Mr Subrata Roy is the General Manager of Alteo Aluminas India Pvt. Ltd. Joined Alteo on 1st January 2019 and started the functioning of Alteo India office in Mumbai. He is responsible to promote and sell Alteo products to customers/prospect in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Gulf countries.
IM: Kindly inform our readers about Alteo’s product basket.
SR: Alteo is a worldwide leading specialty alumina producer. Wes upply close to 1,000 plants worldwide with hydrated, calcined, reactive, low and very low soda alumina, through an extensive network of sales offices and local inventory points.
IM: Alteo has recently changed hands. What are the broad growth plans and key focus areas of Alteo as chalked out by the new management?
SR: Alteo has a 125-years long history and therefore a unique mastering of alumina production. We want to accelerate what we have started in recent years, namely increasing our capabilities to deliver chemically purer and finer alumina. Our last development is a high purity alumina (3N5) that provides to our customers purity at an affordable price.
Under Alteo Technology, we have a R&D team that addresses both product innovation and technology sales.
IM: What is Alteo’s rating about Indian market? Is there any innovative plan in reaching out to customers?
SR: We have disruptive development on going and will communicate on it in the coming months!
IM: Globally speaking, how has the Covid related shutdowns and disruptions affected the alumina market?
SR: Business, and especially in India, has been strongly impacted by the sanitary situation and this has reduced our sales. However, despite the sanitary crisis, we continued to implement our strategy, focusing our development on more specialized markets, especially in the refractory and ceramic industries.
IM: How is Alteo serving its customers during these difficult hours?
SR: The lasting relationship that we have built with our customers over many years, in particular thanks to the proximity of our sales and technical teams, has shown its importance. We have worked closely with our customers and have managed to maintain a good level of service, all around the world, in challenging health situation and uncertain economic environment.
IM: What is your short, medium and long term take on global alumina market?
SR: Specialty alumina has a very large range of applications. Besides refractory, we have a very strong position on advanced ceramics (insulators and engineered ceramics) and fillers and coating (thermal dissipation, battery separators). To serve these fast-growing and demanding markets, we have invested in grinding capacities. In order to provide more finer and purer products, as mentioned above.
IM: Is there any plan of Alteo to open a production unit in India?
SR: In 2019, Alteo decided to open its own office in Mumbai, adding to its presence in Indian market through exclusive distribution network. The physical presence in India has allowed us to work on long term development, and to ensure a good understanding of market conditions and customer needs. We are now working on increasing our logistic capabilities to enhance customer service locally, with a first stock point opening in the coming weeks in Vizag.
IM: Thank you for talking to Indian Minerals.
SR: Most welcome.
Alteo Plant
