No. 30, First FLoor, Bajanai Koil Street, Choolaimedu, Chennai -94. Printed by him at Palms Printer No. 52, Arcot Road, Kodambakkam, Chennai -24. Editor : Al. Alagappan Our Building and Construction - English Monthly Magazine RNI No. TNENG/2007/26421 R.Dis No. 2582/08 Postal Regn. No. TN/CH/(C)/388/12-14, Posted at Egmore RMS Pathrika Channel, Licenced to Post WPP Under No. TN/PMG(CCR)/WPP-184/2012-14 Published on 7th of every month