July 09, 2022

We are manufacturing next generation valves for process industries, says Divyang Rajput, Sr. Manager - Chemicals & Pharma, DelVal Flow Controls 

July 09, 2022

Companies are looking at high efficiency products, high output within short time, says Rajesh Baviskar, Country Sales Manager - India, Sri Lanka, Garlock India 

July 08, 2022

Evonik's six innovation growth fields are: Sustainable nutrition, healthcare solutions, advanced food ingredients, membranes, cosmetic solutions, and additive manufacturing

2022 global trends in specialty chemicals and its implications on India?

It would definitely be the ‘Sustainability Imperative’; more than a trend, it is a compelling need that has the entire industry pivot its axis across its research, production, and business operations. This is supported by adequate, and timely policy measures that complement industrial advancement across the value chain. Next would be the digitization of operations, from augmented human resource productivity to implementing AI to collect data on consumer behavioural patterns.

India is in a position of advantage as the market is geared up to boom over the next decade. The availability of a skilled talent pool will only add to this potential. The policy environment is also inclined to this growth, with acceleration programs that ease business and are fertile for infrastructural development. We’re looking forward to the environment becoming more attractive for investments, along with a robust Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme such that the ecosystem receives the support it commands.

Evonik India has played a key role in shaping up various industries in its four decades of existence in India? Key milestones achieved by the company in FY 2021-22?

Evonik has been contributing to various industries by offering innovative products over the years. Being a specialty chemical company, while we often contribute only small amounts of material, those contributions are precisely what make the difference. With this endeavor we have consistently expanded our business in India. In 2021, Evonik India has been able to supply to the industry despite COVID challenges and global supply chain issues. We have ensured continuous supply to essential industries like pharma, animal feed, agrochemicals, and FMCG in these challenging times with our strong resilience. The company focuses on - nutrition & care, specialty additives, smart materials, and performance materials. The company focuses on - Nutrition & care, specialty additives, smart materials, and performance materials.

How has Evonik India performed in FY 2021-22? What are the plans for FY 2022-23?

In 2021, most of our businesses grew beyond pre-COVID levels. We see growth in the overall Indian economy and momentum in relevant end-markets like paints & coatings, infrastructure, automotive, animal feed, pharmaceuticals, etc. We also need to be cautious about developments in the global geo-political arena and the COVID situation around the world as that may affect supply chains for our businesses in India.

How are Evonik India's R&D centres at Mumbai and Dombivli and six Application Technology Labs contributing to India and the global market?

These are critical to our long-term strategy for our Indian and global markets. Our Research Center India (RCI) in Mumbai is our global competence center for oral formulation development, and its state-of-the-art facility is designed to cater to industries ranging from pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and food technology. Our R&D centre for catalysts supports fine chemicals, bulk chemicals, and edible oil industries, in addition to the pharmaceutical and food with its expertise in catalyst development for complex chemistry. Our six Application Technology Labs form the backbone of our customer-centric approach, because they support our local and regional customers with new formulation development, trouble shooting, product testing, application trials, and distributor training for technical know-how. Our business functions are founded on our mastery on research and innovation, and our strong customer-first approach.

Evonik puts a lot of thrust on sustainability? Key sustainability plans for the company in FY 2022-23?

Evonik recently conducted a cross-functional sustainability analysis to assess and integrate sustainability topics into the company’s portfolio and strategic management decisions. As per the report, 90 percent of products have a positive sustainability benefit, and over 30 per cent of its portfolio delivers superior sustainability benefits. This directly addresses customers’ desire for sustainable products, and paved the way for our strategic targets for 2022 and beyond:

• 100 percent of all raw material suppliers where annual procurement voluzme is > €100 thousand to be covered by Together for Sustainability (TfS) assessments by year end 2025 (Status 2021-69%)

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions - Absolute scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by 50% by 2025 (reference base 2008) (Status 2021-43%)

• Absolute scope 3 emissions from the upstream value chain – principally from the raw material backpack by 15% by 2025 (reference base 2020)

• Reduce both absolute and specific energy consumption by 5% by 2025 (reference base 2020)

• Occupational health performance index >= 5

• Substantial increase in sales generated by next generation solutions (Status 2021 - 37%)

• Generate more than Euro 1 billion sales in our six innovation growth fields by 2025 Evonik's six innovation growth fields are: Sustainable nutrition, healthcare solutions, advanced food ingredients, membranes, cosmetic solutions and additive manufacturing.

Can you share your CSR initiatives for India? CSR Plans for FY 2022-23?

We’re deeply committed to improving the social environment in any way possible, and consciously reach out to support causes across the board, primarily in the realm of children’s education, women empowerment, and healthcare. Recently, one of our projects even involved employees from the Asia Pacific contributing to a local NGO that utilized the aid to procure medical equipment for patients during the pandemic. Likewise, we have projects lined up by our partner trusts and foundations for the upcoming year, that will see us actively support infrastructure for schools, procurement of equipment and facilities for medical aid, and tools to help women and specially abled people live qualitatively better lives.

July 08, 2022

Interview with Narendra Joshi, AGM - HEBU, HRS Process Systems Limited

July 08, 2022

Interview with Sreedhar Sukumaran, Chief Operating Officer, Anval International Pte Ltd

July 07, 2022

Our quality and safety led services are contributing to the growth of Indian industrial sector, says Deepak Sahay, Managing Director- India Operations, Dekra

July 06, 2022

We are expanding capacity for redispersible polymer powder to 800 tonnes per month, says Sandeep Agrawal, Managing Director, Sakshi Chem Sciences 

July 05, 2022

 It is estimated that over 62 million tons of biogas can be produced from various renewable sources. Through the SATAT programme, the government has set an aggressive target to produce 25 million tons of biogas by 2025 meeting 40% of India's gas requirement.

How will biofuel, bio-CNG, and bio-electricity impact India and its economy in the long run?

The current geopolitical turmoil has dramatically increased costs of food and fuel. In addition, the entire world faces climate change. India must address its energy security and finally being an agrarian nation with millions of small farmers, India needs to provide meaningful livelihoods to its population. This can be met with farmers growing crops for food and fuel.

Renewable energy can help address these three challenges. India has an abundance of sunlight. This sunlight can help us generate solar power, but also help the crops we grow be a source of energy. Renewable energy, as opposed to energy derived from fossil fuels, helps combat and mitigate climate change.

Sugarcane is one such crop. India makes more sugarcane than it needs for sugar. The government has recognized this sugarcane surplus as a source of energy. Energy from sugarcane comes to us in three forms - ethanol as a biofuel, bio-CNG, and bio-electricity. All three have tremendous potential to meet our energy needs for mobility as well as home needs.

The Government of India in June 2021 has articulated an aggressive and excellent roadmap for ethanol blending. That report is very comprehensive and very well articulates the steps that need to be taken to take this opportunity forward. In fact, the government has advanced the target date for 20% ethanol blending from 2030 to 2025. The government is also encouraging the conversion of grain to ethanol, knowing fully well, that the total ethanol demand will exceed 15 billion litres (across all applications in 2025). Of these 15 billion litres, 10 billion will be used as a fuel.

The future will still require higher ethanol blending and energy self-sufficiency. The government is already piloting E100 as a fuel, and is asking the automobile manufacturers to make flex fuel cars. India has many other sources of biomass that can be used to generate compressed biogas. It is estimated that over 62 million tons of biogas can be produced from various renewable sources. Through the SATAT programme, the government has set an aggressive target to produce 25 million tons of biogas by 2025 meeting 40% of India's gas requirement.

Every sugar mill makes surplus electricity as it generates steam to meet its process needs. This electricity is exported to the grid, and can be used to meet the growing power needs of the country, and be a source for mobility as cars move towards electric vehicles.

Every sugar mill generates electricity as a co-product by using efficient high pressure boilers and turbines. Each sugar mill can export about 30 kwh/ton crushed of electricity while crushing cane (excluding saved bagasse). 320 million tons of cane will mean 9.6 million mwh of electricity. An electric car can give a mileage of about 7 km/kwh. This equates to about 67 billion km of distance traveled.

Petrol gives on average 10 km/l. This translates to 6.7 billion litres of petrol saved (to put this number in context, India consumed 42 billion litres of petrol in 2019). The combination of these will go a long way in addressing India’s energy security, mitigate climate change and improve farmer incomes. Further, it will also make India stronger in the context of geopolitical, climate and energy shocks.

Will India reach 20% Ethanol blending by 2025 and introduce E20 fuel by 2023? How will this result in transformation of biorefineries and rural economy?

 India will reach 20% blending by 2025. There are large investments happening to convert sugarcane syrup and/or B molasses to ethanol. Simultaneously, there are investments in setting up grain based ethanol facilities.

With these initiatives, the country is poised to achieve a 20% blend by 2025. With the manufacture of flex fuel cars, and the imperative of energy security especially in the face of global supply shocks, there is a greater consensus on implementing green and sustainable sources of energy and biomaterials.

This will provide an option to agribusinesses to make foods and fuels. This will lead to a stability of revenue streams and consequently farmer incomes. To give an example, earlier, sugarcane was used only to make sugar. Surplus production of cane weighed heavily on the sugar market, leading to surpluses, lower selling prices and sales, cane arrears, and then lower cane production - amplifying surpluses and deficits.

The Biofuel market provides a ‘sink’ for production and stability to the markets and to farmer incomes. This will lead to the set[1]ting up of industry in rural areas and will translate to rural prosperity.

What’s the present yearly capacity of Ethanol for Godavari Biorefineries? Are you further expanding your ethanol capacity?

Godavari has always been at the forefront of making ethanol from sugarcane. The company rapidly increased its ethanol capacity from 200,000 litres per day to its current ethanol capacity of 400,000 litres per day.

We are currently expanding to make 600,000 litres per day from the coming sugarcane crushing season. Next year, we further plan to add a bolt on capacity for adding grain as a feedstock giving us greater flexibility and resilience in our ethanol capacity.

The company is planning to jump into Ethanol based Specialty Chemicals for Pharma Intermediates and Agro Intermediates. Any development on this front?

The company is already in the business of ethanol based specialty chemicals. Chemicals comprised almost 35% of our business in the year ended March 2021. The company plans to continue to expand in the business of making specialty chemicals in a wide range of end use applications, including pharmaceutical intermediates, agrochemicals, coatings, and more.

What’s your approach to sustain[1]ability and plans for achieving net zero? Sustainability initiatives that will improve resource and product sustain[1]ability for the company?

The company fundamentally believes in using renewable resources to make fuels, energy, biochemicals, biomaterials and other products. Sugarcane and ethanol are used to make all the products listed above. The company believes in the concept of a cascading and circular biorefinery.

In addition, the company is also working with farmers to use drip irrigation, inter-crop[1]ping, remote sensing, soil testing, bio-fertilizers, and traditional agro-ecology practices like Panchagavya and Jeevamrut to reduce the carbon footprint, improve soil health, improve farm yields and incomes.

What is the latest development regarding your R&D facilities?

The company has three R&D facilities outside Mumbai and at each of its manufacturing locations. The company has R&D facilities from laboratory to pilot plant facilities. Godavari believes in co-creating end-use applications with collaborators and customers. Since these research programmes are developed internally, these facilities are needed to optimize reaction conditions, yields and scale up.

July 05, 2022

Our motto is to design right pump for right applications, says Chintan Turakhia, Partner, Pumpsquare Systems 

July 05, 2022

Innovation and quality compliance are key parameters for success of bellow industry, says Hari Srinivasan, Managing Director, Fluidyne Engineers