How is the electrical test & measurement instruments’ market growing in India?
The market should be growing at a much faster pace but still nothing significant is happening because of the fluid economic condition – and as a result of that the industry is still reluctant to make any major capital investment.
What sort of competition are you experiencing these days?
The major competition in electrical test and measuring instrument industry is from Chinese companies only – as there is not much of competition in this field from within India. The main reason behind that is the Chinese government subsidizes the export of electrical test and measuring instrument very heavily. Thus, it is not a level playing field for Indian manufacturers. The only way to counter this unfair practice adopted by the Chinese is – the Govt. of India should levy higher custom duty on these equipment when imported from China, failing doing that this industry in India will never develop.
Are you observing any kind of transformation in this segment?
The main transformation in this segment is that earlier on – largely these equipment were imported from US / Europe and now these are being imported mainly from China. Industry leaders for some reasons are willing to accept Chinese products, but not those made in India – even though the quality of products coming from China is not good. They are accepting the same as these are really cheap (not less expensive).
What are your offerings to the Indian power industry?
We are mainly offering High Voltage Test Equipment required by Power Equipment Manufacturers for their in house routine and type testing prior to shipment – and also by third party test labs mainly for type tests. Broadly range of products offered by us is as below:
- Impulse Test System
• HV AC Series Resonant Test Systems
• HV AC Test Transformers
• Partial Discharge Detection Systems
• Capacitance and Tangent Delta Test Systems
• Transformer Loss Measuring Systems
• Static Frequency Converter Systems
• Current and Voltage Seasoning Equipment for Vacuum Interrupters
• High Current Injection Systems
• AC/DC Kilo Voltmeters
• RF Shielded Labs.
What kind of R&D effort do you put to design new products?
We have a very dedicated R&D team comprising software, electronics, electrical and mechanical engineers – and as a result of their hard work, we are launching at least one new product every year. Besides, ours is a project-based business and every equipment requires customization to the specific requirement of every customer, which again is taken care of by our R&D team.
What kind of consultancy do you offer to develop new HV labs?
Our consultancy towards new HV Labs covers the following subjects:
- General aspects of HV Lab for Testing of the specific device under test.
2. General requirements of HV Lab grounding:
• Zero Potential System
• Evaluation of soil resistivity
• Evaluation of ground bed resistance
• Measuring principle of ground bed resistance
• Earthing rod design along with drawing
• Cable ducts drawing
• Impulse current return system (copper mesh) along with drawing
• Connection of the current return system to the zero-potential ground system
• Grounding/Isolation of the test area with drawing
• Grounding connections in the test area.
3. General requirements of Laboratory Floor
• Concrete Floor
• Polymeric Floor coating.
4. General requirements on the laboratory shielding
• Grounding / Isolation of the shielded laboratory
• Attenuation design of the shielded laboratory
• Influence of the metal plate bonding
• Influence of perforated metal plate
• Summary in regards of shielding design.
5. Insulation resistance of the shielded laboratory to the local factory ground.
6. General requirements on the transformer test laboratory acoustics.
7. General requirements on the heat extraction design in case of a power transformer test laboratory
Total air flow circulation
• Wave guide design calculation
• Total transformer losses depending on the power rating
• Summary ventilation requirements
8. General requirements on wall bushings in case of power transformer test laboratory.
9. General requirements on control room.
10. General requirements on the laboratory dimensions and main door.
11. General requirements of the laboratory lighting and electrical installation.
Is it worth upgrading old laboratories, or new installations are cost worthy?
It is a very subjective decision and also depends upon the condition of the specific lab that needs to be upgraded. Depending on what needs to be upgraded and its thorough on-site inspection only, we can confirm which one will be a better option. It is not possible to generalize as this may vary from case to case basis.
How do you ensure safety through tactical design of electrical devices and components?
Since we are largely dealing with High Voltage Test Equipment, safety of the equipment and the personnel in vicinity when the equipment is in use – becomes absolutely essential to avoid potentially fatal accidents.
Besides building enough safety in electro-mechanical design of the equipment, we ensure that there are enough protections built into the electronics and software of the controlling part of the HV Test Equipment.
Which companies do mostly buy your T&M devices?
Companies manufacturing Power / Distribution Transformers, Instrument Transformers, Cables, Switchgear, GIS, Insulators. Basically anyone who is manufacturing any power equipment required to be used for a voltage higher than 11 kV can be our customer. Besides manufacturers; third party test labs and engineering colleges can also be our potential buyers. Our major customers are BHEL, Toshiba, Schneider, Siemens, Mehru, CPRI, ERDA, COER etc.
What is your suggestion to the potential buyers?
My suggestion to the potential buyers, especially the ones who are exploring either to buy locally in India or import from China, is that even though you are able to import from China at a cheaper price today – their inability to give efficient and cost effective after sales service will hurt you in the long run.
Indian manufacturers, on the contrary, can give you much more efficient and cost effective after sales service – and considering the fact that the test equipment once procured will be in use for next 20 to 30 years after sales service becomes a very important point to be considered while buying it.
