Vamsi Gaddam JMD, Visaka Industries Ltd. In an interview with B2B Purchase.

Can you tell us about the current demand trends for sustainable roofing? 

There is a huge market for sustainable roofing in India, where we are driving the impetus, especially in the solar industry. ATUM, the world’s first electricity-generating solar roof, is not only made in India but also invented here, with patents in India, the United States, and South Africa. Over the past few years, it has seen a great response from consumers as well as the market in general. From hospitals to bus shelters, from small to large homes, everyone is looking for environmentally friendly roofing.

What are your hopes for the Roof of India Expo 2022, particularly in the post-Covid era? 

I’m not sure if we’re in the post-Covid stage yet. But yes, the pandemic has affected every one, and we were no exception. Hopefully, with this Excon, we can understand new segments of consumers and their requirements to add innovation in our products accordingly. Furthermore, it will be a great platform for us to interact with our peers and have a healthy exchange of thoughts and ideas.

Could you kindly speak about ATUM Charge, India’s first solar-powered EV charging station, which is powered by your indigenous solar roof? 

Yes, ATUM Charge is India’s 1st solar powered universal EV charging station. Using our patented ATUM Solar Roof, we decided to take one step forward and create an EV charging ecosystem that is powered by an eco-friendly energy source. You see, conventional EV charging stations are powered by a thermal energy source, which we all know is a major cause of today’s poor air quality. The entire concept seems like an exercise in futility. We wanted to make EV owners feel truly good about owning their vehicle by making “going green” an actuality.

What other services do you provide to help industries create a more sustainable environment? 

Visaka has been in the building materials industry for many years. Apart from ATUM Solar and ATUM Charge, we also manufacture Vnext Fibre Cement Boards, which are a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to plywood and gypsum. In fact, Vnext is the largest manufacturer of Fibre Cement Boards in the country. We also have a textile division, The Wonder Yarn, wherein we use recycled PET bottles to manufacture sustainable yarn. We are tied up with major textile retailers and have managed to recycle over 150 million PET bottles so far.

Which products and services have you displayed or launched here? What distinguishing characteristics do they have?
Today, we have on display our cement roofing sheets – our very first venture that dates back to 1985, shortly after the inception of the company. Through the past four decades, we’ve kept a close eye on people’s changing demands and needs and consequently innovated ATUM Solar Roof – our initiative towards a green tomorrow, which is the second product on display at the Expo. What makes ATUM stand out from your run-of-the-mill solar panels is that it has an integrated roof. This means that it serves all the functions of an ordinary roof, such as shelter and temperature regulation, but with additional benefits such as electricity generation, weather resistance, you name it.

Would you say you’re enabling a truly sustainable future? 

Visaka has always been at the forefront of sustainability. As I’ve mentioned throughout this interview, every product we have has been developed keeping in mind our responsibility towards the environment and how we can give back what we’ve taken from our planet. Through Vnext, we are fighting deforestation caused by wood and plywood. Through ATUM Solar Roof, we have taken renewable energy to a whole other level and made it more accessible to people. With The Wonder Yarn, we’re tackling the climate-damaging effects of plastic. And lastly, with ATUM Charge, we’re helping reduce carbon emissions caused by thermal power generation. With all these practices in place, we are hopeful that our planet will one day prevail.

What are your expansion intentions for your ATUM solar-powered charging station venture? 

We have big expansion plans for ATUM Charge. In fact, today we have over 250 charging stations in India including 23 in Karnataka and 36 in Maharashtra, and the number is increasing every day. With this infrastructure in place, there’ll be enough charging stations across the country to keep up with the rising demand for EVs without causing harm to the environment.