Taurian has been specialising in mobile, track mounted crushing plants since ages now. We have taken a prominent market share to some extent with the launch of our new generation cone crushers with the fine and standard head, says H Sankaranarayanan, Director - Operations, Taurian Engineering. Excerpts from the interview.

What is the overall market for crushers and screens for the aggregate and mining segments?
The estimated market is worth around Rs 1,200 crore overall. But due to the present conditions where there are no new projects coming in, coupled with the issues in the mining sector, the market has shrunk considerably. This has totally shut off the market and Taurian's performance has not been on expected lines but we have managed to achieve 80 per cent of the target as of date.

How do you expect to end this fiscal in terms of units and value?
We will be ending up this fiscal with Rs 45 crore as against the expected target of Rs 60 crore.

When do you expect a revival in the market?
A revival is on the cards, with the government announcing new projects and there is a wait-and-watch situation prevailing. The equipment market will take the lead especially in upgradation of existing small plants to larger plants.

What is Taurian's strategy in the current scenario where the off-take of crushers has dipped considerably?
Taurian is comfortable as we are also into projects overseas in Africa and the UAE. Our group is setting up crushing plants all over Africa and the UAE.

What is your take on issues like devaluation of rupee, high cost of funding, etc?
Considering the above facts, Taurian has not ventured into any expansion as was scheduled for a new factory; that has been put off to 2014. No major capex investment has been made.

What are the major challenges Taurian faces?
We are facing challenges in scarcity of technical personnel for this industry; it is not as clean as an IT industry. People have to struggle to get orders and make compromises, which no qualified engineers want to do now.

How do you address the issue of lack of skilled operators?
Taurian has been addressing this issue at all the major exhibitions; we train customer operators at our factory before despatch so that they are equipped to handle our crushers.

Tell us about the range of crushers and screen offered by Taurian.
Taurian has been specialising in mobile, track-mounted crushing plants and is the first in the country to manufacture track-mounted crushers. Our jaw crushers are fully hydraulic compared to others and our cone crushers are one of the best in the industry, in its fully automatic version. We have taken a prominent market share to some extent with the launch of our new generation cone crushers with the fine and standard head.

How is Taurian geared to meet the fast changing service parameters?
Taurian is taking up AMC and also service contracts and there is no question of letting down the customers.

How do you differentiate your product from the competition?
Right from day one, our plants are rated high for safety. Productivity is always there and hence the customer prefers us. The operational cost is also low compared to the competition.

Is there any launch on the anvil?
We will launch our new series of cone crushers and VSI during Excon 2013

How do you look at the growth potential in another three years?
Taurian has been in the field for the last eight years and we have faced the highs and low of the industry and always look for the best.