Rohit Arora, Director (Sales & Marketing), Continental Belting
Continental Belting (CBPL), part of the $20 million, Continental Belting Group (India). CBPL is the only company in the bulk material handling industry to be nominated for the ET-Now-Leaders of Tomorrow Awards. Rohit Arora, Director (Sales & Marketing), elaborates on some of the winning strategies.
How do you ensure low cost per tonne of material moved? To what extent challenging geographies impact the design of the systems?
The larger the better. With growing capacities the cost of material handled is reducing substantially, so this is the biggest mantra to bring down the cost to increase volumes. The cement industry has shown that no challenge is challenging enough by building a 17km long conveyor from India to Bangladesh, conveying lime stone to a premier cement plant. The conveyor travels through tough terrain, including marsh, and yet there is minimal environmental impact. Choice of modern materials, with improve strength and reduce bulkiness, help reduce in-put costs, yet contributing to energy efficiency.
Have you launched any new products/systems lately?
We have many futuristic technologies / products in our armament, some of them, well ahead of their times, which would be launched shortly. We have been instrumental in stimulating the growth of specialist products, such as sidewall belts, pipe conveyor belts, steel cord belts, etc.
Performance is beyond just quality, and power saving has become an important decision making parameter. We have recently launched our ?Power Saver? range of conveyor belts, which have low rolling resistance, and excellent rigidity, reducing energy losses. This product has shown promising results, with power saving ranging from 28 to 39 per cent. This is the need of the hour. Our range of pipe conveyor belts not only helps convey efficiently, but, also ensure pollution-free conveying.
What is the response of the industry to the newer developments you propose?
It is very encouraging. We have partnered with many cement plants to install our innovative products with the rider that the enhanced product cost be paid to us, only after the promised benefit is derived. In all these instances the companies have harnessed greater benefit than promised, and thanks to the cement industry grape wine, even more players are now looking forward to collaborate.
Is the cement industry under-valuing the role of consultants?
Not at all. This industry respects knowledge and the knowledgeable. Consultants have played a very important role in shaping technology in cement plants. In-fact, many of the developments done by us are thanks to encouragement received from the cement fraternity.
Where do you see the industry headed in future?
Every industry has its unique requirements and while the trend is one of having a standard product for all industries, we are working towards tailoring products to the specific industry requirements. This would help derive superior performance, and value engineer.