Precast: technique that is futuristic

Despite rapid economic growth, logistic planning and concrete quality remain sore points of using precast concrete.

Time and quality is the essence of any construction project. Precast ensures both time and quality are taken care of and reduces uncertainty in any construction project to almost zero.

Market outlook for precast concrete
Market for precast concrete is increasing at an enormous rate. Madhurima Masoom, Assistant Manager (Sales & Marketing), Elematic India Pvt Ltd says, “There are enquiries from remotest part of the country and precast plants are coming up all over India. With the construction giants such as L&T, Shapoorji Pallonji, Brigade, etc., all set to enter the market; the race to be an expert in the field of precast has begun.”

Time frame demanded in most of the projects these days has necessitated the adoption of precast. Since, it is a technological advancement in construction; the government does give special incentives. With all the factors facilitating precast in such a big way, it is sure to grow in leaps and bounds.

According to Shridhara C.N, Head-Technical & Marketing, Preca Solutions India Pvt Ltd, “Indian market is booming for accepting the precast technology. Most of the clients are admitting precast will be the option for future construction.”

Latest offering
Elematic India has setup a manufacturing plant for precast equipment at Alwar, Rajasthan. At present, Elematic India has more than 25 installations across India. Madhurima from Elematic says, as a part of services for the precast building, Elematic offers engineering services and project management services.

Elematic provides complete support to the customer from concept to execution of a precast project and have a 100-member, well-qualified team offering:
• Concept design and engineering services.
• Plant selection and designing of plant.
• Plant installation and training.
• After sales service.
• Third party services such as quality audit and project management.
Shridhara says, “Our precast products are column, beams, hollow core slabs, precast slabs, stair cases, wall panels, trenches and drains.”

Space availability: key challenge
The major challenges faced while using precast concrete are logistic planning. Most of the sites have lack of space to keep the cranes. Also most of sites have no access to crane movement. Availability of higher capacity cranes is limited, says Shridhara.

Factors affecting quality while preparing precast
Quality of concrete
Madhurima says, “The most important factor in any precast project is the quality of concrete. The better the quality of concrete the better would be the quality of the end product.”

It is very important to have the correct proportioning of raw material and also using the appropriate raw material. Precast also helps in reducing the carbon footprint and therefore facilitates sustainable development.
Shridhara explains the following factors affecting the quality while preparing precast:

• Quality of raw materials to produce the concrete.
• The availability and continues supply of quality aggregates are challenge.
• Availability of quality manpower to execute the precast elements is very big challenge, which is directly affecting the quality of the precast.
• Good quality of moulds and materials are not available in India.

“Indian market is booming for accepting the precast technology. Most of the clients mentally making up to admit as precast will be the option for future construction.”
Shridhara C.N, Head-Technical & Marketing, Preca Solutions India Pvt Ltd.

“The most important factor in any precast project is the quality of concrete. The better the quality of concrete the better would be the quality of the end product.”
Madhurima Masoom, Assistant Manager- Sales & Marketing, Elematic India Pvt Ltd.