Manufacturing, construction, telecom are experiencing increasing demand for reliable power supply.

Farrokh Cooper

Chairman & Managing Director, Cooper Corporation

How do you assess the growth story of India given the various developments happening in the infrastructure, housing, data centre and healthcare sector, which are the key segments for Genset manufacturers?

Despite the challenges of recent months, the outbreak of Covid-19 has had serious economic consequences all over the world. The Covid-19 crisis has affected all sectors, with varying degrees of severity. The pandemic has brought in a disruptive change in the way we think and behave. I am confident that India's growth story is strong, but it is hampered by the current Covid scenario. The pandamic has a significant impact on current infrastructure; there are also supply and logistical constraints, as well as inflation and unemployment. All of this has placed a huge financial burden on thousands of Covid 19-affected families.

Businesses are also experiencing a number of challenges, such as a shortage of containers, chips, and other essential items required for manufacturers. However, key segments like as manufacturing and construction, power generation, telecom, oil and gas, marine, residential, chemical, and healthcare are now experiencing an increasing demand for uninterrupted and reliable power supply.

The government is laying emphasis on Aatmanirbhar Bharat and make in India and has also urged the private sector to come forward to set up more manufacturing units in India. What are the challenges impacting the manufacturing sector? What needs to be done to address these challenges?

Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India are excellent initiatives, but industry in general, and multinational corporations in particular, should be advised that they should not take full advantage of government subsidies and incentive schemes to establish industry while benefiting from low tax rates and infrastructure built by high domestic tax payers while continuing to import from China. The government should deal with this with a strong approach since it not only impedes government income through GST, Income Tax, and other means, but it also has a significant effect on the growth of ancillary industries and unemployment. You can't sit on both sides of the fence, because as the old adage goes, "Do As The Romans Do When In Rome."

How do you assess the demand in the international markets vis-à-vis the domestic market? What will be demand drivers? Can you share your thoughts on the company's focus on these markets?

Currently, we have been exporting engines to more than 30 countries and have witnessed steady and rapid growth across sectors owing to our reputation for technology and aftermarket support. Similarly, we focus on innovative, global innovations that ensure business success for us and all of our partners.

We have a longstanding association with experienced consultants like Ricardo UK. The technical collaboration assists us in developing world-class engine family that delivers high quality, clean and fuel-efficient power to its customers in India and around the world. Cooper Corporation has always kept pace with the changing market needs worldwide through product innovation and services. Our company's rapid strides in the global market bear testimony to this fact.  Our products have been accepted internationally in countries ranging from Central America, Africa, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, UAE, Vietnam, and Afghanistan. Today we supplies auto spare parts and engine components to all leading manufacturers in India and across the world from Japan to Europe and the USA. The export market is strong, but it is also struggling due to Covid, container shortages, supplier concerns, inflation, and other factors.

Do you feel the demand for diesel generators will be impacted in the backdrop of the increasing popularity of lithium ion batteries (LIB) given the rise in focus on clean energy and steep fall in the cost of renewable energy technologies? How are the players like you seeing the dynamics changing and what steps are you taking to beat the competition?

I have always believed that each type of fuel and source of energy will have a role to play. They will complement each other, but neither will replace the other. There is currently ethanol, hydrogen, diesel, coal, electric vehicles, and so on. But, Coal is still used to generate electricity, and the aluminum sector has only three days of coal left before their factories run dry.

Looking back in time, there has always been an evolution from the horse and carriage to the automobile to the motorcycle to the ordinary cycle, and so on. As we speak, not one has completely replaced the other, and in fact, cycling has come back into vogue, with people using more and more cycles everywhere for transportation as well as physical fitness. In fact, the historic Tour de France cycle event is still in high demand and a popular tourist attraction around the world. Cycles have advanced in sophistication, yet they have not been replaced. So the lesson to be learned is that electric vehicles will exist, but they will coexist with other types of transportation.

Our company is always committed to provide quality, service and product innovation with the changing market dynamics. Our products are the best in class in all terms and we have always offered enhanced after- sales support to our customers. We have always kept pace with the changing market needs worldwide through our product innovation and services.

What is the way forward for Cooper by 2025?

Over the years our businesses have expanded and grown exponentially in the industry verticals of automotive, power, marine, defence, agriculture and construction industries. We are always one step ahead when it comes to manufacturing excellence, quality control and design innovation. Our state-of-the-art manufacturing plant uses robotics to bring in the highest levels of precision and quality control to create engineering products that are truly world-class. With India's rapidly growing economy, we are poised to cater to this emerging demand for India's automotive, agri and infrastructure markets. We are engined for the future. From a single captive customer and manufacturing cylinder liners & aluminum parts to export and manufacturing cylinder heads, cylinder blocks, compacted graphite, aluminium pressure die casting, complex engines and gensets, we have made significate inroads by boldly entering the bastion of multinationals.

I am optimistic about Cooper's future since we work in a variety of sectors and cover a wide range of products and customers, so it's like a rainbow of colors. Rainbows do exist, and the colors never go out of style.

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