— Suresh Y.B., CEO,
Total Power Conditioners Pvt Ltd
Bangalore-based
Total Power Conditioners Pvt Ltd that started off in
1994 as a small-scale producer of power electronics is today a
leading name in power conditioning equipment, providing end-toend
solutions.
Suresh Y.B. in this exclusive exchange speaks
about the UPS/inverter industry and also discusses critical
issues like competition from China and the problems faced by
small and micro players. Suresh shares his company's vision of
growing aggressively in the solar PCU market. An interview by
Venugopal Pillai.
In a country that has widespread power shortages and lacks
consistent supply of quality power, how do you see the market
for power conditioning equipment? At what rate do you think
the industry would grow in the coming years?
The UPS/inverter market in the country is maturing and
reaching rural India at a fast pace as the power situation
seems to be worsening year-on-year. In the coming years, we
can expect the overall UPS/inverter market to grow by over 20-
25 per cent annually.
Tell us about the wide range of power conditioning equipment
made by TPC. Which products constitute the mainstay of your
business?
TPC manufactures solar power conditioning units (PCUs), all
kinds of UPS, servo stabilizers, frequency converters, etc. Our
main product lines of solar PCUs and online UPS.
It is believed that India has a large number of manufacturers of
low-rating home UPS in the unorganized sector. What is your
view?
Yes, in India there are more small-scale industries especially in
the lower-rating UPS category. In the recent past, few branded
companies have started aggressively marketing low-rating
UPS. Apart from competitive prices, they are also offering
organized support, which is creating volumes. Small timers in
the unorganized sector will find it very difficult to sustain as
manufacturers. They may diversify their line of activity or start
trading in order to sustain themselves in the industry.
What has been the role of China in supplying power electronics
for UPS/inverters to India?
Yes, China is playing an important role in the Indian UPS market
by offering low-cost high-frequency transformer-less online
UPS and inverters, up to 6 KVA. These products are beginning
to see large volumes in both government and private sector.
Could you explain in very simple terms the basic difference
between a UPS and an inverter?
As a general understanding, inverter is used for lighting and
other electrical appliances, where as UPS is used in critical
applications like computers and computer peripherals, medical equipment, CNC machines, telecom equipment, etc.
Technically, an inverter is similar to an offline UPS with or
without having fastest transfer and regulation on battery
mode. But UPS should have fastest or no transfer from mains to
battery mode and tight regulation on mains and as well as
battery mode.
We hear of power conditioning equipments that combine the
benefits of a voltage stabilizer, inverter and UPS. Please
elaborate.
Yes, power conditioning equipment should give all benefits like
stabilization, critical back-up (if required) and has to provide
clean power to the connected load by eliminating disturbances
like surges, spikes, brownouts, blackouts, harmonics, etc.
Where are the manufacturing facilities
of TPC located? Do you have any
expansion plans in the near future?
TPC has its manufacturing facility
located in Bangalore—the Silicon
City. TPC has plans to expand the
facility to cater to renewable energy
sector in a major way.
Please tell us more on the solarbased
UPS offered by TPC.
TPC offers Solar PCUs that can be
used for varied applications like
computers, lighting, domestic pumps,
LED lighting, street lighting, etc. We offer solar and grid hybrid
systems which are having solar priority charging and intelligent
battery management logic to utilize maximum solar energy
available and also to provide backup during evening power cuts.
We understand that TPC provides end-to-end power
conditioning services right from inspection, estimation to final
commissioning of equipment. Please elaborate.
Yes, TPC provides end-to-end power solutions by offering presite
visit to survey and understand customer requirements.
Then, we recommend right power product and capacity. We
take care of supply and installation of products supplied and we
provide best in class after-sales support to our valued
customers for the entire range of power products.
What the problems typically faced by UPS/inverter
manufacturers in the SME sector? Would you suggest changes
in any government policies to this effect?
Small-scale manufacturers are facing threat from imported
Chinese products, because of cheap prices and poor quality.
Few SMEs have stopped manufacturing certain range of
products and instead have started buying from importers. Now,
they are facing problems while providing after-sales service.
The government should support R&D of similar products in
India through leading institutions. Technology for
manufacturing such products should also be provided. Indian
SMEs can then offer products not only at competitive prices but
also to suit Indian power conditions.
Do you anticipate that as India becomes more competent in
supplying "quality" power, the demand
for power conditioning equipment
could subside?
The gap in demand and supply in the
power segment is increasing every
year. We may not expect continuous and
quality power in the near future. So, we
hope demand for power conditioning
equipment doesn't subside!
Please summarize the growth plans of
TPC and some key milestones that you
would like TPC to cross in the coming
years.
TPC is planning to grow at a fast pace in the solar segment
by adding more technological products suiting the need of
the market. In sync with the government plans and policies,
we want to establish ourselves as leaders in the segment.
Key milestones that TPC would like to attain in the short
term are:
- TPC is developing a true grid sharing solar PCU suiting all
kinds of critical needs for Indian conditions. The product will
be released in the third quarter of the current fiscal year
(FY13.)
- TPC is also releasing solar & wind hybrid PCU for varied
applications, in the last quarter of FY13.
- The renewable energy division of TPC has a revenue target of
Rs.10 crore for FY13.