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SA to use Indian induction furnace
Monday, 07 October 2002, 19:30 IST
JOHANNESBURG: Indian induction furnace manufacturing company Electrotherm has entered into a partnership with Bateman Engineered Technologies here that could see $3 million worth of business in the first year.
Sailesh Bhandari, director of Electrotherm, visited South Africa two years ago and realised its potential.
"Earlier whenever I used to hear South Africa mentioned, I used to think of only gold and diamond mining," Bhandari said at the end of the South African International Trade Exhibition 2002 where he was an exhibitor.
"I want to tell anybody coming from India that quality and service is of utmost importance. We are very proud that our first customer here, Sigma Casting, have repeated their order within six months of us being here.
"They had been with a multinational company from the U.S. for about 20 years. It was supposed to be the number one company, but we are competing very well."
Bhandari was confident that there were still huge markets to be exploited for Indian companies in South Africa and vice versa.
Bhandari said if Indian companies found success in South Africa, they would soon find other African countries also interested in their products.
"This is because South Africans only accept good quality, so it makes acceptance in other African countries much easier."
Bhandari said the possibility of opening an Electrotherm plant in South Africa would be very difficult because of the restrictive costs of the huge range of equipment required.
Said Dave Norval of Bateman Engineered Technologies: "We were looking for an induction furnace supplier and then also one that is innovative in its designs in that where, for many applications, there is no existing technology, it would be prepared to develop this technology. I met up with (Electrotherm) at a conference in the U.S., visited their plant in India and was immensely impressed.
"The quality was superb. I've seen many induction furnaces and there is not one that has got the quality of the Electrotherm furnace. They have also recently developed an induction-heated ladle, which many have tried to do in the world. Electrotherm has succeeded. They have already built one and it was successfully commissioned.
"We are very happy to represent them in South Africa and we feel that this is an acquisition that we know is going to bear fruit for both our companies."
Norval said his company was involved in many big projects and had now committed to using the Electrotherm furnace exclusively in their projects wherever an induction furnace is required. He said he projected an annual turnover of $3 million in the first year of the partnership.
Source: IANS
Source: IANS