Our service standards have improved and the access to spare parts across the length and breadth of the country has been made easier. Brand Propel has spread its wings to Kenya, Uganda and Zambia says V Senthilkumar, Managing Director, Propel Industries.

How do you see Atmanirbhar Bharat to impact your sector?
I welcome the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative. It helps to encourage self-sufficiency in India. The focus has now turned on strengthening local markets, production and supply chains. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan – Vocal for Local – is best suited for Propel Industries as we have always held the ‘Made in India for global audience’ tag with pride. The PM has said that the goal of the country would be to become self-reliant and has identified economy and infrastructure as the key drivers for it. We have coined the motto ‘Let’s build India together’ which is motivating our team to scale higher peaks. The central government’s emphasis on infrastructure is only going to make the crushing industry emerge stronger than ever before. 

In terms of your equipment range market dynamics, what will be the new state of the affair after 2020?
Sharpening the focus on packing and forwarding solutions to give the best possible look and feel of our products has been the focus this year and it will remain so in the immediate future too. 

We have launched Gyratory Cone Crusher AVCG 600, Horizontal Shaft Impactor AVHI 250, Washing Plant PW250, Jaw Crushing Model AVJ 508, Vertical Shaft Impactor AVVI 55, Air Classifier AVAC 200 and Thickener 12 meter AVTH 12 recently. We have also improved the quality and performance of our existing products. 

On the operational front, several cross-functional teams have been developed to raise the bar. Our service standards have improved and the access to spare parts across the length and breadth of the country has been made easier. I am elated to share with the readers that brand Propel has spread its wings to Kenya, Uganda and Zambia.

How the pandemic will catalyse the R&D for the development of future equipment for the crushing and screening industry?
We are driven as much by our core values of customer focus, teamwork, integrity and professionalism as passion. When the world was reeling under the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we decided to design and manufacture PVS 201, an automatic emergency ventilator.

PVS 201 is being tested in Coimbatore hospitals. With additional inputs from the medical fraternity, we have developed a second model which is being tested at Kalam Institute of Health Technology, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. We wish the product goes through the testing processes and comes into use soon, for the benefit of the society. 

As a growing company, we promise to stay agile to serve our customers better. Research and development is our strength and we will continue to work on innovations while also improving our present products. 

What kind of initiatives should the government focus on to ensure the mining sector remains in robust health?
The mining sector contributes to the GDP significantly while also playing catalyst to many other industries. It generates employment and also drives the nation’s economic development. The impact of coronavirus on the mining sector has to be negated with measures like rebates or reductions in royalty payments and adjustment of royalty payments against GST input credits which will bring in more mining players into the legal fold. At this point when the world is facing an unprecedented economic challenge, policy makers and industry players need to work together and put in efforts to rebuild the mining sector which in turn would help in the economic recovery of the country. 

In the wake of the pandemic, what kind of digital roadmap should be designed to help in overcoming operational challenges while also delivering competitive advantage?
At Propel Industries, we are doing everything possible to help our customers wade through these tough times. We are supporting our customers from March-end until now mostly through technological means. We get SMS alerts from the machine directly to our service engineers for issues like oil and filter changes. We are working on Internet of things (IoT) which will reduce manpower and increase operational efficiency.

The incorporation of technology in the features of crushing and screening plants and its increased usage are fuelling the market growth in this sector. Automation in the mining and construction industry is also a key factor in propelling the industry growth. Track plants operated with electric power rather than by hydraulic means is the latest trend. They provide considerable savings in operation cost. We are in the process of designing a concise digital roadmap which will be revealed to the market, soon.

What are some of the products driving growth for your business in the current economic cycle? There is a widespread demand for all our products. The aggregates industry in India is one of the biggest in the world because there is huge investment happening here. India is one of the largest global consumers of aggregates. The Covid-19 pandemic has applied brakes but the aggregate sector is already showing signs of a strong recovery and the demand is steadily increasing. 

The demand for crushers and screens are rising consistently due to the construction and infrastructure development projects such as roads, dams and railways which are lined up. The retail market for construction also plays a vital part. The ban on usage of river sand is also promoting demand. Rapid urbanisation due to increase in population and better living standards is expected to propel the demand further. 

What are the equipment financing options and technology support you have made available for your customers?
We have curated a list of fifty trusted financial partners and we share the list with our prospective customers. The return on investment in the crushing industry is very good and so bankers go all out to fund Propel plants. Long-time viability, significant financial stability and no stress-equation of Propel products make both the customers and the bankers smile. 

We are proud of our customers because they pay the easy monthly installments (EMI) to the bankers on time and have emerged as zero defaulters, despite the challenges posed by Covid-19. With regards to tech-support, Propel Industries is known for its custom-made projects and solutions which have helped us establish a unique identity in the market.