CDE in India has launched Pulsating Jig that is basically for beneficiation of Iron ore from low grade to high grade. They have also introduced Rotomax RX150 logwasher which offers maximum scrubbing of dirty or sticky ores to ensure a clean final product. Chiranjib Banerjee, National Sales Manager, CDE India speaks to Subhajit Roy during IMME Expo 2010.

Mr. Banerjee, what you are looking for at IMME Expo 2010?

In IMME Expo we would like to give the visibility of our Company and showing the visitors and prospective customers that what is the new product or process we are introducing. We are participating in IMME every time. So whenever we come, people expect something new from us. Being an innovative Company, this time we are showing some new equipment and trying to attract our customers who are having proper use of that equipment.

What are the equipment you have launched during this expo?

We have launched equipment called Pulsating Jig that is basically beneficiation of Iron ore from low grade and high grade ore and give the high quality ore from that. In this exhibition we have shown one more equipment called Rotomax RX150 logwasher. We have also showcased our technology for beneficiation of Iron ore to make concentrate for pelletization plant.

We have recently announced the tie–up with an Australia based Company ProMet Engineers. We have chosen IMME as main forum in spreading information about the association with this company and now we can offer complete range of Iron ore beneficiation process. We are already into the processing of Iron ore with more than 12 plants in operation and another 4 under execution. With this tie–up we will also be capable in the full beneficiation.

Can you give us a brief overview your company and business activities?

CDE is based in Ireland started its business 20 years before. Our prime industry focus is mining. We are mainly into the washing plants for sand & aggregates, construction & demolition works, water recycling, environmental management etc. In India we have started CDE’s operation 3 years before primarily with the target of sand and aggregates. But we have seen the concept of design of the plant and everything is well suitable for Iron ore. Though, in India, the concept of iron ore washing was already there, but not in an organized way as CDE does worldwide. So we have started focusing more on iron ore. In India, our major customers are in iron ore washing and then secondary is the sand and aggregate washing plants where we give very good quality of sand as per IS specification and they wash it to clean the sand from the impurities and clay, so that the sands are used for quality construction purposes and give savings on cement consumption without sacrificing the strength of the concrete.

These are the two main verticals of CDE’s business. There are couple of other verticals which are there globally. We have a major vertical called Enviro, which looks after environmental products like waste handling, municipal waste handling, construction and demolition waste, water management, sewerage etc. We will be launching those concept in India very soon. In India, mainly we are concentrating on washing plant and soon we will be starting with the construction and demolition waste management system.

You have entered in Indian market 3 years back. How have been your experience so far doing business in India?

So far it is growing quiet exponentially and with the amount of infrastructural growth and mining business is growing; we expect to grow at more than our projected rate. That is why we are bringing new technologies and new products to complement our range of offering and I think it is going to be great.

Can you discuss about business network in India?

We have services across the country. We have offices in Kolkata and in Bengaluru. So we are operating from these two offices, Bengaluru office takes care of southern and western region customers whereas the Kolkata office is taking care of eastern, northern and central regions.

There exist many established players in the same industry verticals where you are serving. How does differ your products and services from others?

CDE is globally famous for their compact plant design. In our design of the equipment, it takes very minimal footprint – one can setup plant in a small area. It consumes quite a low power and water. It takes very short time to setup a plant and start getting the revenue out of the business. The customers get the advantages of global expertise of our team.

There are many companies but we have a segment where the proper technical support is lacking. In India, there are many companies those who take care of projects which are nothing less than of Rs. 100 – 150 crores, they don’t really cater to that. Above all there are no organized company, who can offer complete turnkey solution. So CDE is catering to the Mid segment where they need the proper guidance and technical assistance and that is the segments which has tremendous growth potential. Our strength is that we can design and supply plant for smaller capacity like 50 tph to anything of higher range 500 tons per hour.

What about your manufacturing facility?

We have manufacturing facility near Kolkata. We have global sourcing through Ireland office. Getting OEM supply from Ireland and we have our own manufacturing unit here. We can not really depend only on import as we have to match with the customers’ expectations and our quality of manufacturing facility in India is as good as manufacturing in Europe. We follow the same manufacturing standard and quality in India. Of course, some critical components are being imported to keep the equipment’s operation as per our expectations.

How do you see the growth opportunities in mining segment?

This is one of the industry which is growing more than the GDP rate and for all our infrastructural growth this industry has to grow at least at the same rate or even more than that. Otherwise the whole infrastructural growth and plan for India producing 20 million tons of steel by 2020 will not be possible. This is the prime mover for the industrial growth in India. So we see very bright future of this industry.