Shakti Mining Equipments Private Limited is renowned manufacturer and exporter of the widest range of crushing and screening equipments along with road compaction and material handling equipments, covering a vast spectrum in the mining and construction equipment field. The company is based in India since 1986 with the brand names Kamal, Shaktiman and SMAN. Today, SMAN is a very much a highly reputed brand in the construction and mining field with the products giving outstanding performance at the site, with increased productivity and lowest operating costs.

Mr Subhas Kedia, Sales Director of the company, speaks of the eventful journey and some milestones. Excerpts

What was the rationale of starting this business of mining equipment in 1986? Was it a new segment or based on previous experience?

Our group company, M/s Kamal Road Rollers, was already into manufacturing Kamal brand road rollers, and hence we were familiar with road contractors and construction companies who also demanded quarrying and mining equipments, hence Shakti was formed.

How has been the journey since, especially that the 1990s was an exciting decade as liberalization began?

Over the decades the company has established its brand, continuously upgraded its manufacturing plant with latest machineries; designed, upgraded and launched products with latest technology and trends. The 1990s has been a golden period for the Mining and Infrastructure fields of India and we are glad that Shakti also contributed to it with its offerings.

What are the main products of the company? And the range?

Shakti Mining Equipment Private Limited is renowned manufacturer and exporter of the widest range of crushing and screening equipments along with road compaction and material handling equipments, covering a vast spectrum in mining and construction equipment field. It is based in India since 1986 with brand names as Kamal, Shaktiman and SMAN. Today "SMAN" is a very much a highly reputed brand in the construction and mining fields and the products are giving outstanding performance onsite, with increased productivity and lowest operating costs

The Crusher range includes plants with capacities ranging from 50 tph to 350 tph, up to 4th stage plants.

It is a crowded market with many companies large and small. What is the USP of Shakti?

Shakti has a wide product range covering up to four stages of crushing equipments apart from screening, washing and conveying, and all the products are indigenously designed by the company, for which Team Shakti is very proud. Most of the other Indian origin companies do not have a complete package to offer and rely on the need for foreign equipments to be incorporated with their equipments. Yes, the large companies are not many, one can count these with the fingers, and hence it is not a crowded market. Small companies are mushrooming and mostly vanish after certain period of time, as it happens in every field. We at Shakti do not see any competition from these small companies. After sales services and fair price are the two main forces driving Shakti.

Who are the main customers? What is the export market?

Our main customer base comprises minerals processing mills, aggregate industry, government contractors for roads and infrastructure, and mines and crusher owners. The export market is the Middle East, Europe and African markets, which are very big and lucrative. A good price advantage is always there. The company has undertaken a number of projects in these countries.

What are the company's achievements?

Of the few manufacturers in India who are able to develop the Cone crusher, Shakti is one of them. Also we boast of working with some European manufacturers as OEM in the past, for supply of crushers as per their specifications.

Any breakthrough product launch that made a difference?

Shaktiman brand crushers when launched in the year 1987 were instant hit. We at Shakti are very proud of these products, and even now you could find these machines working in all parts of India. Launching the SMAN brand 'pick & carry' crane in the year 2007 taught us the art of how to budget the input cost to product so as to give competitive price and at the same time compromise with quality. The launching of the cone crusher in various models ranging from 50 tph to 350 tph in the year 2009, 100% indigenously developed and built, with aggressive price, is also a very good breakthrough product from the company.

How did the company face the recent slowdown as it impacted its core business areas?

Yes, the recent slowdown has had a great bearing and was indeed a difficult situation. But our engineering and design teams did not sit idle. They have upgraded the existing products/machines and developed new products such as the artificial sand making machine and washing plant, adding to our product portfolio. Our marketing team has invested in contacting newer areas and new segments for business.

What opportunities and prospects do you see with a new union government? What are the expectations?

The year 2013 was a forgettable year for the construction equipment business with the infrastructure sector at a virtual standstill. Fast disposal of the infra, mining and road projects by the ministry with due diligence and time bound process for mining licenses, environmental clearances, compensation and acquisition of land should be more transparent and quick. The government should give first priority to infrastructure development like roads, ports, transport sector, etc. For roads, 20 km a day should be a target achieved. Roads sector has been given top priority in the first budget of the newly formed NDA government wherein Finance Minister has allocated a staggering Rs 37000 cr for this fiscal.

What are the future plans?

The company is focusing more on infrastructure companies and for mobile crusher plants, individual crusher owners to upgrade to the automatic plants and is quite hopeful that once the market picks up the volume is doubling YOY basis.