Our Pune factory to supply membrane gas holders across Asia: Miroslav Benka, MD, Baur Folien

Tell us something about the Baur manufacturing facility as it completes one year of operations & why it’s important for the company?

MIROSLAV BENKA: We started to produce our product last year in Pune and we had put in lots of effort before because for us the product is very specific –membrane gas holders. We first required a shed and we didn’t find an existing one. We needed to figure out buying a new shed and construct it in a couple of months just like our manufacturing plants in Germany. So, now we have a nice modern shed measuring 2,175 square meters. We have imported very specific machines from Switzerland & the European Union and everything is in accordance with our standards. That makes a difference for the local CBG market. Until then, the material was either imported by industry or made locally. There was a missing link between these two utilities together- to bring that mature technology developed & proven by decades but made in India. It gives us a chance of flexibility and reduces costs at the right place.

Tell us something about the manpower Baur Folien engaged in the production of membrane gas holders at Pune?  

MIROSLAV BENKA: Baur Folien moved smart with regards to production. We are also planning to upscale it as soon as we need. About 20 persons are engaged in the production currently. We are building a technical department with a quality manager etc. All necessary parts & departments are getting covered with strong support from Germany. We will upscale the manpower when we increase the production. The initial focus was that our German supervisors should spend more time in the Pune factory training & guiding the technicians and other workforce. It is necessary for us to focus on quality with quantity. We got key technicians in the facility who can achieve manufacturing quality equivalent to Germany. The quality is now achieved and we are heading towards upscaling quantity.

What is the current production and is your production team sufficient to match the future demand? 

MIROSLAV BENKA: In terms of quantity, we are positively surprised. From the first moment, we had to manufacture the first order. Since autumn last year when the company was established, we started the process. It’s always complicated in the beginning if you are a foreign company. We succeeded in setting up successfully. Since the beginning we are getting new orders and production doesn’t need to stop. We are getting good inquiries & purchase orders. I want to use the opportunity of this perfect match of producing in India to cover the Asian market as well.

Has Baur Folien sold anything in Asia from India?

MIROSLAV BENKA: Yes, we received a good purchase order from a complicated biogas project of a demanding client from South Korea. We have our maiden purchase order from Malaysia. I want to diversify and build a structure & strategy behind it. We are also attracting big EPC firms in Europe that have projects in Asia. They see that we can now make technically mature products with faster deliveries while also being price effective as we produce in India.

How has been the business for you in India in the past one year?

MIROSLAV BENKA: The business is on a good track. We are still analysing the first year data. If I consider the number & response of the market, it’s good.

What’s your long term vision for the Indian market?

MIROSLAV BENKA: We have to be more complex because we are producing a crucial part of the CBG plant. But we are not the decision makers. We have to hope on the reasonable approach of the investors that they would be keen to invest in the functional technologies so that their biogas plants perform and give good results. Then there will be a bright future for us. The biogas branch in India has the potential to become the biggest in the world. We have to influence the big players to do the projects wisely.

How does your technology help clients realize return on investments?

MIROSLAV BENKA: We came to India with no compromises on the technology. Clients need their plants to work and remain functional. We are bringing chemical resistant membranes with no permeability. Which means that due to the substrates which are different than in Europe, the gas in India is very aggressive. You need to understand these differences. For instance, our gas holders are protecting clients’ assets on top of digesters that are producing biogas which is actually their money. Our technology offers them solutions that are long lasting which stabilise their income.