INTERVIEW

D N Suvarna, Managing Director, Bainite Machine Pvt.Ltd

in an interview with M Noorani

D N Suvarna

L /R M Noorani, D N Suvarna, F S Sidhwa

It is nice to have you again on the IRJ Front Cover. Nearly 5 years have elapsed since your Cover Story in our May-June 2004 issue (Vol.79). Can you tell us about the major achievements of Bainite during this period?
Since May – June 2004 Bainite has evolved into a major designer and producer of rubber processing machineries, basically focusing on the Tyre Industry. In this period Bainite has leaped into the top position in India among machinery producers for the Tyre Industry and has made a strong International presence in the engineering, design and development and supply of many new machineries like Single Screw extruders.We have also developed Dump Extruders along with pusher Ram and Roller Die and Twin Screw Sheeters (TSS) with Rotor Dies. These machines sit below the Internal Mixer of Size 3D (70 Ltr.), F80 (80 Ltr.), 11D (240 Ltr.), 270 Ltr. etc. Bainite has also designed, produced and supplied a number of fully automatic Batch – Off Machines [Festooners]. This machine has Man Machine Interface (MMI) Programs with Integrated Scada System and equipped with almost 60 – 70 number sensors for full computerization programming for desired operation and runs on special software programme. We have also commissioned our brand new factory covering 70,000 sq. ft. production area with all the state of the art modern production machine and have invested a large amount in keeping with our leading position in India. We are also now an ISO certified Company with regular internal audits every 6 months. We are also CE Certified for safety.

Which of your above achievements has given you the greatest satisfaction?
The establishment of our brand new Rabale Plant in North Bombay has given me the greatest satisfaction. It has ample room for expansion for the future. It has also given an opportunity to house and expand all our relevant departments like Production, Technology, Planning, State of the Art Inspection Department, Full Fledged State of the Art Design Department with all the latest solid modeling and CAD programmes etc. Thus the Rabale Plant has emerged as one of the best plant in Mumbai in the Indian corporate sector.

What have been the additions to your product range since 2004?
As mentioned earlier, we have added to our production range the Dump Extruder both single screw and twin screw. We have designed and produced the biggest size of Mixing Mill of sizes 30" x 100" both in cored and drilled Roll designs. The Mills themselves have evolved considerably in design in the sense that the Nip adjustment has been made more accurate than the hydraulically operated Nip adjustment Systems with cylinders inbuilt in the End Frame and incorporating LVDT (Linear Variable Displacement Transducer). I am proud that we have supplied the latest state of the art Mixing Mills the world’s 4th largest tyre maker Continental AG of Germany.We have also developed Dual Extruder Heads both in “Y” Box and Piggy Back Type and different designs of cold feed extruders like Pin Type and Plain Type. We have also designed and supplied hot feed extruder upto 12" size for Treads as wide as 850 MM for special OTR Tyre production. In addition to Hydraulic Ram Mixers we also offer conversion of Pneumatic Ram to Hydraulic Ram Hopper Systems. We have also developed 2, 3, 4 Roll Calenders of various sizes and configurations, in cored as well as drilled Roll design with latest state of the art hydro bend and cross axis Systems. We also have the full engineering capability of designing and supplying the pre – calendaring and post calendaring lines. We are soon starting regular production of Curing Presses as well as other Tyre Project equipments to complete Tyre Plant and the goal is to offer Turn Key Projects. The ultimate objective is to offer Tyre Companies full backup for establishing Green Field Projects on turn key projects. With this Bainite re-enforces its leading position in the Indian Tyre Industry and increasing presence in the International Tyre Industry. 

I know from our contacts with the industry that you have added splendidly to your list of customers internationally and also nationally. It would be interesting to know more about these companies?
As is well known, all the tyre and rubber Companies in India have been patronizing Bainite as their major designer and supplier of machineries. Foremost among these are MRF Ltd., Birla Tyres, J. K. Tyres, Apollo Tyres, Ceat Ltd., etc. including Balkrishna Tyres (BKT), TVS, Govind Rubber, Speedways Tyres, Ralson Tyres and also the new OTR Companies like ATC. In the International arena we have Continental Tyres, Goodyear and (spares) Michelin. In Thailand, Bridgestone. Among the non - tyre Companies are Armacell Logistics GmbH and Amiantit of Saudi Arabia, Nu Plast of Nigeria, Cobra Tyres of Congo, Krishna Vinyl for the Plastic Industry and Phoenix Yule, Exide Industry etc. 

It would be interesting to know more about your current product range and capacities.
The latest state of the art machines like 30" x 100" Mixing Mills, 26" x 84" Cracker Mills, 21" x 24" Refiner Mills and 18" x 21" Dump Extruder, 240 Ltr. – 270 Ltr. Mixers both in 2 wing and 4 wing designs both in tangential and intermeshing design as well as Pneumatic and Hydraulic Ram with Temperature Control Systems, 2 Roll and 3 Roll Calenders both in cored and drilled design, Extruders upto 250 mm in Cold Feed and upto 350 mm in Hot Feed are in production and complicated Dual Heads are under production presently in the Plant.

Are you considering further expansion of your existing factories and/or starting up of a new factory?
Considering the present economic slow down in the Indian and global Industry, we are keeping on hold our expansion plans for our next project in Khopoli near Bombay. However, as the industry recovers in India and overseas, Bainite will implement its expansion project.

Do you have any recent co-operation agreement with foreign machinery manu-facturers?
Bainite believes in developing its own technological base, designing new process equipments and improving the existing equipments. We constantly work on improvement of the performance of the existing machine Systems, with our strong engineering setup which can be compared to any of the reputed International producers and suppliers of the machinery Systems. Bainite can be equated in strength and standard if not better than any of the foreign machinery Companies. Bainite has enough strength and capability to offer technology to other foreign machinery Companies. However, we also continue to evaluate co-operation proposals from international machinery manufacturers.

To what extent do exports contribute to your turnover?
I think the ratio will remain the same or it may tilt towards export in the coming years, specially in view of our high technological base which has impressed foreign tyre Companies specially from Europe and U S Thus the growth in exports is likely to rise sharply.

Which countries are your major customers?
USA, West Germany, Srilanka, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Thailand, etc.

Considering the present global economic situation, what are your export prospects for the next 2 years?
I must specially mention the name of Bridgestone who have been very supportive and impressive of our capabilities. I must specially thank Bridgestone’s former Managing Director, Mr. Ikawa. We are also looking forward to working closely with their present Managing Director Mr.Tajima as well as Mr. Wakamatsu (Technical Director)

Have you intensified your co-operation and supplies to some of the world’s leading tyre manufacturers overseas and to their plants in India?
With our association with Continental Tyres of Germany, who have been technological partners of J K Tyres & Industries Ltd. we look forward to receiving more support from J K Tyres & Industries Ltd., as well as other Tyre Companies.

It is to your credit that Bainite has been the only Indian rubber machinery manu-facturer with Stands at major international rubber exhibitions. How much has this contributed to your exports and to your image and brand building?
We have participated in many International Rubber shows in U S and Germany and we had very impressive and encouraging response from the visitors to our stalls in these exhibitions. The response has been highly encouraging. Bainite as a brand is now very well known to all leading Tyre and Rubber processing companies, as well as to the Polymer Industry.

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