JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #143 - November/December 2021 - 20

BUSlNESS development
The weaving department
as the latest feather in our
cap.
What is your vision for
Urja Products Pvt. Ltd.?
A.N.: My vision for Urja
tomorrow is commensurate
with how we have grown
over several years. Since its
inception, our company has
been growing technology in
a disciplined way and then
channelling it for increased
market share.
In the past 50 years, we have
diversifi ed our supplies into
many industries and segments
but raw materials, namely
aramid, carbon and fi breglass,
have always been at the core.
Urja is known to have harnessed
competencies in the
value chain of these segments,
and then serviced the industry.
Today, our company stands on
the threshold of transforming
itself into a composites product
manufacturer. We want to
contribute to advanced composites
product development
for our nation.
What is the share of export
in the company's sales?
A.N.: Urja exports its products
to over 35 countries and
is not new to following the
strictest and most stringent
parameters.
Export
sales
account for 30% of the current
turnover.
20
What are the capabilities that
make Urja stand ahead of its
competitors?
J.N.: We feel our constant
investment in R&D has kept us
a notch above. We have always
believed in having an in-house
laboratory with the best equipment
and qualifi ed personnel
for monitoring quality and
research. We work closely
with international suppliers in
our fi eld and acquire the latest
ingredients to cook our recipes.
To ensure the product is also
made as per the best standards,
we use only the best manufacturing
machinery.
What are the key constraints
the company is facing today?
How easy is it to fi nd relevant
materials, manpower and
equity for this industry in India?
A.N.: Composites are still an
emerging market in India. Th e
government needs to explore
new products and possibilities
the world of composites has to
off er, products that are in fact
already used by various other
countries. Government approvals
and permissions, even
if with utmost safety margins or
some restrictions on use, need
to be granted, without which
opportunities and benefi ts
of composites will never be
known.
As a simple yardstick, consumption
of composites per
jec composites magazine / N°
Aerial view of facility
capita in the USA is 7 kg as
compared to 0.09 kg per capita
in India.
Th e day composite applications
are allowed, there will be a
surge of manpower, materials
and markets all at the same
time in India. Colleges will
have composites as a subject,
technical institutes (such as
ITI, NABL Labs, etc.) will have
courses to train manpower,
large companies that are
currently not entering into raw
material manufacturing
(for
fear of demand) will venture
into this area.
What are the key risks
associated with this business in
India? What is your mitigation
plan to protect Urja from high
risks?
A.N.: As more and more avenues
open up for composites,
for example FRP rebars and
composite cylinders, railway
coaches and mass transport
containers for water, milk or
liquid fuel, there are not that
many risks associated with this
business.
India has world-class resin and
roving manufacturers. Manpower,
which is a key ingredient
to manufacture composites,
is also available here. India also
has suppliers of composite
143 November - December 2021
product machinery to support
the growth of our composite
industry.
With Reliance's initiative to
produce carbon fi bre in India,
there should be even more
reasons to cheer. One avenue
to pursue further will be the
proper disposal of waste from
raw materials and fi nished
components that are scrapped
for some reason.
Being in Technical Textiles
with so many applications, we
are fortunate to balance our
risks.
Where will your
upcoming investments be?
J.N.: Our upcoming plans or
investments will be in India. We
will invest in the fi eld of composite
cylinders for oxygen,
LPG, hydrogen, etc. It
is for
these and a few other projects
on hand that our money will be
spent on fi lament winding and
the pultrusion of carbon fi bres.
While mastering our current
setup for phenolic prepregs,
we are also investing heavily in
sett ing up a facility for the manufacture
of world-class carbon
and glass epoxy prepregs.
More information:
www.urjafabrics.com
"
http://www.urjafabrics.com
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #143 - November/December 2021

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