The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Making a concrete move

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Friday, Feb 24, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Making a concrete move

The greatest advantage of the ready mix concrete is that it ensures a better site management, also more and more people are opting for ready mix concrete these days because of its convenience and economy factor. They are also striking an eco-friendly note by using manufactured sand in most cases.

As far as the realty scene in Kochi is concerned, the equations are fast changing. Today, on the construction front, almost every aspect of the business is undergoing revolutionary changes. And, one of the most notable changes is that, with the real estate market having expanded quite steadfastly, several allied industries have surfaced and have carved a niche for themselves in their own right. Of the several such segments ready mix concrete is one such area that has become remarkably functional in a rather hectic manner.

Traditionally, concreting of a house was considered to be the most strenuous facet in the construction process of a structure. The day of concreting of a house always painted a picture of hurried activities through out the day. But with the times and technology having changed for the better, the ready mix concrete players in the market have taken up the cumbersome yet most vital job in a most fashionable manner.

The uniformed workmen and heavy, sophisticated trucks laden with ready mix concrete have become a common sight in most of the construction sites across the city. Be it a humble single storied house or a multistoried building, the setting is no different. It's true that, in less than three years of their entry into the market, the ready mix concrete providers have redefined the very nature of construction business, precisely the matters concerning concreting.

Though, in a restrained manner, they have made their presence felt in Kochi. It was in the year 2003 that Neptune Ready mix Concrete pioneered the concept of ready mix concrete in the city. And today as many as five players have entered the market and according to industry sources, more players are likely to enter the Kochi market in recent future.

"We were the first company to introduce the concept of ready mix concrete in Kochi and down three years, the awareness level regarding ready mix concrete has gone up significantly and looking back we do feel that it was a bold decision", says Sunil George, General Manager with Neptune Ready mix Concrete. Today, there are more players in the ready mix concrete segment and as such the total business volume also has grown manifold, he adds.

It's true that with many players around, the business is bound to grow and to begin with, today, almost all the pile concreting business has been taken over by the ready mix concrete providers. The greatest advantage of the ready mix concrete is that it ensures a better site management. And almost all the players have separate pricing for their commercial and retail customers.

Mobi P Mathew, Managing Director of Supreme Ready mix Concrete which is perhaps the latest entrant in the segment also feels that more and more people are opting for ready mix concrete these days because of its convenience and economy factor. "The wastage of concrete is quite minimal in our business and as such the customers stand to gain a lot", remarks he.

With too many players around, the market for ready mix concrete is growing by the day and the well equipped and fully computerized production units are all set to deliver any volume in no time. They are also striking an eco-friendly note by using manufactured sand in most cases. However, costs go up in case of river sand is used as raw material.

According to Vinayak of L&T ready mix concrete, the time factor is what puts the players of this segment in the frontline. He is also of the opinion that, people in this part of the world are more quality conscious and as such all concerned are quite vigilant in maintaining optimum quality control. Jibu P Mathew, Executive Director of Supreme Concrete also endorses this fact by saying that as the ready mix concrete comes from highly sophisticated plants, it maintains the water-cement-sand ratio in a perfect manner.

"The ready mix concrete has become popular within a very short span because of its quality, productivity and convenience", reveals Soby C Madathil, Executive Director of Contour Ready mix. Contour's plant at Vennala in Kochi is said to be the one with the highest production capacity in the State. C.V.C Ready mix, part of the renowned Cherian Varkey Construction Co is also one of the leading players in the ready mix concrete segment. Within a short period of its launch C.V.C Ready mix has come to be identified as a much popular brand in the ready mix concrete domain.

With a number of advantages like pricing, convenience and speedy completion of the work, the ready mix concrete players are tapping a market that was lying unexploited and if the business figures are any indication, they are here to stay.

- SUNIL

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