Jindal Steel forays into retail space; launches new brand 'Jindal Panther'

KOLKATA: Jindal Steel and Power Ltd. (JSPL) announced its foray into steel retail segment with the launch of a new retail brand. The first product to be launched under this is 'Jindal Panther TMT Rebars', a steel item used in building construction. The product will be supported by JSPL's channel network of 40 distributors and over 1,000 dealers.

Speaking on occasion, Mr Ravi Uppal, MD and CEO, JSPL said: "Our entry into retail is spurred with an aim to provide top quality reinforced bars to the housing segment. The recent natural calamity at Uttarakahnd serves as a grim reminder of the acute need to alleviate civil construction standards in our country, especially residential units. We have to raise awareness on how use of reinforced material can greatly enhance life of buildings." The new premium quality ribbed Thermo Mechanically Treated (TMT) Rebars have a higher degree of strength, ductility and malleability to meet differnt construction needs.

"" We will focus on the small institutional buildings like hospitals, schools, shopping complexes, commercial units and those who buy between 10-200 tonnes of steel,"" Mr Uppal added.

The TMT Rebars have been made with steel billets with a restricted level of sulphur and phosphorus, a maximum of 0.055% in line with BIS ( Bureau of Indian Standards) specifications. The manufacturing process uses the world's most advanced Morgan Rolling Mill deploying HYQST (High Yield Quenching & Self Tempering) TMT technology, making it more strong and ductile.

The high strength, bendability and weldability factors make it an ideal choice for buildings in high seismic zones. The product will be supported by JSPL's channel network of 40 distributors and over 1,000 dealers. The TMT rebar is being produced at the TMT Rebar mill at Patratu in Jharkhand. It has a production capacity of one million tonne per annum (mtpa) and uses Siemens rebar production technology from the US.