Mumbai: Siemens VAI Metals Technologies, the metallurgical and mining technology arm of Siemens AG, has introduced advanced processes for producing high grade iron and steel products and built up manufacturing capacities to drive business in India.

''We expect a double-digit growth over the market average of 7 to 9 per cent thanks to new projects and service solutions,''  Ashoke Pan who is responsible for the metals technologies business of Siemens VAI in India, told the media at the Kolkata Press Club.

Siemens VAI, he said, has undertaken modernisation and upgradation at its Kolkota facilities and has introduced special equipment and services to support growth.

''We want to expand our capacities in India and develop and train our employees to make a strong team for securing and sustaining our position in this market segment,'' Pan said.

Siemens VAI's order intake for projects and services in India has gone up to over 600 million euro in the current fiscal year, he said. The company has recently commissioned RH degasser at Bhilai Steel Plant of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). This second RH unit will increase production of rail steel by another 0.8 million tonnes per year, he said.

Siemens VAI, he said, also revamped the hot strip mill finishing stands at Bokaro, helping to increase the mill uptime substantially, resulting in consistent production of more than 740 coils or 14,500 tonnes each day.

''Siemens VAI is currently executing more than 10 mega projects to increase Indian steel production and product processing. Also, we are engaged in upgrading and modernisation in many Indian steel companies to improve the productivity and product quality to become competitive globally,'' Pan said.

Siemens VAI integrates the electrical and automation business of Siemens AG with the mechanical and process solutions prowess of the former Austrian company Voest Alpine Industrieanlagenbau (VAI), to offer metals and mining technology solutions and services worldwide.

''We are utilising the electrical and automation competencies of Siemens, which is  No 1 in the market and gives us a leading edge over our competitors'', Pan said. 

New developments in iron and steel making allow lower-cost raw materials to be utilised; ensure the production of top quality products and minimise emissions and reduce energy consumption.

''The proven technology of Siemens VAI and the presence of Siemens and Siemens VAI in India is helping us to penetrate the market'', Pan said.

Siemens VAI Metals Technologies is part of the German industry solutions division of Siemens, one of the world's leading solution and service providers for industrial and infrastructure facilities.

''We have the skills in our staff, process and project know-how, the experience of over 50 years in iron and steel making, rolling and processing and now the opportunities of being part of Siemens network'', Pan stated.

Siemens VAI employs around 400 engineers and staff in Kolkata and Mumbai to support customers locally. The mining segment manufactures its inverter/control components for shovels and trucks for the world market at its factory in Nasik.

Although Siemens has been supplying electrical drive systems and automation equipment for bucket wheel excavators and conveyors for more than two decades in India, the production of shovel and truck electrics for the world's third largest producer of coal, marks a consequent step for the Siemens´strategy in mining technologies.

In April 2008 Siemens VAI acquired Morgan Construction, Worcester/Massachusetts, a leading US supplier of long products with 500 wire, steel and billet rolling mills all over the world, to expand its position in this market segment.

''The engineering and servicing capacities as well as the production facilities of Morgan in Mumbai will not only enable us to expand our long product business,'' said Pan, ''but will also open up new ways of combining electrical and mechanical solutions to create unique plant components, to manufacture them ourselves and to supply them from a single source''.

The integration of this company will enable Siemens to set the market standards for future technological development, he said.