Enterprise: BST eltromat India Pvt Ltd

Founding partner: Tapan Patel

Year it was founded: 1993

Sector: Tools, Machinery & Components

Based out of: Mumbai

About three decades ago, the Indian print and packaging industry was at a nascent stage with total dependency on conventional packaging. With the opening-up of the Indian economy in the 90s, awareness about quality standards, process automation and mass production became the principal requisite for sustaining global competition. Seizing this timely opportunity, Tapan Patel approached BST International Germany with a proposal to set up a joint venture company specialising in the manufacture of high quality assurance systems, both, for Indian consumers and exports to Asian countries. Thus, BST eltromat India came into existence.

Today, BST holds 60% market share in the quality assurance segment and is a leading brand in the manufacture and supply of Web Guides, Web Tension Control, Video Web Inspection, Register Control, Viscosity Control, 100% Print Inspection, Process Automation, Colour Measurement, Surface Inspection and Density & Thickness Measurement systems. His legacy is being carried forward by his son, Khushal Patel who is heading Sales & Marketing in BST eltromat India Pvt. Ltd.

In 2017, BST eltromat India Pvt Ltd was awarded with a CRISIL rating of SME 1. This is the ‘highest’ rating for SMEs in India for their overall creditworthiness.

In conversation with GlobalLinker (GL), Tapan Patel (TP) shares his business journey.

GL: Tell us about your business and how it came into being.

TP: BST eltromat India (erstwhile BST Sayona) was established in the year 1993 as a joint venture between BST International (a global leader for innovation in print technology) and me as the founding partner. Our products are used successfully around the world in printing, packaging, converting, paper & corrugation, woven & non-woven, tyre and steel industries.

We are backed by a powerful team of engineers, sales professionals, manufacturing experts, service technicians who use their expertise and skills to guarantee high quality products and services to ensure customer satisfaction which is our core concern.

Our head office is in Mumbai, manufacturing unit in Anand, Gujarat and we have a sales / service set-up pan India. We also serve international markets such as, North & Central Africa, Middle East, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh.

GL: What is the USP of your business?

TP: Our USP is “Technology & Range of Products”. Continuous innovation in printing technology has been the pillar of strength for BST eltromat. Our state-of-the-art research facility in Germany operates as a truly international centre for developing the most efficient inspection systems built based on market expectations across countries. Qualified engineers are trained to provide customised design for delivering ideal solutions envisaged by customers in each country of operations. We believe in providing end-to-end solutions by catering to every printing need including automation and retrofitting of old machines. BST systems are technologically advanced and are continuously upgraded to include the latest innovation and trends available in the international markets.

Further, BST has an unmatched range of products in the Quality Assurance segment. viz Web Guide to Register Control, from Video Inspection to 100% Print Inspection, from Viscosity Control to In-Line Spectral Measurement, from 100% Surface Inspection to entire Automation Integration. We are the only company in the world which manufactures and offers single window solutions even for the most complex applications.

GL: What are the challenges you have faced in establishing your business?

TP: BST eltromat India was introduced at a time when the Indian print & packaging industry was undergoing transformation and as such the initial teething problems or challenges included:

- Appraising users/customers about “cost benefit analysis” of switching over to electro/electric system from the age-old conventional systems which involved human interface.

- Convincing customers to make initial investments in modern technology offered by BST for producing better quality and volumes.

- To establish ourselves in the Indian market we were forced to market our products cost plus nominal margins to sustain business operations.

GL: How have you benefitted by being a member of GlobalLinker?

TP: GlobalLinker is a wonderful platform for business owners to connect, expand their business network, explore business opportunities and share their expertise. I look forward to forging more partnerships and expanding my business network with GlobalLinker.

GL: What is your big business dream?

TP: I believe in setting smaller goals and eventually build a path for future. My immediate business goal is a threefold increase in my company’s turnover in 5 years. Our plans are already in place to achieve this.

GL: What is your message to aspiring entrepreneurs?

TP: Think positive…rest will follow.

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