Overview
ACC Limited is one of India's largest manufacturers of cement and ready-mix concrete. Headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, the company operates a nationwide network of cement plants, grinding units, ready-mix concrete plants and sales offices, and is among the oldest established cement producers in the country.
Key facts
| Name | ACC Limited |
|---|---|
| Former name | The Associated Cement Companies Limited |
| Industry | Cement and building materials |
| Founded | 1936 |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Products | Cement, ready-mix concrete |
| Listing | BSE, NSE |
| Parent | Adani Group (through Ambuja Cements) |
Background
ACC was formed in 1936 through the amalgamation of ten existing cement companies, bringing together a fragmented Indian cement industry under a single corporate entity. The merger was led by industrialists associated with the Tata group and F. E. Dinshaw, and it created what was then by far the largest cement enterprise in India. For several decades the company was associated with the Tata group, before the latter divested its holding in stages.
The company has historically been a technology leader in Indian cement manufacturing, contributing to the development of new plant designs, captive limestone mining practices, and the training of engineers and managers who later staffed much of the wider industry.
History and timeline
- 1936: The Associated Cement Companies Limited is incorporated through the merger of ten cement firms.
- 1947 onwards: Expansion of plants across India after independence, including capacity additions in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar (later Jharkhand) and Himachal Pradesh.
- 1965: Sets up a research and development establishment, later known as the ACC Central Research Station, at Thane.
- 1980s–1990s: Diversification into refractories, ready-mix concrete and related building materials.
- 2005: Holcim, the Swiss multinational, acquires a controlling stake in the company through a series of transactions involving Ambuja Cement India Limited.
- 2006: The company is renamed ACC Limited.
- 2015: Holcim and Lafarge merge globally to form LafargeHolcim (later Holcim Group), which becomes ACC's ultimate parent.
- 2022: The Adani Group acquires Holcim's stake in Ambuja Cements and ACC, making ACC part of the Adani Group's building materials business.
Operations
ACC operates integrated cement manufacturing plants and grinding units across India, with major facilities historically located at Jamul (Chhattisgarh), Kymore (Madhya Pradesh), Wadi (Karnataka), Chanda (Maharashtra), Gagal (Himachal Pradesh), Sindri (Jharkhand) area, Madukkarai (Tamil Nadu) and several other sites. It markets cement primarily under the ACC brand, including ordinary Portland cement, Portland pozzolana cement and specialised products for infrastructure and housing applications. Its ready-mix concrete business operates through a network of plants in major Indian cities.
Significance
As a founding institution of the modern Indian cement industry, ACC played a central role in supplying cement for landmark projects of post-independence India, including dams, ports, public buildings and the expanding road and railway network. Its long history, large installed capacity and pan-Indian distribution have made it a benchmark name in the sector. Following its acquisition by the Adani Group in 2022, ACC, together with Ambuja Cements, forms one of the largest cement producing groups in India.
Related topics
- Ambuja Cements
- Adani Group
- Holcim
- Cement industry in India
- Tata Group
- Bombay Stock Exchange
- National Stock Exchange of India
References
- Wikidata entity: Q649343
- Company filings and disclosures with the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange of India.