Hummingbird News Desk
CHENNAI, 25 MAY: The India Cements Ltd. has forged a strategic collaboration with Chennai-based deep tech start-up Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions, which specialises in construction 3D printing, marking the beginning of an ‘age of sustainability’ in the Indian construction industry.
The collaboration between the two firms is a first-of-its-kind for the construction industry in India. It is also well-aligned with the ‘Nation Building Initiative’ for India advocated by ICL Managing Director N. Srinivasan, the company said in a statement.
The MoU was signed today by Ms. Rupa Gurunath, Whole-time Director, India Cements Limited and Mr. Vidyashankar C., Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions, in the presence of senior management team of India Cements Limited and co-founders and investors of Tvasta. Professors from IIT Madras were also present along with representatives of Third Derivative (USA), a global climate technology accelerator, joining through video conference.
The collaboration will see India Cements and Tvasta engaging in dedicated R&D and synergetic exchange of technology-centric efforts to develop new raw material formulations used in 3D printing applications and offering mutual strategic support for key projects that offer cost and time-effective, dwelling solutions to the diverse strata of society, it said in a statement.
Founded in 2016 by IIT Madras alumni, Tvasta developed a ‘Made in India’ technology focusing on leveraging automation and robotics in 3D printing platforms for faster, economical and sustainable construction methods compared to conventional technologies. Tvasta is currently based out of Chennai and Bengaluru.
India, being the third largest energy consuming country in the world, has a heavy reliance on traditional, fossil-based energy sources and as such, the trigger for adapting sustainable technologies is long overdue. Under this backdrop, Tvasta’s technology (Construction 3D printing) has amply demonstrated its viability as an energy-efficient construction method for various applications such as housing, sanitation, infrastructure and defense, among other areas, the company said in a statement.
Highlighting the unique aspects of this collaboration, Ms. Rupa Gurunath, Whole-time Director, India Cements, said, “With India having developed a vibrant start-up eco- system, we are delighted to forge partnership with Tvasta, a fast-paced 3D printing firm founded by IIT Madras Alumni. We are excited that this technology delivers cost-effective construction method that offers quicker turn arounds as compared to conventional methods. But what we are particularly enthusiastic about is that this methodology is more eco-friendly, with lesser consumption of water and sand, two of our most precious resources provided by Mother Nature. ‘Sustainability’ is a new phenomenon for the construction industry, and we are privileged that this partnership is just about to bring it within the easy reach of the common man in our country”.
The recent past has already seen India Cements offer tremendous support to Tvasta on raw materials for several of its projects which include ones at Jaisalmer and Gandhinagar for the Indian Air Force and a certain ongoing infrastructure project in Mumbai for a corporate entity.
Mr. Vidyashankar C, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions, said, “We are confident that this partnership will significantly improve our technology’s orientation to sustainability, resulting in highly-efficient and targeted solutions. Not only will this lead to an expedited unification between technology, sustainability and construction in India, but with the support of India Cements, this will pave the way for such a unification in the global markets as well.”
Tags: #IndiaCements #TvastaManufacturing #Chennai #IITMadras #3DPrinting
