Dirk India to up output

Dirk India Pvt Ltd (DIPL), a fly ash-to-partial cement replacement product maker, is planning to maximise plant output by creating high-end concrete improvers using new technology at its Nashik plant by March 2007. The company is investing Rs 18 crore for the purpose.

DIPL, which is part of the Dirk Group, is the first fly ash recycling plant in the country and is located next to Eklahare Thermal Power Station, 20 km from Nashik.

Its recycled fly ash, which is used to replace cement, is branded as `Dirk Pozzocrete'. The plant has a recycling capacity of 2,500 tonnes per day.

Speaking to Business Standard, Georg Dirk, chairman, Dirk Group, said, "Currently our production results into 25 tonnes per hour rejects (material not suitable as partial cement replacement for structural concrete) from the classification plant. Only some of these rejects are being sold to block makers. The rest is disposed of into the existing lagoon of the power station."

"Our new investment will convert the rejects by milling into proper cement replacement material. We are also adding a fly ash conditioning plant to produce stabilised fly ash for fill and road-based purposes. These additions to the Nashik plant will increase the product output by 18,000 tonnes per month or 2.16 lakh tonnes per year. It will also result in 100 per cent recycling of all inputs," he added.

Dirk India exports 50 per cent of its production to all Gulf countries, Middle East, east Africa and Iran.