“We believe that the important focus continues to be on the strong R&D presence, bolstered by a specialized cell managed by skilled business leaders. The key priorities continue to be the development of new products (including approved explosives), ongoing product enhancement, and exploring the possibility of innovative additives for improved performance and cost-effectiveness.” Shubham Choudhari, Chief Technology Officer, SBL Energy Limited
Given SBL’s recent ₹325 crore capital raise and its ambitious growth plans, what are the top three technological priorities for the company over the next 2-3 years? How will these priorities support SBL’s objective of scaling manufacturing capacity and expanding its product portfolio?
SBL Energy, being at the forefront of mining and industrial explosives, has established a strong technology-led strategy to reinforce its market dominance with its recent capital raise. The company’s primary objectives for the next two to three years are concentrated on three pillars: R&D innovation enhanced, manufacturing modernization and technical blast management. These pillars will work together to drive scale, efficiency, and product diversity.
We believe that the important focus continues to be on the strong R&D presence, bolstered by a specialized cell managed by skilled business leaders. The key priorities continue to be the development of new products (including approved explosives), ongoing product enhancement, and exploring the possibility of innovative additives for improved performance and cost-effectiveness.
If we talk about the manufacturing part, the production units’ facility is equipped with contemporary, imported machinery. Overall, the company’s prime goal is to maintain stringent quality control and have well-equipped R&D facilities for evaluating both raw materials and final products with the assistance of mining and chemical experts.
With a clear focus on utilizing “the latest technology”, we employ a staff of over 50 mining engineers to provide a wide range of technical services, including blast design, optimization, regulatory compliance, training, vibration control, and fragmentation analysis.
To summarize all, these pillars play an integral part and we firmly believe that it will contribute to the company’s expected favourable growth.
The inauguration of SBL’s new TNT plant in 2024 is a significant milestone. What kind of advanced manufacturing processes and automation have been integrated into this facility to ensure both high-volume production and stringent safety standards, particularly for a sensitive material like TNT?
We have recently set up new TNT factory in Nagpur which is planned with both precision and scale. This 3,000 TPA high-capacity plant is ideally built to upsurge defence exports and production while reducing dependency on imports. The plant’s technological features comprise of an ERP-based production management system which helps in improving the operational efficiency and control. The integration of AI driven quality makes sures that the delivered results are accurate, consistent and safe at the same time.
Besides the TNT plant, what kind of manufacturing footprint does SBL have?
SBL Energy features one of the biggest integrated explosives manufacturing footprints in India, spanning 225 acres at Yenvera, Nagpur, in addition to the new TNT factory that has been very recently inaugurated. The facility is backed by well-equipped R&D and quality-control labs and has several production units with imported, contemporary technology.
Above all these, the company’s diverse foundation lets it to serve the mining, infrastructure, and defence industries to the fullest by enabling large scale production of the new products.
“To guarantee constricted adherence to legal requirements, we also keep specialized R&D and quality-control laboratories where mining and chemical engineers evaluate raw materials and final goods on a regular basis.”
SBL operates in a highly regulated and high-risk industry. Could you elaborate on how technology, including IoT, data analytics, and perhaps even AI, is being leveraged to enhance safety protocols, monitor plant operations, and ensure compliance across your various manufacturing units?
At SBL, we assure that operations and product design are integrated with safety and compliance because they are oxidisers and are frequently mixed on-site during loading. Our emulsion and bulk explosives are designed for safer handling by nature, lowering the dangers associated with storage and transportation. Furthermore, to improve safety in high-risk situations, we have offerings like non-electric detonators that are resistant to electromagnetic interference and stray currents.
To guarantee constricted adherence to legal requirements, we also keep specialized R&D and quality-control laboratories where mining and chemical engineers evaluate raw materials and final goods on a regular basis. Our technical blast management team utilizes the newest blasting technology to maximise designs, reduce environmental impact, and adhere to legal requirements.
Together, these steps enable us to improve operational safety and guarantee compliance throughout our facilities by combining cutting-edge blasting techniques, stringent testing, and contemporary manufacturing methods.
SBL’s R&D is a key differentiator. Can you shed light on how your innovation roadmap supports the development of new products, particularly in areas like specialized low column-charge explosives or environmentally friendlier compositions?
A key component of SBL Energy’s growth strategy is R&D. Our specialized R&D unit, run by experienced explosives experts, is committed to ongoing innovation, creating authorized explosives, evaluating innovative additives for performance and compatibility, and reducing costs. In keeping with our dedication to more ecologically friendly and effective solutions, our emulsion-based formulations are designed to be safer, more stable, more resistant to water than traditional alternatives.
SBL serves diverse sectors like mining, infrastructure, and defence, each with unique requirements. How do you customize your product offerings and technical support to meet the specific needs of these different client segments?
The product line of SBL Energy is made to meet the specific requirements of the infrastructure, mining, and defence industries. We provide solutions for mining and quarrying, such as bulk emulsions which provide effective fragmentation, less vibration, and on-site mixing for cost-effectiveness and safety. Our emulsion and slurry explosives ensure safety and consistency in difficult locations by performing reliably even in moist conditions during infrastructure projects. Our offering for the defence industry includes PETN, detonators, and the recently opened TNT factory, all of which improve export preparedness and domestic capabilities. In order to ensure that each client segment receives customized solutions that are in line with its operational and safety needs, our staff of about fifty mining engineers offers technical blast management, design, training, and regulatory assistance in addition to these products.
“Technology investments are assessed based on both strategic value and operational impact in a capital-intensive sector like ours. We strategically examine how a new technology facilitates scalability and product innovation while simultaneously enhancing safety, efficiency, and compliance.”
As a CTO, you are at the intersection of technology and business strategy. In a capital-intensive industry like explosives manufacturing, how do you evaluate the ROI of new technology investments, balancing the need for innovation with financial prudence?
Technology investments are assessed based on both strategic value and operational impact in a capital-intensive sector like ours. We strategically examine how a new technology facilitates scalability and product innovation while simultaneously enhancing safety, efficiency, and compliance. For instance, R&D-led product development and updated machinery may need initial investment, but they yield quantifiable returns through increased customer acceptance, consistent quality, lower downtime, and higher throughput. As a result, every investment is evaluated not only for its potential to yield quick profits but also for its compatibility with our long-term growth plan and goals for market leadership.
