The Hindu Business Line : Cordite Factory goes on modernisation drive

The plan includes modernisation of the nitrocellulose and sulphuric acid concentration plants in the factory, which will complete 100 years of existence on January 19.

In an exclusive interview with Business Line in the week preceding the factory's centenary celebrations, Mr H.R.Nahar, General Manager, said: In order to keep pace with new developments, CFA always proactively looks for modern in its core areas. Some of the modernisation projects have already been sanctioned by the Ordinance Factory Board and it is expected that these projects will be completed by 2007.

"The main plan includes modernisation of the electrical distribution system, Sulphuric Acid concentration plant, the Nitro Cellulose plant and transportation system and sewage system,'' he said.

In fact, as part of the modernisation process of its transportation and material handling process, the factory has already purchased special battery powered trucks from Germany. "These trucks have no exhaust and as such make for much safer transportation of finished explosives,'' Mr Nahar said.

As regards its sulphuric acid plant, the factory proposes to modernise it with glass technology for whichit will float a global tender. For the first time the factory, which consumes 20 lakh gallons of water per day, also proposes to introduce the concept of re-cycling in order to increase water efficiency.The factory already has in place a chemical effluent plant for treatment of chemical waste water. CFA is engaged in production of propellant for various type of ammunition for the armed forces. It is considered as the mother factory of all other propellant factories in the country. Apart from providing the Defence Services with a capacity to produce propellants and allied products worth Rs 100 crore a year, surplus capacity at the plant is used to produce input material (industrial NC) for the civil sector such as paint and cosmetic industry. Its end users include the likes of Asian Paints and Shalimar Paints. "This contributes to around Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 crore annually to our turnover,'' Mr Nahar said.

The products of the factory have in the past been exported to countries such as Israel. The factory is currently exploring new markets for export.

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