Continuing the discussion further Ms. Iqbal Basith of Solid State Systems Pvt. Ltd. said that quality and safety are the main points on which industry has to concentrate. She also said that on line testing and response to customer feedback are the key factors which could bring the industry out of gloom. "Training and long term support also provide value to the customer", she said. She stated that Indian manufacturers have to adopt international standards for product certification so that the industry shall be able to establish a good reputation in the global market.

Kulbhushan Gupta of G. E. Motors emphasized on effective delivery system. " We as users need three things cost quality and delivery. The suppliers should upgrade their products to match the user demands," he said. He talked about 6 Sigma quality standard.

S. K. Das, General Manager of BPL Electronics (R&D) said that consumer electronics industry is facing severe competition from within and outside the country. He demanded low cost, easy to mount capacitors to match the need of the digital era. He said that the industry is now getting more and more demand of chip mounting capacitors. "New, world class technology is the need of the hour," said Das.

Vinod Sharma, Executive Director of Deki Electronics limited himself to the BC capacitor category. "Emergence of set top boxes will create fresh demand for BC capacitor", said Sharma. Pointing towards four emerging markets i.e. lighting, Information Technology, Automobile, energy sectors Mr. Sharma said that that capacitor industry will get an opportunity to grow.

Amiya Benarji, Siemens Ltd. said that customers have started participating with the industry. He stressed on the power factor correction capacitors to minimize the risk of distorted power supply in India.

Pointing out towards the quick action on the newly carved Ministry of Information Technology Shri Laxminarayan said that quite a few ministries only try to strangulate the industry but unlike others, the Ministry of Information Technology would always like to play the role of a proactive motivator, facilitator and developer. "The MIT is not interested in imposing any rules or regulations that will interfere or intervene in the progress of the capacitor industry. We are interested in listening to the problems of the industry and finding the solutions", he said.

Calling the industry to participate in direct discussion with the Government he said, "we requests the industry to come forward with problems regarding the complicated customs and excise procedures. We are interested in simplifying the procedures". "We are ready to play the role of a proactive facilitator but the industry must come forward and tell us about the procedures which put hurdles in their

progress. They also have to give us the alternative for those procedures. Because without suggestions on an alternate set of procedures given to the ministry of finance, customs and excise departments, the problems will not be resolved. But if the industry is able to take up the matter at a higher policy planning level we will do our best to facilitate the industry", said Shri Laxminarayan.

Shri Laxminarayan also said that the Ministry of Information Technology assures the industry today if it comes out with an alternate system or structure of customs and excise, to fight for its implementation. At the policy planning level there is no dearth of competence and honesty. But they are strangulated by the system which they are themselves part of. Nobody really wants to take the initiative. The industry and associations should render full support to the officials to fight corruption. If this is done, solutions to the problems facing the industry would become easy and simpler. This will also generate the right atmosphere for a level playing field in the light of the fact that government is going to implement zero duty on all imports by the year 2003. "We realise that what ever the government should do to solve your problems must be done before we expose our industry which has done so well to generate international competition. I appeal to you to come to us with concrete suggestions after this exhibition and conference is over and we assure you that the newly formed Ministry of Information Technology will try its best to make life and procedures simpler", he stated.

BC Components manufactures four broad ranges of capacitors covering a wide portfolio of technologies, construction and performance characteristics.

Electrolytic Capacitors: BC Components designs, manufactures and sells electrolytic capacitors principally to customers in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific, focusing on power supply applications for consumer and professional uses, and on automotive and motor start applications.

Film Capacitors: Film Capacitors also constitute an important part of BC Components’ product range, offering higher voltage and lower capacitance devices for consumer and professional applications. The presence of BC Components’ film capacitor range includes general-purpose, interference suppression and AC & pulse film capacitors.

Variable Capacitors: BC Components manufactures a variety of variables (trimmers) which are sold mainly in India, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Tibrewala Electronics Limited was incorporated in the year 1985 for the manufacture of A. C. capacitors. The company has grown in the past 14 years at an average rate of 30% and has a turnover of Rs. 271 million during 198-99.

The company has three manufacturing locations in Hyderabad with the most modern equipment for the manufacture of A. C. Capacitors and Metallized Plastic Film.

The company has successfully carried out backward integration by launching manufacture of capacitor grade metallized polypropylene (MPP) film in the year 1994. The company has a technical tie-up with ICAR Spa of Italy for the installation and maintenance of Leybold-Heraeus Roll Coating Plants.

ACC Capacitors manufactured by the company are offered in the market under prime brand names as VISHAL, VICKY, ANAND FLOW and SIVACKY brands.

TIBCON capacitors are used by reputed OEM’s such CROMPTON, USHA, POLAR and G. E. Motors.

Tibcon Power capacitors are patronized by A.P. Transco for installation with pump-sets in the Agricultural Sector. MPP Film manufactured by the company is supplied to most of the capacitor manufacturers throughout the country, besides captive utilization.

Central Power Research Institute (CPRI) Bangalore is playing an important role in the development of the capacitor industry by providing required facilities for research, testing and evaluation of power capacitors. Efforts being made by CPRI in providing facilities and expertise for checking the quality and reliability of power capacitors are widely acknowledged.

Central Power Research Institute (CPRI) is functioning as an independent authority for testing and certification of electrical equipment. The capacitor laboratory of CPRI, Bangalore has established extensive facilities for testing and evaluation of Power Capacitors as per national and international specifications.

With the help of the facilities available in the laboratory, all types of power capacitors like all film capacitors, composite dielectric capacitors, metallized capacitors etc. can be tested. In addition to facilities for routine and type testing of power capacitors as per IS standard, sophisticated and expensive equipment for conducting more significant tests like endurance test and partial discharge test are available in the capacitors laboratory of CPRI. In the field of LT capacitors, special test facilities for charge dischargeand destruction test have been augmented to meet the requirements as per UL safety requirements.

Several capacitor manufacturers in the country are making use of the facilities of CPRI. The performance of power capacitors during testing as per various specifications is generally satisfactory. However, instances of failure have been experienced during testing.