H&K Rolling eyes Rs 10 cr turnover this fiscal

Mumbai-based H&K Rolling Mill Engineers Private limited, an exclusive collaborator of HSE Germany for supply of Thermex Quenching & Self Tempering (QST) technology for steel re-rolling mills in India region, is aiming for a Rs 10-crore turnover during the current fiscal as against Rs 7 crore during the year 2004-05.

"We are the only company in the country providing QST technology for re-rolling milling. HSE Germany, which is a global leader in this technology, has appointed us as a dealer for supply of QST technology not only in India but also in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar," Raj Kumar Markan, chairman and managing director, H&K Rolling Mill Engineers Private Limited, told Business Standard.

Though Thermex re-bars are more superior, steel re-rolling mills in the country have been producing TMT re-bars only. Developed countries have been using Thermex technology over the years. "Our company has introduced this technology for the first time in the country," he stated.

QST Thermex re-bars has special features of high strength coupled with excellent ductility""an essential requirement for earthquake prone areas of the country, he said.

As against the minimum elongation of only 14.5 per cent by the Bureau of Indian Standards, the QST Thermex re-bars have elongation of 18 to 25 per cent even for grade 500, Markan said, adding the Thermex re-bars will allow Indian civil works to save 10-15 per cent in steel requirement without compromising on strength and safety.

Major steel mills in the country are gradually adopting this technology. "Though we got licence from the German company in 1984 for supply of Thermex technology, up to year 2000, we sold this technology to only two units ie, Durgapur and Bhilai steel units. After 2000 till today, we have provided this technology to another 56 units only in India. During this calendar year up to the end of August, we have signed memorandum of understanding with 18 steel mills to provide this technology" he said.

The Thermex technology will cost between Rs 2 crore and Rs 8 crore depending on the size of the unit and speed of the production including machinery cost. "Our company will supply the machinery also with the technology," he said.

Of about 3,000 steel re-rolling mills, which produce about 8-9 million tonnes of steel re-bars per year in the country, about 250 units have been working in organised sector.

"Our aim is to cover all these 250 units under this technology at the earliest. From next fiscal onwards, we are planning to market this technology in neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka," he said.