Subrata Sil, manager, Personnel & Administration, BSBK Engineers, says BSBK will provide all technical support and know-how on bottom ash handling systems to Korea Cottrell. The collaboration is initially for a period of five years to support Korea Cottrell's bottom ash handling systems for boiler capacities of up to 500 megawatt.

Korea Cottrell is a leader in the production of sophisticated environment protection systems like electrostatic precipitators, ash handling systems, bag filters and flue gas conditioning systems.

BSBK's assistance to Korea Cottrell is significant in more ways than one. First, because Cottrell is associated with big global names. Recently, it signed a turnkey contract with IshikawaharimaHeavy Industries of Japan (the fifth largest firm in Japan) for the installation of electrostatic precipitators at a power project of the Nippon Steel Company. Second, Korea Cottrell has been competing with leading environmental protection system companies of the world.

Although this is the first time that it is exporting its know-how in a big way, BSBK Engineers has earlier had big clients such as SAIL, ITC Bhadrachalam Paperboards, Hindalco, CESC Ltd and MP Electricity Board. And in every deal that it has struck with companies, BSBK's stress has been on environment-friendly technology. Executing turnkey projects based on ash handling systems for power plants being its speciality, the company fits the bill of a responsible corporate.

On being asked why the Korean firm had chosen only BSBK for technical collaboration, Sil says: ``Korea Cottrell had seen our installations, and had liked them.'' Plus, he says, BSBK's technology is better than others; it is also more cost-effective. BSBK technology is knownfor its longevity, adds Sil.

Talking about the company's focus on working towards eco-friendliness, Sil says that first of all, it's a global concern these days. The fly-ash technology, which was initiated in 1969, is developed in-house by the design department led by the technical director. Have there been several changes at BSBK in terms of technology development? Yes, replies Sil, there have been changes according to capacities and requirements. And the research and development wing of the company is constantly monitoring trends in order to deliver the best results.

But how can one be sure of the quality of the technology that BSBK is offering? Sil points out that the company has been getting repeat orders from its clients, which speaks for itself. He adds that there's absolutely no spillage in the product.

On cost-effectiveness, Sil says that power consumption is less, and so is the water requirement. And the wear and tear component is also minimal, he adds.

On the whole, the collaboration withthe Korean firm is an achievement for BSBK, in terms of spreading its technological knowhow abroad. And the company is willing to do a repeat in case another Cottrell asks for a tie-up.