Initiating Explosives Plans Value-Addition

Staring at the declining mining production in the country and possible deluge of cheap imports from China, detonator and explosives systems manufacturer, Initiating Explosives Systems India Ltd (IES) has decided to introduce number of value-added products for domestic and foreign market to beat the sluggish growth rate.

The company, a 70:30 joint venture between Indian Explosives Ltd (IEL) and US based Ensign Brickford, is going to bring in high precision detonating cords and digitised electronic detonators within a year's time. The products are being developed by Ensign, world leader in non-electric detonator and Orica of Australia which holds 49 per cent stake in IEL. ICI India holds 51 per cent in IEL.

 

Sandeep Batra, director and general manager, IES, said: "Detonating cord with low density explosives (3/5 grams of explosives per meter) would hit the market in this quarter. The new product, being launched with an eye to the South-East Asian countries, is to be placed as a niche item with application in granite queries where one does not need to demolish completely but to crumble the stone. In a way it would be a controlled exercise vis-