With 350,000 TPA of steel wires, Global Wire India – a part of Tata Steel’s Global Wire Business (GWB) – have been regularly upgrading its manufacturing facilities and introducing innovations to be comparable to the best in the world consistent with the philosophy of technology leadership of its mother company. Its recent innovation ‘Tata Wiron Aayush Barbed Wire’ has been accepted well by the market.
“For the retail markets, our focus has been on galvanized wires and wire products. We have brought in many innovations such as the “Tata Wiron Aayush” and Coloured Barbed Wires into our portfolio which enhance life of the product and add value to the customer offering. We also make chain link mesh for the fencing market. The retail portfolio is served through our distributor- dealer channel developed over the years,” says Mr. Rajiv Kumar Soni.
“GWI has also had success in getting approvals for steel tyre cord from major tyre majors. Commercial supplies have begun and efforts are in place to seek to broad base supplies to other tyre majors in India. Wiron Aayush product was recognized as a “Promising Innovation” within the Tata Group. The market has shown acceptance to this innovative product and as production has stabilized, the BU has taken up plans for further augmenting this capacity at its other manufacturing locations,” said Mr. Rajiv Kumar Soni, Executive-in-Charge, Global Wire India, Tata Steel Limited.
Wire& Cable India: Brief us about your company.
R. K. Soni: Global Wires India is a Business Unit of Tata Steel Limited. We are a profit centre within the Company. Thus, while we are governed by all the processes within Tata Steel Limited, we are responsible for managing our own business namely steel wires. GWIBU operates 5 manufacturing plants in India – four (4) in Tarapur (100 km north of Mumbai) and one (1) in Indore. GWI also gets steel wires converted at various external processing units including at ISWP, Jamshedpur. Raw material is mainly sourced from Tata Steel’s steel making unit at Jamshedpur.
WCI: Share more information about the installed capacity of GWI and the product portfolio along with markets served.
RKS: GWI has an installed capacity for manufacture of 350,000 TPA of steel wires. We are focused on serving the automobile, construction and the retail markets across India with our wires.
For the Automobile markets, we make tyre bead wires and spring wires. We have recently added steel tyre cord to our portfolio. Steel tyre cord is sold jointly with our Japanese partner, viz. Sumiden Steel Wire Thailand Co, Ltd.
For the construction markets, we have the pre-stressed concrete wire in single and stranded forms. GWI recently has introduced two new variants, viz. low relaxation pre-stressed concrete single wires and the PE coated pre-stressed concrete strands to its portfolio. The company also offers black and galvanized binding wires to this market.
For the retail markets, our focus has been on galvanized wires and wire products. We have brought in many innovations such as the “Tata Wiron Aayush” and Coloured Barbed Wires into our portfolio which enhance life of the product and add value to the customer offering. We also make chain link mesh for the fencing market. The retail portfolio is served through our distributor- dealer channel developed over the years.
WCI: Update us briefly about your technical infrastructure in terms of machine installed, R&D, QC capabilities, etc.
RKS: In keeping with Tata Steel’s philosophy of technical leadership, we have been regularly upgrading our manufacturing facilities to be comparable to the best in the world. So, on the face of it though it may appear that our products have remained same, there has been a sea change in their processing and properties.
In addition to this, we have invested in people and equipment to build our Wire Technology Group (WTG) in the last decade. It is today a matter of pride that this group has helped us in introducing cutting edge products (one such is the first in the world – Tata Wiron Aayush) and in upgrading our processes, reengineering machines, strengthening quality systems, etc. The PAG (Product Application Group) within the WTG supports the customers on usage of our products and help solve many of our customer technical issues. The group now has a mix of experienced and young technologists who provide the solutions internally and externally to help our customers.
Going forward, we will continue to invest and add new capabilities to this group. Tata Steel’s central R&D facilitates many technical projects to fruition. Lab facilities at Wires together with the central Lab facilities are one of the advanced ones in Steel making in the region.
WCI: Is there any plan regarding expansion, product addition, new markets, etc?
RKS: GWI has expanded its capacities for manufacture of downstream value added wire products. Expansions in pre-stressed concrete strands and wires and PE coated strands which began in the last year will begin bearing fruit in FY19. It is also taking steps to upgrade its facilities for serving the auto segment with tyre bead and spring wires to keep pace with the increased expectations from its customers. The upgradation will also result in marginal increases in capacities.
GWI has also had success in getting approvals for steel tyre cord from major tyre majors. Commercial supplies have begun and efforts are in place to seek to broad base supplies to other tyre majors in India. Wiron Aayush product was recognized as a “Promising Innovation” within the Tata Group. The market has shown acceptance to this innovative product and as production has stabilized, the BU has taken up plans for further augmenting this capacity at its other manufacturing locations.
WCI: Share your views on Indian steel wire industry covering aspects such as present scenario, growth potential, future scope, etc.
RKS: The steel wire markets in India have remained sluggish in the last financial year FY17. We did see a partial upswing in demand from the construction industry with the revival of many stalled infrastructure projects in India in the 2nd half of the year. Auto market demand too has shown an improvement over the previous year, with a pull from the passenger car segment, but the commercial vehicles market continues to be depressed. However, with surplus capacities in steel wire manufacturing, prices have continued to remain depressed.
The global economies too have been depressed; as a result, there has been an increased influx of wires from South East Asia, China into India. Some of the European mills too have found small niches more attractive in India.
WCI: What kind of steps have you taken for better operational efficiencies?
RKS: Improving safety at workplace, having quality improvement activities at all levels, reducing operational cost, delivery cost and waste have been our mantra. Our worker union committees and workmen have been very progressive in their approach; their involvement and working hand in hand with the management teams has helped in driving this mantra across all locations. Driving innovation, digitalization, and quality mindset have always been our mainstays.
