What started off as a small experiment five years back by Sawaliya Research Centre, which altered designs of both devices with the help of Gujarat Energy Development Authority (GEDA), has caught the fancy of many diamond firms.
Vinay Sawaliya, owner of Sawaliya Research Centre, said: "We took the initiative of changing designs of both devices with the help of GEDA five years back. These designs have been registered with 'GEDA' by Sawaliya Research Centre. More than 90 per cent of the units have accepted these products and more players are becoming active in bringing about such products."
Currently, more than 300,000 diamond hot plates and 1.2 million diamond laths are being used in Gujarat. In Ahmedabad, around 100,000 laths have been used, while in Surat the number is around 800,000.
The diamond units located in other parts of the state use more than 300,000 diamond laths. With the altered design, hot plates save around 10,050 units annually for units.
The research has helped diamond units save at least 50 per cent on electricity bills. While traditional hot plates use 10 units of power daily, the new hot plates uses only five units.
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"High conductivity material has been used in making this plate. Apart from that an automatic temperature control system has been deployed. This hot plate costs around Rs 1,500," he says.
Use of mono-block diamond lath has also decreased the electricity usage. This 35 watt mono block motor was invented in 2000 with the help of GEDA. Currently, most units in the industry use this motor, which saves 132 units daily.
RN Pandya, senior project executive, GEDA, told Business Standard that industrialists should carry out energy audit regularly. If the suggestions made in the audit report are implemented, significant amount of energy could be saved.
Torrent Power, a power distribution company, which supplies to Surat has witnessed the changes in the power consumption.
Deepak Thakkar, general manager, (corporate sales), Torrent Power said: "Ever increasing energy cost has left no other alternative for SMEs, but to use latest technology. The diamond industry has set an example in power saving with use of new devices. However,a lot more could be done if the units change items like foot valve, suction pipe etc."