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The Hindu : Tomkins PLC is a global engineering group manufacturing industrial, automotive and building products across North America, Europe and Asia. Tomkins Building Products Division produces air-handling components, bathtubs, showers, whirlpool baths, door and windows, among other components.Tomkins PLC of London with its building products group has acquired a controlling interest in Rolastar Pvt. Ltd., dealing with the manufacture of factory-made hollow profiles and related accessories for ductwork and air distribution using state-of-the-art technology and equipment.Over the years ducting has gained importance in India. It is one of the prime factors that get billed into a green building concept. A few decades ago ducts were one of those routine building features, but with engineering breakthroughs and sustainable building practices making headlines, air circulation in buildings too have gained momentum.Novel methodsSays Terry O’Halloran, Chief Operating Officer, Tomkins Building Products, “The novel methods that have cropped up in the manufacture and installation of ducts in India have made the whole business a norm for giving the best to brick and mortar expressions.”Tomkins sees excellent long-term growth opportunities for the Indian HVAC industry, and in particular, the air distribution segment. Rolastar’s vast expertise in the field of HVAC air distribution systems, products and services can be seen in all construction markets for commercial, industrial and residential buildings and infrastructure projects. Rolastar currently has four manufacturing facilities spread across India and are pioneers in sheet metal profile, with manufacturing facilities for rectangular ducting.“We can’t afford to be indifferent to the distribution of conditioned air. This is where the quality of duct profiles and sections play a role,” says Terry. “So, our association in India would be strategic given the fact that Rolastar provides manufacturing and distribution network through which other air systems can be channelled into the Indian, Mid-East and South Asian markets.”Tomkins shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange. ( www.tomkins.co.uk)…More

The Hindu : As we dig for underpasses, metros and basements for parking in our cities, let us spare a thought to the damage that is being caused by these actions to the most fundamental of natural resources — our soils and water. It takes years for soil to be created by weathering of the base rock and minerals. The humus created through organic material and microbial action then layers the soil and provides the nutrition for plants and trees. Soil, especially the top layer of it, contain the highest amount of bio-diversity that exists on earth. When we dig and then pave what we dig we are irreparably damaging this bio-diversity.Soil also has a better capacity than water to convert human and other waste to a nutrient. Phosphates and nitrates, for example, are better fixed by soil than water where they pollute.When it rains, water infiltrates the top surface of the soil and percolates to reach the aquifer. The soil layer acts as a filter in the same way the skin of the body keeps the environment out. Soil and the weathered rock have porosity and hold water in different ways and generally for different purposes. Water in the soil usually is utilised by the roots of plants. Only when the soil moisture deficit is met and completed will water start to percolate down into the aquifer and recharge the ground water.ChannelsTrees not only take water from the soil and the weathered rock but also become channels for recharge through the roots. When trees are felled the soil is subject to erosion as well as the channels for groundwater recharge are impeded. This is one reason why we need trees in our cities.For thousands of years the shallow aquifers have provided civilizations water mainly through open wells. While in many places the water table has fallen dramatically to render the open wells redundant, rainwater harvesting measures are…More

The Hindu : Biotech grabs realty sectorBangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai rank among the most preferred destinationsAccording to the Cushman & Wakefield “Bio Reality in India report 2008,” the biotechnology industry would contribute approximately 140 million sq. ft. to the office demand within India by 2010. Even though the country currently holds a minimal market share of two per cent of the global biotechnology market, it has immense potential to develop as one of the major players by 2010 and is expected to generate $ 5 billion revenues, creating employment for a million by 2010 through its products as well as services.C&W conducted a study across 40 cities to evaluate the top 15 locations which have or would witness growth in the sector based on various parameters related to three crucial factors that affect the industry viz. investment environment; social and physical infrastructure; and polices and framework. The maturity in the above factors would foster the pace of development in the sector.Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune and Mumbai emerge as the preferred destinations to set up a biotech facility and scored considerably high on the parameters with each city having distinct fundamentals/factors driving the growth.Better infrastructureThese cities hold proven potential and have sustained the confidence of the corporate entities operating under the sector. They offer better infrastructure and talent pool, the two most important factors in setting up a biotech facility.Sanjay Dutt and Anurag Mathur, Joint Managing Directors, Cushman & Wakefield India, add, “The biotech story is still in its infancy in India, but it appears poised to witness a successful replication of the IT/ITeS precedent. The location preference is also following a similar trend with most of the biotechnology activities currently concentrated in Southern India; however, a strong momentum towards West & North India with increasing interest of the companies is anticipated.”Bangalore scored high on talent pool, Government policy, investment environment and infrastructural facilities. Apart from being the pulse of…More

The Hindu : How citizenship changed a cityD. MURALIOne of the chapters in ‘Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata: A Chronicle of His Life’ by Frank Harris ( www.penguinbooksindia.com) is on the development of Bombay (1852-1904). It begins with a city that was ‘somewhat squalid’, as the author describes in his 1925 book, which was reissued in 2007 to mark the centenary year of the Tatas.“In 1860 the central part, though picturesque, was far from convenient. Narrow gates hampered the traffic, which passed in and out of the congested streets. The Fort, which is now covered with modern buildings, was then an undeveloped tract surrounded by low ramparts. The residential quarter was little but a plague spot, for a population exceeding half a million souls was crowded into mean and unsanitary dwellings.” The vivid description may remind you of conditions continuing to prevail in some places. Brace up, however, for a gloomier account.“There were no byelaws to regulate buildings,” writes Harris. He cites a 1911 book to state that the roads in places became two feet higher than their original level with consolidated filth and that drains, where they existed, were generally choked.Foul swamp“The Bombay flats were still a foul swamp, the receptacle of every kind of filth, a depository of carcasses and offal, to the edge of which crowded the huts of coolies, who lived in a manner so unhealthy that two out of three never survived to return to their homes… The town sweepers left filth of every description lying on the road until it was reduced to a convenient consistency for carting away.”Such was Bombay, as Mr. Tata first knew it, says Harris. “But a growing sense of citizenship gradually incited the leading men to put an end to these sordid conditions.” The city we now see is essentially the handiwork of the Indian communities such as Hindus and Muslims, Parsis and Jews, who “spent themselves and their…More

The Hindu : Steel reinforcement embedded in concrete is believed to be safe against corrosion. However, it corrodes especially in aggressive environments. When rebar corrodes, it occupies more space. The resultant volumetric expansion causes loss of bond and leads to cracking and spalling of concrete. As a result , the structure may not last even one-fifth of its design life!When cement hydrates, the constituents react and yield calcium silicate hydrate and calcium hydroxide. These reactions result in setting process leading to a good quality concrete having an alkalinity of above 12.5 pH.The properties which determine the corrosion rate are porosity, compaction, cover thickness, quality of rebar, type of cement used, admixtures used and, above all, workmanship. Dense concrete produced by low water-cement ratio and proper cement content is impervious and can resist corrosion of embedded steel. Over a period of time due to carbonation the pH deteriorates and in addition passivity afforded by concrete is disturbed by aggressive environment, having salt-laden breeze containing chlorides. The steel surface contains heterogeneities, causing differences in surface potential, leading to corrosion cells.Methods of protectionHigh performance concrete: One method of prevention of corrosion is to use mineral admixtures to make compact concrete. The mineral admixtures reduce the pores and make the concrete impermeable. Thereby it seals the entry of harmful chemicals.Corrosion inhibitors: The corrosion inhibitor is to have continuous alkaline layer all along the body of the concrete. One can use calcium nitrate base on vapour phase. Corrosion inhibitors can be thought of as a second layer of defence against harmful chemicals.Coating on the surface of concrete: Basically there are two types of coating — pore block and impregnable. When to coat concrete is a matter of choice as it will affect breathability of concrete.Cathodic protection: These are available in two types: either as impressed current type or galvanic coupling type.These are cumbersome and difficult to apply to regular structures.Corrosion-resistant steel: Use of…More

The Hindu : A way to beat the heatThe latest heat-busting product to hit the market is a reflective, insulating compound that can be applied to the roof to bring down the temperature, writes T. NandakumarWith summer just round the corner, city residents are exploring ways to beat the heat and reduce the energy spent on operating air-conditioners inside their buildings. Thanks to new materials and technology, there are a range of options to keep a building cool.Light roofing, laying hollow bricks on the terrace and painting the roof slab with white cement are some of the conventional methods adopted by builders and contractors.The latest heat-busting product to hit the market is a reflective, insulating compound that can be applied to the roof to bring down the temperature substantially.Sensing the potential, most companies manufacturing construction chemicals have added heat-reflective compounds to their product portfolio. They claim that the compound is capable of lowering the indoor temperature by up to 15 degrees Celsius.Apart from the solar heat resistance, the more advanced brands also offer effective leak-proof qualities.In a concrete structure, the roof absorbs most of the heat that makes life unbearable for the occupants during summer. Intermittent exposure to rain and heat weakens the concrete on the terrace, leading to cracks and small leaks on the roof. Fixing a leaking concrete roof is expensive, messy and often fails to deliver.Re-radiating compoundSays, A.K. Suresh, promoter of the Perma Cool brand of solar re-radiating compound manufactured by the Malappuram-based Polychem Formulations, “By re-radiating 98.76 per cent of sunrays, heat-reflective compounds prevent the roof from getting heated up during daytime. Laboratory tests have proved that application of the compound lowers the temperature inside the building substantially. By reducing the use of air-conditioners and electric fans, it helps save power.”Perma Cool, a combination of nine metallic oxides, is also claimed to have leak-proof characteristics. “The coating fills the minute cracks on the roof…More