From machines for hollow blocks, paver blocks, retaining wall blocks, flyash bricks and kerbstones, Columbia Machine Engineering (I) Pvt Ltd provides complete plant solutions including batching-mixing equipment, accessories and moulds for all kinds of concrete block products wholly manufactured in India. Later this year, the company plans to introduce a fully automatic plant which will provide larger capacity with increased automation in pallet and product handling. It will drastically reduce dependence on manpower and increase efficiency at affordable costs. Interview excerpts:

Could you talk about your remarkable success of being one of the major manufacturers and suppliers of concrete product solutions in India?
Columbia Machine is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of concrete products equipment, serving customers in over 100 countries. From mixing and batching to automatic cubing and splitting, Columbia builds a complete line of equipment to outfit entire concrete products plant. We pioneered the first semi-automatic, hydraulically operated block machine over 75years ago with the unique Columbia Vibration Technology (CVT). Today, with over 15 years of local manufacturing at Vadodara in Gujarat, we offer the most versatile, innovative concrete products equipment in the industry. In India, our existing Concrete Product Machine Model SPM20 provides our customers a plant with an ideal combination of a high technology machine with medium capacity and low investment in pallet and product handling. Its simplicity and ease of installation/dismantling makes it an ideal solution for project works. The Model SPM20 can be used to produce a wide range of high quality concrete products such as hollow blocks, paver blocks, retaining wall blocks, flyash bricks and kerbstones.  All these features have provided substantial profits and quick payback on investment to over 200 users in India alone. No other concrete products equipment supplier can match the versatility, economy and quality of Columbia. Our experienced local sales and service network, along with our easily available local spare parts, moulds and training facilities, provide unmatched world-class support locally. Our team of experienced engineers can design a plant to fit local production needs as well as provide installation support and training for plant personnel. 

Brief us on your manufacturing capacity.
Our Vadodara factory is spread over 50,000 sq.ft. area with a 30,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility. It has strength of nearly 100 well qualified and highly experienced engineers and workmen supported by sophisticated manufacturing facilities from raw material cutting, machining, fabrication and assembly to be able to manufacturer our full range of concrete block machines, hydraulic press solutions, batching-mixing solutions, moulds and palletizers. 

You provide solutions throughout Asia and Africa. Do you have any plan of expanding to other continents as well?
No, not in near future. Columbia Machine India is focusing its marketing and sales efforts on select countries in Asia and Africa. Other continents are handled by Columbia entities based in USA, Europe and Australia.

Road Minister has set ambitious road development target. How do you see the opportunities in this domain?
Road development provides concrete block manufacturers with opportunities to supply paver blocks and retaining wall blocks. Concrete pavers are practical solution for the construction of roads (particularly in high rainfall areas like Assam), high traffic intersections and shoulders because of their high compressive strength, wear resistance and easy maintenance. Retaining wall blocks produced on Columbia Machines have the advantage of precision height control and are extensively used for bridges and flyovers.  Infrastructure development such as sea ports, container terminals, inland container depots and the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) between Delhi and Mumbai, (covering an overall length of 1,483 kms passing through 6 states) will result in a huge requirement of high strength paver blocks.

Are you planning to bring out any new solution?
We have recently launched the Columbia Vacuum Wet Press CWP4S, which is used to produce high density concrete products such as kerbstones, paving slabs, drain covers and channels. It gives high quality surface finish with low water absorption.

Later this year we will be expanding our concrete block machinery range by launching a completely new machine made in India, the Model SPM30, with capacity larger than our existing Model SPM20 machine. In addition, the manual pallet and product handling of the SPM20 plant will be replaced by an indigenously manufactured, fully automatic rack loader/unloader along with a plate style cuber for product cubing. This will drastically reduce manpower required while improving quality and efficiency at affordable costs.

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We help our customers convert raw materials into profits with industry-leading technology and unmatched durability.

Vijay Kumbhani, Director – India, Columbia Machine Engineering (I) Pvt Ltd