Trenchless technology is becoming more prominent nowadays in India because of its non-disruptive nature.

– Safar Mohammad Khan

General Manager – HDD, Apollo Techno Industries

How do you look at India as a potential market for trenchless technologies?

India has made giant strides in the technological and industrial sectors specially in trenchless technologies as a lot of infrastructural development in CGD (Carbon Steel Pipeline, MDPE pipeline) Power sector(11 KVA, 33 KVA Power cable), OFC, Water (HDPE) and Sewerage pipeline (HDPE) need to take place in near future. This will be laid through HDD machines in a trenchless method. Biggest challenge is to lay pipes in rock that is also possible now through trenchless technologies. Extra Rock Cutting Tools like MUD MOTOR has come in innovation which is compatible with HDD machines and that makes possible too for further installation in any depth / any rock conditions beneath the soil. Tremendous work flow has come in CGD (PNGRB) to construct the gas pipeline infrastructure in near future across India for 225 GA covering around 500 cities in India. That makes trenchless technology more demanding and that would be significantly high for next 5-6 years.

How are trenchless methods of construction technologies evolving in India? Which segments drive the demand for trenchless equipment the most?

Trenchless technology has been existing in India for over 23 years of now. It has been used to lay OFC cables of telecommunication companies like Reliance JIO, Vodafone, Airtel , BSNL etc. Now, it has a wider application for laying water, severage and gas pipeline by using 5 ton to 500 ton HDD machines depending on the diameters and shot length of the pipes along with other soil conditions. Tremendous scope of trenchless is seen in CGD for city gas distribution projects for 225 GA across India.

What are the products and solutions offered by your company in trenchless methods?

Apollo has established an Indigenous HDD brand in a span of just 7 years time nationwide. We are developing and manufacturing 5 Ton to 160 ton HDD rigs comprises the following models: A100 (5 Ton), A200 (10 Ton), A400 (12 Ton), A600 (16 Ton), A800 (20 Ton), A900 (35 Ton), A1000 (50 Ton), A1200 (65 Ton), A1500 (96 Ton), A2000 (120 Ton), A3000 (160 Ton). Application varies model wise starting from OFC to the cross country gas pipeline installation (CS & MDPE) depending on the utility and other soil conditions. We are also manufacturing rotary drilling rig, mud pumps up to 500 GPM (250 LPM to 500 GPM), trencher etc.

What are your after-sales initiatives for your customers?

Apollo’s promise to customers is real impact on productivity and profit. Being an OEM and supplier, our primary focus is to provide continuous support to the customers in terms of proper commissioning, technical service and spare parts support across India. In India, our branch offices are equipped with full-fledged parts with proper distribution and transportation facility so that parts could be delivered on time. We have a branch offices at Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and Rachi. We are the best on parts delivery and the engineer movement on time to provide the resolution.

No matter what the location, Apollo Techno is committed to provide extraordinary after sales support and genuine spare parts to customers. Our nationwide network of engineers and factory trained technicians are always ready to support you with cost-effective service solutions that will keep your machine running at peak performance. Our warehouse operates on SAP ERP that manages and integrates availability of spares on time. We also provide on-site training support on preventive maintenance and equipment safety to the customers’ operators.

Our Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMC) is much cost effective option for customer. It is a long-term comprehensive service contract covering unexpected breakdowns, which help to reduce maintenance cost and increase product life.

Could you elaborate on the presence of your company in India? What are the expansion plans?

We are Mehsana-based company having plant at Apollo Techno Industries Private Ltd., Survey No-167, Ahmedabad-Mehsana Highway, Mandali-382732, Dsit, Mehsana (Gujarat), India.

Our presence is in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and Rachi.

Our global presence is UAE & Russia. We are also catering the USA market also in near future.

How do you look at the challenges / future growth trend in India?

Trenchless technology is becoming more prominent nowadays in India because of its non disruptive nature. It’s a greener way to install any kind of utility without any damage of flora and fauna. Presently, the major user of the trenchless technology is the telecom sector for installation of the optical fibre network across the country and now it has come so far in CNG/PNG gas pipeline installation as lot of city gas distribution projects have come into limelight for developing the pipeline Infrastructure for 225 GA.

Major challenges are the lack of quality equipments like mud pump, mud motor, rock reamers, hole openers, mud recycling systems. Contractors are running behind the price rather than the quality procurement which leads failure and dumping of huge money especially in rock drilling site. Contractors should look after the quality and the standards which should be followed by International standards. Like selection of rig, procurement of associate equipments with HDD machines, selection of toolings like rock reamer, pulling swivel etc, operator and tracker selection is vital, mud management should be scientifically followed.

Trenchless Technology machine growth will be around 30 % higher side in near future due to tremendous flow of CGD projects are seen in market. Bharatnet projects have also come in market for laying OFC pipes, Nal-Jal projects are also active now where water pipeline will be laid, many severage pipeline projects are also in tendering phases, SEB’s power cable are being installed in trenchless manner.

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