A litmus cable connecting the country for 5 decades

From its inception, the industry ran for a long time under the name of Lumbini Electricity Industry. It is also the first public company in the country to manufacture electricity conductors (wires of a special nature used to bring electricity from power generation centers to substations), subs, cables and general wires. Spread over an area of ​​23 ropani within the industrial area, this industry started its production journey 46 years ago by manufacturing Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced (ACSR) conductors required for electrification. According to

industry management, since 2014, the industry has been increasing its production significantly since Ramesh Corp took over its managerial leadership. During this period, the industry has also succeeded in diversifying the production materials. According to the management, the product has been expanded from ACSR conductor to ABC (Aerial Bunch Cable), Power Cable, Multistrand Cable and Enamel Wire. For the last five years, this industry has been operating under the changed name 'Litmus Industries Limited'. Rohit Gupta is the Managing Director of Ramesh Corp currently managing Latimus Industries. His father Ramesh Gupta was one of the founders of the Lumbini Power Industry. Rohit is currently handling the sole management of this industry through Ramesh Corp., which was opened in his father's memory. One of the major products of the

industry is the ACSR conductor wire used in transmission lines. It is used from power generation centers to substations. "Aerial Bunch Cable" is a low-voltage power distribution cable. It is used for extension of electricity from substation. Since then, the industry has been manufacturing electrical wires used for household purposes (house wiring) and wiring of commercial buildings. "After that, power cables are manufactured for industrial or high voltage areas," said an employee of the industry, "we are also making enamel wire used in the manufacture of electric motors and transformers. In addition, we also manufacture 'paper strips' used in the manufacture of transformers." The employee said. The industry is marketing its own brands under the name 'Litmus' for household purpose wire and 'Lotus' for enamel wire.

General Manager Prakash Raipure said that this industry has been supplying cables and conductors for the Nepal Electricity Authority for four decades. "Lumbini Power Industry is the main supplier for the Electricity Authority," he said, "After Rohit Gupta took over the management five years ago, the production of the industry has expanded." He said that the main cooperation of Litmus Industries is with the Electricity Authority. According to Raipure, 16 thousand kilometers of conductors and cables have been supplied for the authority in 2 and a half years. "Last year, we provided the conductors required for 66 KV to 400 KV to the authority," said Raipure, "Earlier such conductors were imported from abroad, now we have completely replaced the imports."

Rohit Gupta, Managing Director-Litmus Industries Limited

The 400 KV 'Moose Conductor' manufactured by the industry has been used in the Hetaunda-Dhalkevar-Inruwa transmission line extended by the Electricity Authority. The conductor was previously imported from India and China. According to the industry, preparations are being made to produce XLPE covered conductors in the coming days. He said that 1,800 km of ACSR conductors requested by the authority were supplied last year. "Due to litmus, the country's money has been saved from bidesin," said Raipure, "the use of indigenous products has increased." According to

Raipure, Litmus Industries has the capacity to produce 36 thousand km of ACSR conductors annually. Now the number of hydropower in the country is increasing day by day. Hydropower products need conductors and cables to get them to market. "For that, priority should be given to the domestic industry," Raipure said, "We are ready for production by taking care of the potential market." Now the industry is producing 2.5 million coils of house wiring cable every year using the latest German technology.

ACSR Conductor is producing 1 lakh 18 thousand km per year. According to Raipure, the production of ACAR conductors is sufficient for the transmission line expansion currently taking place in the country. The industry is increasing production with an emphasis on import substitution. Raipure said that high-level German technology was introduced in 2020 to improve the quality of indigenous products. "After installing German technology, the quality of the product increased," he said. Now the industry is equipped with advanced German Neohof (NEIHEOWF) technology. This has made it easier for the products as per the need and demand. "Once it is set, the machine will draw the required wire," he said, "controlling the process becomes easy."

is an automatic machine in the industry, so there is not much manpower attrition. Only technicians appear to operate each machine. They operate and control the machine while standing at one place. A modern lab has been established within the industry to maintain the quality of the product. The product is sent to the market only after testing the quality of raw materials and products. Currently, 6 electrical engineers are working in the said lab. "They are there to check the quality of the product and to maintain the quality of the litmus," said Raipure, the general manager of the industry Two students from that engineering campus are also working in the industry. He said that this will create the necessary manpower in the country.

One of the most advanced machines in the industry is now installed. Manpower is being sought to operate the machine. "We have been looking for a technician to run the machine for a month," said Raipure, "but we are not getting any, now we have to supply manpower from abroad to run the machine." Apart from this, Raipure complains that there are frequent interruptions in production due to lack of regular electricity supply, but the industry is making maximum efforts to supply electricity conductors, cables and wires in the country He said that he is trying to increase the quality. Litmus has received various quality marks and certifications due to its

ing level of production. Gupta, managing director of the industry, asserted that the industry will not compromise to maintain product quality. The industry has received ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 international quality mark certificates in 2015 due to maintaining the quality of the produced materials. Similarly, in 2010, the industry received the NS Quality Award. "Litmus is known for its quality," he said, "We have advanced machines, we do not compromise on raw materials." According to him, Litmus is the first and only company in the country to receive IS (Indian Standard) certificate. Moreover, it has received KEMA, CPRE, TAG and ERDA type test certificates from the world's top laboratories. There are currently 500 employees working in the

industry. According to Managing Director Gupta, Litmus is different from other industries due to high technology and skilled manpower. "After testing in a modern laboratory, we are producing different wires than other wires available in the market," he said. At present Litmus is doing business by giving priority to the domestic market. The industry has 200 distributors and 2000 retail points across the country. 'Now we are preparing to deliver our products to the world market,' said Gupta, 'We are working with a plan to export to India, Bangladesh, Bhutan as well as the countries of the Middle East.' The industry has prepared to export its products in the near future. It is producing conductors, cables and wires covered with PVC pipes to replace wires imported from abroad. In this way, the industry says that accidents will be reduced by covering the wires with PVC pipes. A new factory with an area of ​​14 bighas is under construction at Hakui, near Parasi, the headquarters of West Nawalparasi, for importing more high-end machines and exporting products. The management said that they are working to operate the factory from next December. After the factory comes into operation, the raw materials that the industry is currently importing from India will be produced here.

A CCR plant for making coils is being installed in the new factory. According to the management, aluminum for ACSR conductors will be produced here after the new factory is operational. According to the industry, 500 more people will get employment after the new industry is operational. The new factory will be fully constructed and operational within the next year and a half. It is said that after the industry starts the production of 'XLPE covered conductor', the overhead and underground conductors that are currently in use will be replaced. According to the management, the technology to be installed in Parasi Hakui will be the first in the country. After that, HTLS conductor covered with PVC pipe for high voltage will also be produced.

Ramesh Corp has said that work is going on at a fast pace for the operation of the new factory. "The journey of thousands of miles starts with small steps," says Managing Director Gupta, "The journey of Litmus is certainly not easy, with the continuous support of employees, technicians, dealers and consumers, our product management and staff have proven to be number one in the market." And the quality of the product is the strong strength of the company, he said.