Mayukh Banerjee, Chief Executive Officer, Brugg Cables India Pvt Ltd

Please take us through the journey of Brugg Cables in India.

Brugg Cables is primarily into manufacturing of power cables from medium voltage grade upto extra high voltage grade which is 550KV. Along with cables we produce accessories for the same also in our stat- of-the-art manufacturing unit at Brugg Switzerland . Apart from it, we are also into manufacturing of fiber optic cables, metallic cables, defense cables & systems, sensing cables, special industrial cable & coated transmission products. We opened our Brugg Cables India legal entity in 2012 to mark our local presence and grow Brugg Cables business in India & SAARC countries . Additionally, we are partnering with a local cable manufacturer KEI for local content. We have a technology tie up with KEI in India.
Brugg cables entered into India since 2003 when the first contract was executed at Karnataka. Since then till now, BRUGG have a substantial presence in India which includes customers like Delhi Metro , Reliance Industries Limited, Tantransco, PGCIL, TS Transco, AP Transco, WBSETCL, NHPC, Andritz Hythro, Tata Steel to name a few. Very recently, we have ventured into Bangladesh & Sri Lanka and will be executing projects at CEB, Sri Lanka and Power Grid Corporation of Bangladesh in 2018.

Till date the single largest project in India, we have executed is at Tata Steel Kalinganagar where we have executed a turnkey project of 16.3 km 400KV single core 630 sq mm cabling project which included supply of cables & accessories including engineering, civil work, laying, and installation.

What are the products offered by the company catering to power industry?

Our primary focus in India for cabling projects is 400KV market. However, for power accessories, we cater to the entire range from 66KV – 400KV. We work for 220KV system projects only in certain niche market segments.

What is the current scenario in cables segment?

On the one hand, we see more energy being consumed creating a need to expand the networks. On the other hand, the trend is shifting to transmission of higher voltage levels over the existing lines. In India, the industrialization process is ongoing creating the need for infrastructure development. The space constraints in the cities promote underground cables as a solution. The industry is growing currently at the rate of 15% approximately and will grow at a higher rate in the coming few years.

How is your cable vertical performing in the market?

In India the industrialization process is ongoing, creating the need for infrastructure development. The space constraints in the cities promote underground cables as a solution. On the one hand, we see more energy being consumed creating a need to expand the networks. On the other hand, the trend is shifting to transmission of higher voltage levels over the existing lines. We also see falling prices due to efficiency improvements and the use of new materials.

What technological innovations would like to incorporate in your products in order to make them more superior and competitive as compared to your peers?

Brugg Cables possesses over 120 years of experience. We are in private ownership with strong industrial interests, making sure we have a stable long-term perspective. We use state-of-the-art technology with a highly skilled workforce. We emphasize on our own R&D organization and our in-house High Voltage Laboratory.

With regards to cable industry, what challenges and issues do you see as affecting the growth of the industry?

Erosion in margins is the primary challenge that the industry is facing today. We have also witnessed increasing number of players over the past couple of years. GIS mapping for individual utilities is a must for identification of cable network. Emphasis should be given on healthy and periodic monitoring of the cable network for every utility thereby, to enhance reliability of the system.

What kind of opportunities do you envisage for your company with the government’s project of 100 smart cities, ‘power for all’ scheme etc?

Top of the list are local utilities and EPC contractors. The segments, we are developing, are alternative energies, such as wind, solar and e-mobility.

How was the last fiscal? What kind of turnover do you envisage for 2018-19 fiscal? Do you have any expansion plans?

2017 had been excellent for Brugg cables India both in terms of topline & bottomline. We started off our venture into the Indian market in Sept 2012 as a legal entity & had been able to register profit in 2017. We expect 2018 to be even better. As I have mentioned, we have already ventured into in Bangladesh & Sri Lanka, once we are established there, we will look forward to other markets. Brugg Cables has its headquarters in Brugg, Switzerland with own subsidiaries in China, India, UAE, Germany, Italy, Poland, and USA. Business opportunities outside our local organization reach are served out of Switzerland. Brugg Cables has several manufacturing partners to be able to provide local content upon customer’s request.

What are your plans to introduce new products that are energy efficient?

With everything from systems business with high-voltage cables and the associated junction sleeves and entrance fittings, to medium- and low-voltage cable and fittings, through to fiber-optic cable, Brugg Cables offers its customers the entire product range needed for the supply of electric power and data transmission. Furthermore, Brugg Cables is one of the few cable manufacturers in the world that successfully produces cable systems and accessories for what is currently the highest voltage level, 550 kV. Work in its in-house R&D Department is continually proceeding to create new, innovative products. In close collaboration with its customers, Brugg Cables implements turnkey projects such as the cabling of power-generating stations. Brugg Cables develops, manufactures, tests and assembles its products according to the highest quality standards using state-of-the-art manufacturing machinery. In the industrial sector, the company has specialized in the manufacture of customer-specific solutions for industrial applications.

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