Founded in 2000 by a team of technocrats, Power Matrix Solutions Pvt Ltd, popularly known as PMX, is a leading name in the field of power conditioning solutions. In this exclusive interaction with T&D India, we have Sony Jacob telling us how PMX has become a complete solutions provider for all power quality-related problems, and why PMX will be focusing increasingly on reactive power compensation solutions in the years to come.
PMX is known for providing end-to-end power conditioning solutions. Tell us what the practical implications of terms like power quality and power conditioning are.
Today, there is an ever-increasing pressure for maximizing throughput and hence realizing the highest return on investment (RoI) from our capital employed. This calls for very high-end automation and automation brings along with it the needs for controlled power supplies and non-linear loads. Increasing quantum of the non-linear loads results in very high harmonics in the electrical distribution systems, a significant power quality (PQ) issue in power systems. According to some industry experts, non-linear loads are approaching 75-90 per cent of the loading on our nation’s electricity grid. In some data center applications, we find excessively high load currents in the neutral wires causing overheating, Interference in telecommunication systems and equipment, failure or malfunction of computers, servers etc. Similar instances are getting common in industrial installations as well.
Our huge experience has built the required competence in Team PMX to provide solutions for all power quality (PQ) related problems, but our focus over the next few years would be the get credited as the best solution provider for reactive power compensation solutions (harmonic filtering and power factor correction) from India. We believe that this segment is underserved and hence has huge potential.
For years, SEBs have provided some form of incentives for improving power factor and hence every industry in India uses power factor correction measures, although there is still scope for improvement.
Though power conditioning is a big industry in developed countries, India has still to catch up. What is your view?
In India, “No Gain No Pain” is the theory. Unless we have a gain we will not put any efforts in to the same. For years, SEBs have provided some form of incentives for improving power factor and hence every industry in India uses power factor correction measures, although there is still scope for improvement. Today harmonics is getting some attention, as harmonics can have a damaging effect on capacitors and that can reduce power factor and hence incentives can come down. But in developed countries, the issue of stable and good power quality is designed in to the system at the design stage itself, and this then governs the selection of each and every equipment in the system. Good PQ is not left to chance, it is designed by default.
Please discuss the various solutions offered by PMX in the field of power conditioning.
We would like to stick to our focus of delivery world class solutions for reactive power compensation from here in India. All our harmonic filtering solutions are marketed under the maxPower brand. They are differentiated as: maxPowerPS – Passive Harmonic Filters; maxPowerAS – Active Harmonic Filters; and, maxPowerHS – Hybrid Harmonic Filters. Our solutions can be deployed for network voltages of 200V; 400V; 480V; 1000V; right up to 33kV.
What are the industries that you cater to? Apart from traditional manufacturing industries, do you see growing demand from commercial and residential customers?
Power is common across all sectors, be it industrial, residential or commercial. It is only the quantum that varies. Hence we see the growth coming from all sectors (private and government). Here the focus of our industry peers varies, some have an enhanced focus on the IT sector, whereas some on the steel sector, and some others on the mall and IT sector but we have been fortunate to have sector-agnostic approach and have had good exposure to almost all sectors uniformly.
Assuming that customers need customized solutions, is there scope to offer standardized solutions, at least for broad industry verticals?
Traditionally, we have been attending to our customers directly as putting together an effective reactive power compensation solution is an iterative process and the steps involved begin with the initial client discussion, followed by a walkthrough survey & detailed electrical audit; designing the solution and evaluation of the effectiveness of the solution through simulation models and finally, if need be, doing the fine tuning at site for delivering the committed results. This in PMX is called the PQ Simplified – 4D Methodology – for solving the reactive power problems to any scale.
Our efforts are on to find out the best possible model for scaling up this business opportunity without compromising on the customer satisfaction that we have been delivering so far.
What has been the overall stance of government-owned power distribution utilities with respect to industrial and commercial consumers having to maintain a healthy power factor ratio?
Power Factor has been the only issue that has received more than its due quantum of attention and benefits, by the SEBs employing the incentive/penalty mechanism for consumers to be forced to maintain power factor at their end.
Our efforts are on to find out the best possible model for scaling up this business opportunity without compromising on the customer satisfaction that we have been delivering so far.
PMX is close to completing two decades of service to the industry. How has the journey been and how do the coming years look to you? Apart from India, are you planning to expand your footprint to global markets?
Founded in 2000, Power Matrix Solutions boasts of a sound backing from a reputed American company and of having technically sound personnel in its ranks.
In PMX, the emphasis is on continuous learning through focused research & development. This has enabled the company to fortify its knowledge base and acquire stupendous engineering expertise to such an extent that PMX today offers complete end-to-end solutions on power quality problems under one roof. Motivation, a strong factor on the success of the company, is drawn from identifying ideas for improvement and implementing the same in a methodical manner.
Now that PMX has built itself into a position of repute, it now aims to consolidate and transform itself into a complete powerhouse in power solutions. For this PMX endeavors to deal in a variety of solutions ranging from power consumption/compensation, to offsetting harmful effects of new-age electrical polluting devices.
