-How is the demand for cables and conductors growing in India?
The electric wire and cable industry in India is growing at a steady rate and is expected to post a CAGR of 16% during 2014-19. Government is working towards upgradation and modernization of T&D networks to cope with the rising demand for electricity and this will boost the market growth. As per 12th Plan, total of 42,59,183 kms (HT & LT) of cable and conductors is required during the plan period.
-What are the new trends being seen in this segment?
According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Report, last year, in the developing countries, there was an investment around $131 Billion in the renewable energy segment, which was up 36% compared to the earlier year. In this, India’s contribution was $7.4 billion, which is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years.
Inline with our Prime Minister Modi’s 2022 target of 160 GW of renewable energy, Indian & global players are entering this field with solutions and products to tap this market of Rs 6 lacs crores. The Indian government is laying great emphasis on solar power generation and simultaneously pushing for retro-fitting of current streetlights and indoor lamps with LED lights to conserve on power consumption.
Now, cable manufacturers are focusing on eco-friendly power cables with their properties including flame retardance, lower emission of poisonous fumes, non-corrosiveness and halogen-free wires.
-What are the new demands from today’s quality conscious buyers?
Customers want precision products that are also good for the society. We are trying to manufacture the best possible quality to meet their demands.
Is competition truly pushing up the quality of the finished products or leading towards using raw materials of inferior quality?
Of course not, inferior quality is never accepted by any of the customers – because these are electricity related products, hence no one want to take unwanted risks.
-As your EPC Division is doing exceptionally well, please tell us something about this division?
We have our own EPC wing offering single window turnkey solutions to power infrastructure projects. This division undertakes a wide range of works in underground as well as overhead segments both in distribution and transmission class. At present the division is executing massive projects for distribution system strengthening. The EPC Division is a huge success and gradually adding value & recognition to the company. It goes without saying about the prowess of our EPC division being the single largest integrated power solution provider in the country.
-What are the specialties of your RHINO cables?
Rhino Wires and Cables are produced from 100% purest copper under Copper Max technology, and PVC used for insulation is compounded on highly specialized machine. The world class drawing, bunching machines from Germany, finest extruder and automatic coiler, packaging machines are used in plants to manufacture Rhino Wires and Cables. We have all domestic and international certification for standards and quality like BIS, ISO9001, ISO14001, OHSAS18001, CE, UL to meet the demands of customers.
-Please tell me in short about GPIL’s new product line RHINO LED lights?
GPIL is launching world class LED lighting with superior features using state-of-the-art technology for its domestic and international customers. We have planned to offer a large range of indoor, outdoor and industrial LED lights. Our lights have high lumen output, high CRI, UV protection, ROHS compliance, environmental friendliness, UL compliance and 50,000 hours of life. We are setting up a world-class testing and R&D lab to ensure superior design and superb quality.
-How is your focus on quality from manufacturing to product shipping?
As I said earlier, quality always comes first, but delivery as per agreed deadlines is also important. Secondly, with our traditional products becoming commodities, lean and agile logistics is increasingly playing a major role. For this, we are manufacturing in three strategic locations – Bhubaneshwar, Kashipur and Chennai – and we are therefore able to cater to our customers across India. By being near to the ports, we are cutting on transit time for our export shipments. There have been recent instances wherein we airlifted the material for adhering to our delivery commitment to our global clients.
-To what extent are you prepared to supply customized products to the buyers?
We are already open for the customized products, as is quite evident from the fact that we are supplying from East to West with vast difference in their requirements, applications, standards and usage conditions. Every customer has got his own PQR. We comply to these and the same then becomes a checklist for our quality control function.
-Please tell me in short about GPIL’s role in improving power transmission and distribution in India?
We are proud to say that we are electrifying the Nation by being one of the largest suppliers of Transmission line Conductors to the PGCIL – and we are also supplying cable and conductors to all the TRANSCOs and DESCOs to almost all the state utilities.
We haven’t stopped over there, we have started contributing to nation in Greener way by using our R&D and innovation, we are manufacturing and supplying HTLS Conductors by having a tie up with Mercury Cable, US in one of the variant’s HVCRC, and in the process of installing 5 MW solar plant to cater to the needs of our own electricity consumption.
-What are the financial challenges that GPIL is facing while dealing in the domestic market?
The main challenges are fund availability and payment on time. Along with those, stringent financial obligations like EMD, BG, price variations and inspection notifications are playing the main role in decision making. At the end of the day, business cycle is highly dependent upon cash flow cycle.
-What’s your message to the potential customers?
We have not grown in a single day, but we have been continually learning in our journey of more than 50 years along with our customers. We are moving towards automation by installing state-of-the-art machines, which produce precision products. Using advanced software products along with value engineering from ‘inquiry generation to delivery,’ we are there to support you with ‘quality and best possible delivery schedules.’ Once a customer of Gupta power means – we will be lifelong partner of your success story.
