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Atul Ltd | Annual Report 2016-17
1.
Conservation of energy, technology absorption and foreign exchange earnings and outgo
1.1 Conservation of energy
1.1.1 Measures taken
i)
Installation of new efficient boiler to enhance co-generation of steam and electricity capacity
ii) Implementation of encon scheme to generate low pressure steam from autoclave cooling, and fractionation system
iii) Replacement of 19 bar steam with 7 bar to reduce electricity generation cost
1.1.2 Additional investments and proposals, if any, being implemented
i)
Optimisation of cooling water networks to decrease pumping energy
ii) Recovery and use of steam condensate as boiler feed water
iii) Replacement of conventional agitators by energy efficient agitators
1.2 Technology absorption
1.2.1 Research and Development
i)
Specific areas in which Research and Development (R&D) was carried out by the Company:
The Company focused its R&D efforts on process improvement of its existing products, recovery of products
from pollutants and process development of new products and formulations. The R&D departments also helped
in troubleshooting in manufacturing departments.
ii) Benefits derived from R&D:
The Company was able to increase yields, decrease consumption of raw materials and solvents, recover products
from pollutants and introduce new products and formulations.
iii) Future plan:
The Company is investing further in people and equipment so as to strengthen its R&D and thereby enhance its
capability to face the future.
iv) R&D expenditure:
(
`
cr)
Capital
Recurring
Total
Total R&D expenditure as a percentage of total sales
18.93
19.00
37.93
1.44
1.2.2 Technology absorption, adaptation and innovation
i)
Efforts, in brief, made towards technology absorption, adaptation and innovation:
The Company upgraded many of its processes and operations imbibing new technology using more efficient
equipment and incorporating automation.
ii) Benefits derived as a result of the above efforts, for example, product improvement, cost reduction,
product development, import substitution:
The above efforts have resulted in improvement in quality, increase in yields, increase in throughput and decrease
in manpower.
iii) Technology, if any, imported during the last 3 years reckoned from the beginning of the financial year:
The Company did not import any technology.