The International Copper Association, an NGO with a membership strength of 40 global companies, aims to make copper motor rotor (CMR) technology available to small-and-medium-sized motor manufacturers. Ajit Advani, director (sustainable energy global), International Copper Association, speaks to Itishree Samal on how SMEs can benefit through this technology:
What is copper motor rotor technology?
Under CMR technology, copper is used for the conductor bars and end rings of induction motors in place of aluminium. This technology gives higher efficiency, reduces cost of operation, saves energy, and increases power density, among other things. It reduces the overall lifecycle manufacturing cost because of its high return on investment.
By what percentage does it improve efficiency and save cost?
Typically, the copper motor rotor improves efficiency by 2-4 per cent, thereby improving a motor’s normal efficiency to 90-92 per cent. Copper is 100 per cent recyclable and can be restored up to 99 per cent. With high-efficiency motors, the industry can reduce operating cost. And over a period of time, the manufacturer can recover the extra cost paid for the equipment.
How is the technology important for the India market?
The market for induction motors in India is about Rs 2,800 crore. Around 80 per cent of the power consumed by industries is through electrical motors. With most manufacturing processes being energy-intensive, copper rotors would lead to substantial savings. Globally, automobile companies are also using this technology, and in India we are focusing more on SMEs.
Why is this so?
Small- and medium-sized firms do not have internal research and development (R&D) centres to develop the technology. There is also not much awareness on the available technology and how it saves energy. There are around 400 SMEs that manufacture motors in India, of which 40 are evaluating the process. The Non-Ferrous Material Technology Development Centre (NFTDC) at Hyderabad, a non-profit technology enabling centre funded by the government, will help the SMEs in designing and upgrading to high-efficiency copper motors.
As awareness among SMEs is very low, how are you planning to take this technology to them?
SMEs have three options. Either the rotors can be produced at NFTDC and transferred, or the motor manufacturer itself can buy the technology (which costs Rs 1.5 crore) and install it. Thirdly, a group of manufacturers can build a die-casting centre through a cluster approach, as the operation level is small. We are also promoting this technology through various workshops.
How many clusters have you identified so far?
We want to build clusters across India but immediately we are looking at building two major clusters at Ahmedabad and Coimbatore, as they are the manufacturing base in the country. We aim to promote this technology by multiplying die-casting centres and through individual motor manufacturers. NFTDC is a pilot project, which has a production capacity of 100 tonnes of copper rotor annually.
