Mohammed Ismail, DGM Process, Bharathi Cement, speaks on the challeneges faced by refractories in India.

The refractory industry is looking for a favourable mining policy to reduce import dependency, even as it is skeptical about the quality of domestic raw materials.

The brand "Bharathi" was founded in the year 2009. It was the first greenfield project to come up in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh.

The two-day Cement Expo and International Conference inaugurated in Hyderabad on December 20, 2018 had seen participation of more than 200 decision makers, 80 brands, 1,200 visitors, besides various industry bodies.

Though brand pundits are brushing aside cement terming it as a 'commodity', Indian cement companies are focusing on brand building for hogging the consumer's mind space, even among bulk users.

French cement giant, VICAT Group, said it has invested Rs 300 crore this year out of Rs 1,700 crore of investment it had announced to expand cement capacities to meet growing demand in south and eastern parts of the country and launched its VICAT brand in India.

The State assembly was informed that the Tamil Nadu Government has taken steps to provide infrastructure facilities at a cost of Rs 30 crore at the proposed Aerospace Park in Chennai.

Bharathi Cement started commercial production on 28th September 2009. Today, Bharathi is a leading cement brand and company in South India.

The Indian cement industry is more than 100 years old, but has seen major tech¡nological changes over the past 25 years. The advancements in quality control and testing laboratories started about a decade ago.