In an exclusive interaction with Rajesh Rajgor at the Prawaas 3.0 exhibition held in Hyderabad, Rohan Bellikatti, Country Head (New Business Development – Middle East, India and Sri Lanka), Lamilux India, spoke on supporting the bus operators and manufacturers with internal and external roofing solutions. He also spoke on the use of anti-bacterial materials which are a boon for the medical field and the outlook for the company in India for the rest of the year
Whether it is commercial vehicle, last mile transport or the bus industry, the automotive industry demands innovative materials that equip vehicles for everyday challenges and make them more stable, lighter and sustainable in the future. As the bus industry is reviving we would like to communicate that we are here to help the bus operators as well as the bus manufacturers. We would like to support them in terms of providing solutions for roofing, both internal and external. We have a new product with 1.9 mm thick material used for bus roofing solutions. It is going to be the next driver for the bus operators as well as the bus manufacturers. It’s a one-stop solution from Lamilux – zero leaks, single-sheet roofing solution and the best-in-class quality.
Output during the Pandemic
We worked closely with the medical field during the pandemic when the bus industry had come to a standstill. It included portable shelter homes, ambulances and reefer trucks with anti-bacterial material incorporating silver nano technology in it. It doesn’t allow bacteria to grow and has been a boon for the medical field. These are a few innovations that have helped the market to regain its strength. Being optimistic we can overcome any situation and moving further you can expect new innovative solutions from Lamilux.
Product Efficiency and Challenges
When we speak to the operators, the pain and the challenges they face primarily include leakage issues because of joints that are a weak point for many. With the current roofing solutions that Lamilux provides, there is a single-sheet roofing solution where there are no joints at all. The second important point is that there is no corrosion of the product and so the product life is about 10-15 years or even 20 years depending on how it is used. The third important point is that the application process for the operator is very easy to apply because of the GRP material.
The benefit that the customer gets is in terms of weight reduction compared to a normal GI sheet. With normal GI the weight of the roof is around to 280-300 kg but with Lamilux GRP it’s about 85-90 kg. It also adds on to the fuel efficiency of the vehicle as well as the wear and tear of the tyres. As the buses become more electric, our product will be well-suited. Every kilogram less is an added advantage that improves the efficiency of the electrical vehicle. Lamilux GRP is thus a one-stop solution for EVs.
Outlook for 2022
The current year has been wonderful for us so far. We have done very well and we are on track for the targets what we had set for the year. We will be achieving the goals set for the coming year and we see a lot of potential in the bus industry as well as the other industries. Even though we understand that there is an economic crisis in many other countries, India seems to doing well and may not experience any impact of global downturns. India is certainly going to do well and Lamilux will be a part of the growth story. In fact, Lamilux will be driving force whether it is the reefer, bus, industrial or the truck segment.