“More than 600 paper mills are using our pumps and we have more than 10,000 installations worldwide. Kakati wishes to spread its wings into the international market in the forthcoming years. We believe we are equipped to take up the challenges and progress through them”, says Mr. C. Venkateshwar Rao, Managing Director, Kakati Karshak Industries Pvt. Ltd.
Founded by Mr. C. Ramchander Rao in 1965, Kakati Karshak Industries has grown from strength to strength and has become a leading manufacturer, supplier, and exporter of liquid ring vacuum pumps, compressors, and systems in the country. With experience spanning almost six decades, Kakati’s vacuum pumps and systems are known for providing high-level performances with low power consumption. Mr. C. Venkateshwar Rao, Managing Director, Kakati Karshak Industries Pvt. Ltd., shared the business overview of the company, pumps and other equipment for the pulp & paper industry, market presence, recent projects undertaken for paper mills, and future outlook, in an exclusive conversation with Paper Mart magazine.
Paper Mart: Kindly brief up about Kakati Karshak Industries, its specialisations, products, and services offered for the pulp and paper industry.
C. Venkateshwar Rao: Established in 1965, Kakati Karshak Industries Pvt. Ltd. is the single leading manufacturer of liquid ring vacuum pumps, compressors, and systems worldwide. With a wide range of pumps designed for various applications, we pride ourselves on catering to the needs of the pulp & paper industry in India. We render our services in manufacturing, repairing, and refurbishing the pumps. We offer field services like on-site monitoring and performance audits that help in the efficient running of the plants in the long run.
Our product range goes up to 40,000 m3/hr (up to 900 KW), and we also provide complete vacuum system audit services to determine the best possible runnability of the machine to the customer. Vacuum achieved is up to 1″hg and we make in all possible materials of construction.
We have supplied to paper mills having a capacity of up to 1000 TPD and evaporator applications with soda recovery plants up to 350 TPD. Our product finds its way into the pulp & paper industry at multiple stages, each with discrete technical requirements and types of papermaking, vacuum range, and capacity. Also, we have liquid ring vacuum pumps and pre-separators that are installed according to the demand. With almost six decades of enriched experience in the industry, our team of experts is always ready to provide the customers with the technical recommendations that best suit their financial and engineering objectives.
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PM: What is the current market presence of Kakati Karshak Industries – both domestic and international? How do you plan to increase your reach around the world?
CVR: We are proud to inform that most of the top-notch paper mills across the country have our vacuum pumps commissioned and running successfully. Currently, more than 600 paper mills are using our pumps and we have more than 10,000 installations worldwide. At a global level, we have happy clients in more than 40 countries. We have a diverse market in multiple sectors ranging from – power plants, chemical engineering, and metals to the pulp & paper industry, both nationally and internationally. With periodic evaluations and upgradations, Kakati Karshak Industries wishes to spread its wings into the international market in the forthcoming years. We believe we are equipped to take up the challenges and progress through them. Vacuum pumps have a broad range of applications and we are prepared to enter into the novel and untapped sectors to expand our reach.
Due to the central government’s initiative and recent geopolitical strategies adopted by various western countries, many nations are looking at India for alternatives. Kakati being the sole company for quality products, we have had numerous enquiries from different parts of the world, especially in the last two years. The company enjoys a market share of almost over 50 percent in the pulp & paper industry in India. We strongly believe a good product speaks for itself. Energy efficiency is a top priority for us along with water conservation techniques.
PM: How does your vacuum pumping system, which is used in dewatering the paper machine, enable the paper machine to perform efficiently?
CVR: The vacuum pumps and systems are incorporated at various stages of papermaking like sheet formation, felt conditioning, and press performance. The appropriate estimation of vacuum range and capacity rating is the key to the effective running of the paper machine. The well-designed vacuum pump and system aid in accurate quantities of dewatering, thereby reducing the energy consumption and enabling better-operating conditions.
Kakati hosts professionals with profound knowledge of paper machine calculations and recommends the energy-efficient vacuum pumps and systems. Many paper machines in India do not concentrate on the moisture percentage of the paper before it enters the dryers and they end up paying more in steam. A good vacuum system selection enables the customer to run the machine at maximum speed while maintaining adequate moisture percentage before it enters dryers. The majority of our customers who have implemented our recommendations enjoy a moisture percentage of up to 52 percent after the press section at 95 percent machine design speed.
Nowadays, coal and steam are very expensive, and hence ensuring maximum dewatering is the key to survival in the paper industry. We have managed to provide some of the best operating parameters in the industry and our engineers shall help any paper mill owner to achieve the below-mentioned parameters in power consumption (complete paper machine vacuum system) while giving the highest runnability.
1) Kraft paper – 25 to 40 KW/tonne
2) Writing & printing paper (recycled) – 50-75 KW/tonne
3) Virgin white writing & printing – 75 to 100 KW/tonne
4) Tissue paper – 90 to 130 KW/tonne
5) Recycled duplex board – 30 to 45 KW/tonne
6) White semi virgin duplex board – 45 to 60 KW/tonne
The above figures are the best-in-class in the paper industry worldwide. We provide the lowest cost of ownership when compared to any other competitor system.
PM: What are the edge and unique strengths of Kakati Karshak Industries in the industrial pumps industry?
CVR: Kakati has served the vacuum pump market for over half a century, and constant exploration and expansion have been our motto. We have distinguished departments like design, assembly, machine shops, quality control, and testing, striving hard to realise the motives and perform better each day. Our Industry is equipped with adequate infrastructure that is constantly upgraded to meet the trends. Today, the company has almost 400 employees working under the vacuum pump setup. Our factory located at the heart of Hyderabad in Nacharam IDA has around 200,000 sq ft of factory and shop area.
Since its inception, Kakati’s vacuum pump has seen a sea of change in its design that reflects in its superior performance today. Our pumps have evolved and new series and models with improved efficiency and capacities have been brought up by our teams. As a matter of fact, our pumps could deliver the highest of 40,000 m3/hr in the latest design. Kakati Karshak Industries has been the forerunner in adopting the trends and exploring the opportunities that have brought us this far and we believe shall take us further and beyond.
PM: The pump is a critical component in the pulp and paper manufacturing units – how do you ensure to supply the most efficient & reliable equipment to the paper mills? Talk to us about the recent associations/projects of Kakati Karshak Industries undertaken for the paper industry.
CVR: The vacuum pump helps in dewatering and extracting the pulp from the diluted solution of pulp and water. It is, therefore, a crucial piece of equipment in the Industry. The material of construction plays a vital role in the optimal functioning of the machine. Our vacuum pumps are available in different materials to suit customers’ applications and areas of operation.
We take utmost care from our end to ensure the supreme quality products and services. Prior to manufacturing, the castings are scrutinized for surface defects, mechanical, chemical testing, and hardness. Each and every pump is tested before dispatch as per the test standard of BS/HEI/ISO/Pneurop standards.
Kakati has added feathers to its cap by executing different projects successfully. As mentioned earlier, our presence is in more than 600 paper mills. Some of the very large plants executed recently, i.e., only in 2022, are as below:
• AKSA Paper Gujarat – 400 TPD
• Ambani Paper Gujarat – 450 TPD
• Lemit Paper Gujarat – 450 TPD
• Suvarna Durga Paper Hyderabad – 350 TPD
• Amrit Paper Madhya Pradesh – 350 TPD (Under execution)
• B&B Triplewall – 350 TPD (Under execution)
• Sri Andal Paper – 600 TPD (Separation system by Kakati)
• JK Paper Songadh – 500 TPD
Apart from the above-mentioned, we have executed around 40 paper mill projects of various capacities and sizes in the last financial year alone. The above mentioned projects have been undertaken in Indian paper mills. Moreover, we have also executed projects for 1000 TPD machines overseas.
PM: What is the demand outlook of the vacuum pumps and systems in the Indian pulp and paper industry? How do you foresee the future of the segment?
CVR: With paper being the quintessential good in day-to-day life, the pulp & paper industry is an evergreen sector paving the way to a never-ending demand. The paper consumption in India is projected to grow by an average of 6-7 percent in the next five years. This amounts to 30 million tonnes of paper by FY 2026-27. The vast scope of paper applications ensures the constant demand that propels the ancillary industries like vacuum pumps.
Pulp & paper has always been a cyclical industry having its own highs and lows. Presently, the industry is running at an all-time high. Paper is the key alternative to plastic goods and hence the demand for paper will always be high. Higher demand for paper leads to higher demand for vacuum systems. In India, the future for vacuum pumps is bright as the geopolitical situation worldwide has pushed the Indian vacuum industry to the highest level. However, inexpensive Chinese imports shall remain a threat, and government policies to contain such imports shall play a vital role.
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PM: Has there been any new development at Kakati Karshak Industries? What is your vision for the future of your company?
CVR: Kakati Karshak Industries is presently expanding its product portfolio to manufacture turbo and multi-stage centrifugal blowers ranging up to 900 KW. We have already begun servicing and providing spare parts for the above blowers. We are also doubling our production capacity and a new facility is under construction to cater solely to the foreign markets.
Being the sole largest vacuum pump manufacturer by capacity, we have spearheaded many new developments which are followed by our competitors. We aim to be the best manufacturer of gas and airflow pumps/compressors/blowers in the near future by horizontal integration. Kakati has always risen up to the needs of India and we shall now take it further to provide the most efficient product in all positive/negative displacement gas pumps as required by the nation. As a cornerstone company in the manufacturing of vacuum pumps, we, at Kakati Karshak Industries, are always ready to embark on new heights and churn our experience to cater to the needs of the global industry.