PaperDesk : What was the vision behind establishing Conteq Technologies, and how has that vision evolved with the changing requirements of the Indian paper industry?
Tushar Deshpande : Conteq Technologies was established with a focus on bringing contemporary technologies and specialised solutions to the Indian paper industry. The company follows a consultative approach to address production, quality, runnability and operational-cost challenges.
In establishing Conteq in late 2007 the objective was to focus on the area that received the least attention, the Finishing House of the paper mill. All major mills were expanding and upgrading their main process areas – pulp mills and paper machines. But the Finishing house is where sellable paper is made and hence, we tied up with Raumaster Oy, Finland. It is the group company that does material handling systems in three main areas of the integrated pulp and paper mills – for the wood handling of the pulp mills; solid fuel and ash handling for recovery boilers, power boilers, lime kilns, recausticisers, biofuel handling and storage, etc.; slitter winders, roll handling, roll wrapping, roll storage and retrieval systems, broke roll cutting, core cutting and handling systems, etc. for the Finishing Houses of paper mills. We have established long term relationships with the foremost in the industry – TNPL, ITC, West Coast, Emami, to name a few.
Over time, we have established our presence in key technological areas such as drives for the paper machine; pulping solutions for all kinds of fibres such as bamboo, bagasse, wood, deinking, etc.; paper machines for all grades of papers such as tissue, writing and printing, krafts, paper boards, speciality grades, etc.; speciality coating machines both off machine and on machine coating at the paper mill; complete laboratory solutions for integrated mills, RCF mills. Two of our products, first the Waste Paper Bale Moisture Meter is a sterling performer at paper mills and with trader and indenters, the second is the ply bond strength measurement meter or the IBT.
PD : How does Conteq identify emerging technological requirements in paper mills and convert them into practical solutions for customers?
TD : Conteq works closely with paper mills to understand their operational challenges and specific production requirements. It evaluates technologies from specialized international partners and identifies solutions that can improve productivity, quality and efficiency. This approach helps customers select technologies that are technically suitable and commercially valuable.
PD : What role does innovation and R&D play in strengthening Conteq Technologies’ ability to provide advanced solutions to the paper industry?
TD : Innovation is important in helping Conteq introduce advanced equipment and process technologies to Indian paper manufacturers.
The company works with technology partners who are technology leaders in their area of operations. They are typically micro/medium units who focus on a single product or solution to be offered. What this brings to the users I concentrated development work that is targeted at delivering results at almost negligible maintenance requirements. Our principals believe that a product should be engineered to be robust, reliable, easy to use and maintain. This way with proper training imparted to the user service is almost never required. This enables us to compete with the biggest players in the industry and yet be technically superlative and highly affordable. This ensures customer delight and repeat business enforce the confidence the customers have demonstrated while making the first purchase.
Ultimately, these technologies support mills in improving process stability, product quality and overall operational performance.
PD : Could you explain the major product and technology segments offered by Conteq Technologies to pulp and paper manufacturers?
TD : Conteq provides a one stop shop for the major process areas of an integrated pulp and paper mill, whether wood based or agro residue based.
We also offer waste paper handling and processing solutions including Deinking technology. Given that all our principals are focused on one product or solution we can offer world class technologies that compete with the best in class and we operate on a global basis. Be it a laboratory that you are looking to set up in your new mill or upgrading your present one, we are there. Be it screw press you need for sludge dewatering or stock thickening; be it a wetlap machine for any fibre wood or agro residue and be it from kraft pulping method or mechanical pulping or deinked pulp we have the right solution for you. Or be it steam and condensate or hood and ventilation or even machine hall ventilation solutions or the complete paper machine itself, we have them all. This broad range enables the company to support customers across different stages of the pulp and paper production.
PD : How are automation, online measurement and process-control technologies helping paper mills improve productivity and product quality?
TD : Both Online and offline measurement systems enable mills to continuously monitor important process and quality parameters. Technologies such as wood chip analysis, moisture measurement and control on paper-machine measurements can help operators identify variations quickly. This supports better process control, reduced losses and more consistent paper quality.
PD : How important are international technology partnerships to Conteq’s business strategy and its ability to serve the Indian paper industry?
TD : International partnerships are an important part of Conteq’s business model. The company represents technology companies from countries including Finland, Germany, Korea, the USA and other regions apart from India. These partnerships allow Indian customers to access specialized technologies and equipment from global technology providers. Our motto is to deliver products that are robust, reliable, repeatable, accurate and easy to use and maintain. We emphasise on our engineering that designs for smooth running requiring no or negligible maintenance if periodic maintenance is regularly done. This differentiates us from others as our OEM’s are focused on R&D and building in knowledge that has been acquired by experimenting with various technologies and solutions.
PD : What opportunities do you see for the Indian paper industry as manufacturers invest in modernization and capacity expansion?
TD : Modernization provides opportunities to improve production efficiency, quality and automation across existing facilities. Capacity expansion can also increase demand for advanced equipment, process-control systems and material-handling technologies. Suppliers with strong technical capabilities can play an important role in supporting this transformation.
PD : How can Indian paper manufacturers balance increasing production demands with the need for energy efficiency, quality and cost optimization?
TD : Manufacturers need to focus on technologies that improve productivity while reducing unnecessary consumption and process losses. Energy audits, process optimization, automation and efficient equipment can contribute to this balance. Continuous monitoring also enables mills to identify areas where operational improvements can generate measurable savings.
PD : What R&D opportunities should Indian paper companies prioritize to remain competitive in global markets?
TD : Indian companies should prioritize R&D in energy-efficient processes, automation, advanced paper grades, raw-material optimization and intelligent quality control. The mills need to focus on captive plantation and give priority to high yield woods. Mills have compulsions on marketability of their papers, so we see paper machines being used as “all-rounders” rather than specialising on few grades only. Running the paper machines without breaks and with few grade changes is the need of the hour. This will help reduce their cost of sellable papers.