Lamilux India Private Ltd., Delhi, started its India operations during 2009 and provides light-weight GRP/FRP solutions in sandwich panel construction for truck bodies. Dr. Cosima Klinger-Paul, Managing Director, shares her insights.
Excerpts:
Kindly start with a background on your journey in India.
Business operation started in 2009 with addressing all relevant truck body builders to share advantages of FRP/GRP innovative composites solutions for reefer tuck bodies. Acceptance of composites is very high due to advantages being
– Sturdy, Light weight and robust
– No Corrosion
– Food safety
– Long life (20 years plus)
– Easy to maintain
– Good alternative versus steel, aluminium and stainless steel
The Ministry of Food Processing Industry, NHB and National Centre for Cold Chain Development (NCCD) are providing elaborate subsidies for reefer transportation with 35%. Presently only 3.5% of perishable goods are transported in reefer trucks while 75% are transported in China and 85% in the US.
Can you share details on your product program and as to how you approach the organised/unorganised sectors?
We provide many different qualities of FRP/GRP as per customer’s requirement and their special process of manufacturing GRP sandwich panel technology.
Advantages of GRP compared to Steel
Overview product advantages
• Resistant to chemicals
• GRP and the gel coat layer are solid coloured compared to painting
• Printing and painting of the GRP is possible
• Easy to handle in the process (sawing, drilling, jet cutting …)
• Compared to the sharpness of the edges of steel the risk of injury (cutting) with GRP is lower
• High chunking resistance (screws, rivets)
• No breaks or buckling while processing
• Much better thermal insulation than steel
• GRP has a better sound reduction index than steel sheets
• Better environmental balance than with many other materials
• GRP is (without any special additives) an insulator
• GRP transfers forces only remote
• Repairing possibilities of damages and scratches
• Consistent quality through continuous production process
• Production width of GRP up to 3.20m!
• Qualified for a usage in the food industry
• Moisture resistant
Similarly GRP has a lot of advantages over aluminium. We mostly sell to the organised market and the growth rate in the sector seems to be around 20% annually.
How do you support your customers in their body building activity?
We are supporting the market with technological help along with finding partners to bring in technological know-how transfer details on GRP sandwich panel manufacturing highlighting the various possibilities to make good panels.
Market size for reefers in India and future demand – your views?
It seems that there are around 8000 – 10000 reefer vehicles presently in India. The immediate requirement seems to be around 30000 vehicles. Many companies are presently inquiring about FRP/GRP technologies, we are providing all the support.
How do you work with vehicle OEMs and direct supplies?
With OEM’s we are sharing all relevant technical data including samples and presentations. They are in touch with our customers as their vendors to supply them the reefer bodies.
Your thoughts on the important growth drivers for the reefer segment in India?
Two factors are important:
– Energy (fuel) saving due to light weight of FRP/GRP. One square meter of steel weighs 7.8 kg while one square meter of FRP weighs app 2 kg. Therefore diesel is saved due to light weight construction
– Food Safety due to bacteria resistance: Wherever food and pharmaceuticals are transported bacteria resistant interior walls of reefer trucks support the development of high quality cold chain.
Being a global player, what are your views on reefer semi-trailers for long haul? Can you outline some trends in the international logistics sector?
I cannot comment on the types of vehicles as this is for our customers to say. There seems to be a trend towards light weight delivery vans on city levels too.
In foreign countries transport of food and pharmaceuticals in light weight FRP truck bodies made of sandwich construction with composite material is the standard. For example Sri Lanka is advanced in using FRP truck bodies compared to India.