Nandlal Khatan, Managing Director, Pune Techtrol – a designer and manufacturer of an extensive range of level gauges, switches, controllers, transmitters and external chambers – talks to IPF. Excerpts…

Could you provide a history of how the company was set up and its journey so far?

Pune Techtrol (P) Ltd has evolved from a six-employee enterprise in 1984 to become a premier Indian company recognised for quality level measurement and process automation systems for liquids and solids. Today, we are a professionally managed company with a progressive outlook and proven track record, which inspires trust and confidence. From our fully-equipped modern manufacturing facilities located in Bhosari in Pune, we manufacture world-class level instruments under CE, PED, ATEX, IRS, Gost-R, CCOE, IBR and CIMFR, BIS standards.

We are an ISO 9001-2008 company with NSIC-CRISIL rating for ‘highest performance capability and moderate financial strength’. We follow best industrial and ethical business practices. We now form a team of more than one 120 skilled and talented workforce. Our products are approved by major government, semi-government and public limited companies as well as multinationals and consultants and we have served more than 6,000 customers till date.

Kindly elaborate about the products and their applications.

Our large product range is used for varied industrial applications like pump control automation, multi-tank control and monitoring, boiler drum level, effluent and sewage treatment plants, differential level measurement, interface level measurement, leak detection, mixing, blending, dispersion, spraying, dispensing, filling and packaging machines, diesel monitoring, oil extraction, milk standardisation and pasteurisation, open channel flow, especially fly ash, bulk solids, animal feed, granules and powders level detection in silos, bins, chute blocks and conveyor belts. The products can broadly be classified as under level gauges for liquids, level switches and transmitters for solids and liquids

What is the estimated size of the level gauges market in India?

The estimated market for level measuring instruments would be around Rs 1,000 crore. The market is continuously growing with technology upgradation and many small industries opting for automation.

What provides the USP to your products to enable your company to compete with other established players?

We offer a one-stop solution for all level measurement applications along with technical support from enquiry stage to installation and validation. Our products are cost-effective at par with world-class quality and have accreditations from renowned classification societies.

Do you also export? If so, to which countries and what is the volume?

Our export is around 5% of the total output and our products have a market in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Senegal, Indonesia, The Netherlands, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, Egypt, Nepal and Bangladesh.

What are the company’s expansion plans for the next 2-3 years?

We plan to remain in the present segment while increasing our global reach. As such, we are planning to double our sales and exports in the next two years. Meanwhile, we are looking forward to manufacture IBR-certified steam level measurement systems for boilers locally in cooperation with the world-renowned manufacturers Fossil Power Systems Inc, Canada. We are also developing customised control panels and tank monitoring software for Tank Farms. We would also like to increase our capabilities by including level measurement techniques with enhanced features, based on advanced technologies.

Are there any new market sectors that the company is planning to tap?

We have a good presence in waste water management, building automation, steam and power plants, and chemicals and fertilisers. We are now planning to increase our share in oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, shipping and marine, mining ore and metal, cement, and food and beverages.

What is the kind of R&D the company engages in for development of new products?

We have a team comprising qualified, talented and dedicated engineers from the mechanical and electronic disciplines. However, for cost-effectiveness purposes, we do not have an independent and dedicated R&D centre. Our development is carried out simultaneously, along with the production operations.

I must add that innovation is a crucial part of our tradition and incrementally applied to all our activities – design, production method, work organisation and conditions, material saving and substitution, product enhancement and customisation, flexible delivery, supply and distribution process, enlargement of product range and services, training system to upgrade workforce skills and above all managerial outlook and approach. We understand the potential relevance of evolving technology and engage actively with customers to leverage our existing product platforms into new products and solutions.

What are the challenges - for example, competition from the unorganised sector, government policies, marketing barriers, etc?

To us, being in India is a big advantage where opportunities of business are plenty and always increasing. However, to meet the challenges of many foreign players entering our market backed by huge resources, we require better infrastructure, more accredited test laboratories, trained resources and supportive bureaucracy. However, we are optimistic and expect things to change in the next few years. As a representative of the small-scale sector, which provides highest employment to the nation, we appeal the government to simplify the procedure for DSIR-approved laboratories. Unlike large companies, we cannot establish an independent, high-cost R&D centre for our development activities. The government can look into the possibilities of offering incentives, based on the innovative products being introduced by us.

- HUNED CONTRACTOR