Normet: A Superb Solution Provider for Mining and Tunneling
Waking up from its policy paralysis phase, the government has cleared/announced a number of new infrastructure projects where Power and Mining sector got the most attention besides roads. How do you link it to some revival and how these steps are likely to improve the CE market on the ground?
As per the information, one in every 2 central mega projects is delayed, despite government efforts to fast track infrastructure projects.The reality is no improvement is visible at the implementation levels. In my personal opinion,the CE market is not expected to improve till the elections get over which are due next year.
Normet imports its equipment; how has the rupee devaluation against major currencies affected Normet business? What steps are you taking to minimize this effect?
Many customers have delayed their procurement process with the rupee devaluation. In order to minimize the effect we have taken steps in the rental of certain model of equipments such as spraying equipment which has been very popular with our esteemed customer due to high performance and after sales support made available very close to site.
Don't you think localization could be a good option to offset the rupee problem and to offer products at a reasonable price where you can ward off stiff competition? What are your plans to set-up your manufacturing/assembly facility here in India?
We plan to start a workshop in the first quarter next year for refurbishment of machines which have completed 1/2 projects under tough conditions at the tunnel sites. As Normet machines have been made for tough jobs, the refurbishment of such machines would help customer complete another 1/2 projects at reduced capital investment.
Normet calls itself as a solution provider rather than an equipment manufacturer. Can you elaborate on your products and services?
Normet has always been a solution provider for the underground mining and tunnelling process. Normet has a range of Equipments Viz Concrete Spraying, Concrete Transport,Charging,Lifting and Installation,Underground Logistics, Scaling, Chemicals and Rock Reinforcement. Normet with its age old philisophy involves in the customer process and provide a solution for optimizing the project cost.
Our Life Time Care Division provides perfect after sales service. Normet people, tools and programs take good care of your Normet machine worldwide and keeps it performing productively and safely with predictable costs.
- We start with complete operator and maintenance instructions, spare parts manuals.
- We are where you are. Normet sales and service companies and contracted partners cover whole world. Downtown Stockholm, Sweden, outback of Australia, Himalayan or Chilean mountains or Siberian cold. We are there.
- Maintenance, repair, rebuilding, tunneling process expertise. Or something else? Experts at your service. Short term or long term.
- Training, from the introduction how to use up to complete education program for your staff to work with Normet machines. Our training covers also working processes like concrete spraying, charging and transportation. Normet has EFNARC Trained Spraymasters with Artificial tunnel and Simulators for training of the spraying operators.
- Spare parts needs? Normet Global Parts Logistics makes them available. Quality parts with quality deliveries.
- Modify, modernize, need new features or components. From Life Cycle Products there is sure the option to choose and use.
- Warranty. Life Time Care is your partner in the case of the unexpected. Extended warranties are available on request.
Our Chemical business under the flagship of Normet with two factories at Rudrapur (Uttaranchal) and Howrah (West Bengal) has been a strong compliment to our spraying equipment business. Customers as HCC, Leighton, Coastal, Megha, Vedanta are all satisfied with Normet equipment and chemical where we have provided solutions suitable to their needs.
Your machines work on remote areas across the nation where road connectivity is very poor, hence providing service and spare parts would be a big issue. How are you addressing these issues?
Under Normet philisophy, "We are, where you are," we have a dedicated service team at the site itself. We have a large warehouse at Noida where we have improved our spares parts availabilty to customers around 85% at any time. We have expanded our warehouse at certain new locations: Udhampur, Siliguri and the third one at Udaipur by end of this year.
Depending upon project needs at many times we have a container at the site with required spares to keep the machine running on 24x7 basis.
Trained operators and technicians and preventive and periodical maintenance play a big role in equipment performance; please brief us on your services.
Agree but lot of investment needs to put in for training of our own operators and technicians. Normet has a full fledged Training Department whose role is to assess each technician capability and have a training programme executed on indivual needs. Normet deputes atleast 6 technicians to Finland every year for training and adopt international standards in preventive and periodical maintenance. Normet Finland deputes Service perosnnel at our remote locations on regular basis round the year and ensuring the best practises being followed by our as well as customer technical team.
As spraying operator is very important in the shotcrete process, we train the customers' operators at site by our EFNARC trained Spraymasters. Normet India has also established their EFNARC Trained Spraymaster. Normet India has established an artificial tunnel at Rudrapur factory for training of operators with machine.
A word about Normet participation in the 7th edition of Excon 2013. How do you perceive this mega CE event as an appropriate platform for showcasing your company strength, enabling the customers to get a hand on experience of the performance of your products and services? What are the products and services expected to be unveiled in this mega event?
With a slow down in the market globally, we had showcased our products and chemicals in Bauma 2013. Excon is a big event in India and looking forward to participate in the near future.
NBM&CW November 2013
