- Financial Year 2008-09 Ends with Many Milestones for the H&K supplied THERMEX Systems in Indian Region
- Thermex QST Rebar Capacity in India crosses 10 million T
- 130 Thermex System Orders on H&K India Crossed
- Pending orders will push Thermex QST Rebar Capacity to 12 million T by mid 2010
H&K India thus enters its 25th Year with great confidence - and with a promise to continue to serve the country with the same zeal as when it started. AND, with its feet firmly on the ground. We can look back at the past without any guilt because we have not strayed from the goals we had set for ourselves when we began the journey. 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.
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 %.
THERMEX is a registered trademark of H&K Rolling Mill Engineers Pvt. Ltd. in India under permission of HSE Germany who are the owners of this trademark outside India.
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