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H&K India Marches On
TRMA (THERMEX REBAR MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION) Makes an Impact on Civil Engineers through Seminars
Thermex Rebar Capacity crosses 13 mTonnes
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THERMEX UPDATE Besides bringing Thermex QST technology into the Indian Territorial Region, H&K India continued its service to society in its 27th year through a series of articles and seminars addressed to civil engineers. It is committed to spread awareness about proper type of rebars to be used in India which has about 60% of its land unders seismic zones 3, 4 & 5. The number of THERMEX Licensees continues to grow - this is also amply borne out by the unintended 'compliment' given to us by some unscrupulous elements who are brazenly copying our hardware and offering 'Thermex' type technologies. The gullible far falling prey. Further, some mills have even started illegally imprinting 'Thermex' or 'TMX' on their rebars even though they have no Thermex System supplied by us. Thet stop only after legal notices are sent to them - but we have to be constantly be on our toes. The civil engineering fraternity is requested to assist us to weed out this form of 'corruption' by ALWAYS checking with us about any mill that claims to be a Thermex Licensee & whether he is producing GENUINE Thermex QST rebars. In the meanwhile we have crosssed the following milestones: 13.5 millionT Thermex QST Rebar Capacity in India Milestone of 164 Thermex System Orders on H&K India Version-3 Thermex Quenching Pipes introduced in 2011
As promised in the last update on this webpage, H&K India has handed over the essential reins to the next generation at the helm to allow for newer thoughts and ideas. Ms. Radhika Markan has gradually taken control of the Company as its Joint Managing Director since August 2010.
A lot of work has been accomplished, but much more remains to be done. We look forward to the years ahead as a challenge - and with some confidence.
THERMEX , THERMEX QST and TMX are registered trademarks of H&K Rolling Mill Engineers Pvt. Ltd. in India with permission of HSE Germany for their THERMEX trademark.
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The introduction of BS:4449-2005, effective January 2006, has been a very welcome step. H&K has been advocating for the past few years for such a standard in India too - a simple one, with just one Grade (500), but higher ductility on account of the high seismic nature of the Indian Region. Against this requirement, B.I.S. has introduced IS: 1786-2008 which has puzzled civil engineers across the country. It has 7 grades with each requiring a different chemical composition! It's utility has raised many questions and implementation on the ground seems well nigh impossible. So, structural engineers remain confined to Grades Fe 415 and Fe 500 in their designs. However, this new IS Code has proved to be a blessnig in disguise for Thermex QST rebar producers because the THERMEX System is the only one which can satisfy the strange properties stipulated in the new code - whether it is Fe 415 or 415D, Fe500 or 500D, Fe550 or 550D or even Fe600! Even so, we do not appreciate the new code. We think it is step in the 'backward direction' and does not serve the people at large. It has only added to the confusion on the ground. A pity indeed. The ('Aam Admi') COMMON MAN DESERVES BETTER. HE SHOULD FEEL SAFE IN THE HOUSE HE STAYS.
The market response to THERMEX QST rebars, on account of a superior product easily available across the country from different sources, has been tremendous. Also, the commissioning at different mills has been progressing at a furious pace and very SMOOTHLY. (SEE PAGE 2 - THERMEX COOLING SYSTEMS from H&K)
With total production of rebars in India at just about 15 million tonnes per year, the THERMEX QST Rebar commands the majority market share by any reckoning.
Today, all the major users in India - whether government departments, leading construction companies, municipal corporations, reputed builders for residential apartments or specific projects - specify THERMEX by name in their tenders. Truly, it is the only GLOBAL Brand rebar available in the country. And, the consumers are happy - they benefit.
In India, though the steel industry had begun offering Grade Thermex 500 since 13 years, the use of Quenched & Self Tempered (QST) rebars was mainly limited to Grade Fe 415 of IS 1786. Thus, India had lost out on the savings potential of Thermex 500 QST bars - Rs 25 billion each year at present cost of Rs 25,000 per tonne, a sum India could ill-afford to throw away due to ignorance.
This is now changing, though gradually, on account of greater awareness today.
Typical THERMEX 500 rebar properties are:
Yield Strength of 520 to 600 N/sqmm;
Stress Ratio (UTS:YS) of 1.15 to 1.35;
Elongation of 18 to 30 %.
IC-ACI SEMINAR 2003 HIGHLIGHTS:
F. Tamm, with a little guidance from R. N. Raikar lit the ceremonial lamp and also released the seminar document to start the seminar. The tone for the seminar was set by the curtain raiser comments of Herr Tamm. He made two pertinent observations that literally set the "cat amongst the pigeons".
He stunned the audience by the first point he made in reference to the growing misuse of the term 'TMT Bars' in India. He firmly stated that the Quenched & Tempered bars made through use of the Licensed THERMEX and TEMPCORE technologies are never referred to as 'TMT' bars in Europe. ('TMT' bars are in fact associated with plain rounds where genuine thermal & mechanical treatment is carried out - as undertaken by HSE at the rolling mill of one of their clients.) To the shock of the civil engineers present he further stated that use of Cold Twisted Deformed bars had stopped in Europe around 1972!!
The second point F. Tamm mentioned in his opening remarks was that "the processes of THERMEX and TEMPCORE were developed to specially manufacture Grade 500 rebars. This allows the civil engineers to save about 10 to 15% steel. Practically, ALL the rebars used in Europe is only Grade 500". Germany had gained tremendous cost savings over the past few decades on this count.
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F. Tamm sets the ball rolling with his precise comments at the 'curtain raiser'.
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A recent Thermex installation in India.
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For more information, Contact :
1. Raj K. Markan, Chairman & Mg. Director,or 2. Ms. Radhika Markan, Jt. Mg. Director, or 3. R. S. Chavan, Executive Director, H&K Rolling Mill Engineers Pvt. Ltd.,
401, Balarama, Bandra Kurla Complex,
Bandra East, Mumbai 400051. INDIA.
Fax : +91-22-26590200
Tel : +91-22- 26599881 (4 lines),
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Picture, above left - R. N. Raikar, President ICACI, honouring R. K. Markan for his dedicated services in the field of Steel Reinforcement.
Above right - Renowned Transportation Planner, Mr. R. K. Jha, President-Technical, Special Economic Zone, MahaMumbai presenting Lifetime Achievement Award to R. K. Markan at the Consteel India 2004 seminar.
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