Forbes Marshall to offer SWAS in web-based format

In a bid to capture 60 per cent of the Rs 20 crore steam and water analysis systems (SWAS) market Forbes Marshall is offering its SWAS bouquet of product and services to the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in a web-based format.

"In the next six months we will launch the web version of SWAS and also offer remote management services to those interested in outsourcing at an additional annual cost," said Kekoo Vaccha, director (control & instrumentation group), Forbes Marshall.

The process efficiency and energy conservation major has evolved the SWAS bouquet from the initial custom engineered module to its current web-based format. "Our SWAS technology is at par with the best available in the world," claimed Vaccha.

The company has client such as NTPC, BHEL, Yokogawa, Honeywell, Foster & Wheeler and ABB.

The company's strategy, Vaccha said, "Is to work closely with the co-generation business segment, as it is expected to rise to a level of 20 per cent of the total power market."

He added, "The total market size of the SWAS business in the country is Rs 20 crore and it is growing at 35-40 per cent annually." As for SWAS's contributions to the company, Vaccha said, "SWAS accounted for Rs 8.5 crore or 4 per cent of the company's total turnover of Rs 260 crore last year. Of this Rs 2.5 crore was in exports. It is expected to grow at 40 per cent this year to Rs 14 crore, of which exports will contribute Rs 3 crore."

A survey of 40 of its web-based systems customers revealed that 36 were for it. Vaccha says, "Within two years of launching we expect 15-20 per cent of SWAS systems sold to have web-based systems integrated into it."

Speaking of the customer centre for remote management of SWAS systems, he said, "This will be useful only to the SMEs, who would not be able to have a dedicated monitoring team." He described SMEs as companies having an investment of Rs 20-40 lakh in a 10-20 lines system.

SWAS is mostly used in thermal power plants, especially the coal and oil-fired, as it monitors and controls the physical damage done to turbine blades due to corrosion and erosion.

"SWAS is important for companies as it cuts revenue loss by atleast 10 per cent," said Vaccha. He further added that turbines cost a minimum 25 per cent of the investment made in a power plant.