Focusing on premium Indian Processors
Jun,2006
In terms of technology and automation, we have always maintained a leadership status and the demand by the Indian processors for such levels of machinery is evidence of their acceptance to REL as compared to imported machinery says Chandrakant N. Doshi, Chairman, Rajoo Engineers, in dialogue with ET Polymers.
Q. Overall how do you see the movement of the extrusion machinery market? Do you see this trend continuing?
We have an extremely bullish view of the Indian plastics industry and of the plastic machinery business in India. Per-capita plastics consumption as compared to the world average is still miniscule which itself is a reflection of the high potential.
Plastic processors in India are today exposed to high levels of technology and automation in plastic machinery and are willing to invest and pay a premium for the same. The advantages of high automation for improving quality and reducing wastage parallel to increasing economies of scale is being well understood.
In terms of technology and automation, we have always maintained a leadership status and the demand by the Indian processors for such levels of machinery is evidence of their acceptance to REL as compared to imported machinery. The globalisation and demand for energy efficient extrusion machinery has made the market bloom and the upward trend will continue for the new vistas to open ahead in flexible packaging automobiles and agriculture.
Q. What do you see as Rajoo's key strength to address the market needs?
Adapting to market requirements, leadership in terms of bold innovations, world-class workmanship and efficient after-sales-service.
Q. 1988 to 2006, can you take us through the evolution of Rajoo Engineers in the extrusion business?
Major milestones for Rajoo (firsts in the Indian industry) are:
1990 - Launched the first ever Blown film to manufacture chemically foamed PE films and displayed the line at Plastindia.
1991 - Co-extrusion feed block for Multilayer Sheet Extrusion Line
1994 - Introduced the first ever indigenously designed and developed Oscillating Haul-off system for blown film lines and displayed at Plastindia 1994
1995 - Extruder with grooved feed bush
1995 - Wide width blown film plant with lay-flat width of 3 m
1996 - Exported country's first "CE" marked machine to the most demanding European market and since then there had been numerous exports to Europe.
In terms of technology and automation, we have always maintained a leadership status and the demand by the Indian processors for such levels of machinery is evident of their acceptance to REL as compared to imported machinery.
1997 - Introduced an internal bubble cooling system for blown film lines and displayed at Plastindia 1997
1999 - Secured ISO 9001 certification
2000 - Introduced in Asia, a stack type Universal Co-Extrusion Die christened UCD. The die was displayed on Asia's first ever five layer co-extrusion blown film manufactured and displayed the line at Plastindia 2000
2001 - World's highest output TQPP blown film line - 140 kg/hr
2002 - Electro-hydro pneumatic plug assist thermoformer with in-mould cutting for PP and PS containers
2003 - World's first two layer TQPP film line - launched in Plastindia
2003 - Launched the Three Layer Blown film Line with digital IBC and a Fully Automatic surface-gap-center Winder with an output of 450 kg/hr and displayed the line in Plastindia 2003
2004 - Displayed the first ever two layer downward extrusion PP blown film plant on the "K" platform and that too with a Dual Turret Fully Automatic Surface / Gap / Center winder christened FLEXIWIND DuTplus
2005 - Debut into Germany - Developed a CE compliant high output Three Layer sheet line for processing PET regrind at the rate of 700 kg/hr and exported the same to Germany.
2005 - Three Layer Blown Film Plant for heavy duty FFS Film - supplied to Iran.
2005 - Five Layer Blown Film Plant successfully commissioned at Skypack, India - fully loaded with ultrasonic IBC, gravimetric dosing, Dual Turret Automatic Winder
2006 - INverted COnical Spiral Stack Die INCOSS? with a Seven Layer Blown film Line - launched during Plastindia 2006
2006 - Wide width 1200 mm dia multilayer stack type die displayed at Plastindia 2006
Q. Which are your main product categories today?
Our main product categories are:
? Foilex - Monolayer Blown Film Lines
? Multifoil - Multilayer Blown Film Lines
? Lamina - Mono and Multilayer Sheet Lines
? Aquaflex - Mono & Multilayer Downward Extrusion Blown Film Lines
? Fomex - Blown and Sheet extrusion lines for foamed products
? Dispocon - Thermoformers
Q. Which new areas of diversification / growth have been identified?
Our growth strategy will focus on the following:
? Increased exports of high tech products and increasing footprint
? Targeting premium Indian plastic processors to give them the advantages of high technology and automation in plants supplied overseas
? High levels of automation both for process control and quality consistency
? Further improving after-sales-service
? Further improving process know how and product development support to our customer
? Develop cast film lines
Exports today constitute 70% of our sales turnover, which is the highest amongst plastic processing machinery manufacturers in India.
Q. What export initiatives have Rajoo embarked on, with what success?
Exports today constitute 70% of our sales turnover, which is the highest amongst plastic processing machinery manufacturers in India. Our export strategy focuses on the following issues:
? High quality of after-sales-service (assured response in 24 hours)
? World class workmanship
? World class technology
? High level of automation
? Increasing footprint - Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific
Q. How important is after-sale support in this industry? What are your unique deliverables?
It plays a very critical role in this industry. Our unique deliverable is:
? Using inputs from repute brands available anywhere in the world
? Comprehensive operating and maintenance manuals
? Turnaround time of less than 48 hours - to any customer query
? Ex-stock spares delivery
Q. Has R and D played a pivotal role is your success? Can you briefly highlight on your R&D infrastructure?
With a dedicated team of 20 highly qualified engineers (the highest amongst the industry), recently we have taken the following initiatives:
Tools:
? 3 D model solution
? Rheological simulation
Focus Areas:
? High output PP sheet line using increased percentage of regrind
? Increased levels of automation to improve product quality and consistency
? Screw designs for specific materials and requirements
? Improved melt flow paths depending upon applications
Q. Please highlight features of your 7 layer blown film plant?
A seven layer blown film plant with 2 x 60 mm grooved feed extruders (inner and outer layer) and 5 x 55 mm smooth bore extruders for producing seven layer barrier film structures. The heart of the machine is a 500 mm "INverted COnical Spiral Stack" die - designed and developed by Rajoo, a first for any Asian plastic processing machinery manufacturer.
With maximum lay-flat width of 2800 mm, the winder width is 2100 mm fore reels of 1000 mm diameter on a fully automatic center-surface-gap winder with load cell based taper tension control and five motor systems with guillotine knife. It's a high output plant (500 kg/hr for non-barrier) incorporating an ultrasonic sensor based IBC system, fully loaded with the highest level of automation every witnessed by the Asian industry. Multi-component conveying gsm control system, an automatic thickness control system and integrated computerized supervisory control system are other capabilities of the machine.
Q. Are you facing more competition from Indian companies or international companies?
At the entry level, low automation products, we do face competition from Indian companies but customers today are willing to pay a premium for quality, technology and workmanship. In the overseas markets, we encounter competition with the world players and we are able to offer value for money.
For further details please contact:
Khushboo Doshi
Head-Marcom
Phone: +91 2827 252701/2/3
Fax: +91 2827 252700
Email: info@rajoo.com
Website: www.rajoo.com |
