Mr. Popuri Ankineedu, M.E (Machine Design) - Chairman cum Managing Director of Popuri Group of Companies.
After finishing his M.E in Walchand College of Engineering, Sangli, Maharashtra, he started his career as lecturer in the same college.
Later in 1981 he joined in M/s Sponge Iron India Limited (SIIL) as an Assistant Design Engineer and worked for 14 years. During his tenure in SIIL he took up lot of challenging jobs and accomplished several goals.
Some of the goals accomplished during his tenure in SIIL are:
Project Planning and Implementation of second module (100TPD) in the year 1985: During the setting up of the second 100 TPD DRI module, he was the project in-charge and was involved from concept to commissioning.
Project Planning and Implementation of 5.5 MW Power Plant in the year 1990: During the setting up of the waste heat recovery power plant, along with additional fluidized bed boiler for the generation of 5.5 MW power. This is first of its kind in Sponge Iron industry. All the fabrication, erection and commissioning was carried out under his supervision.
Erection and Commissioning of Submerged Arc Furnace in 1993: The Submerged Arc Furnace which is closed type was set up at SIIL for the production of high grade pig iron using 100% sponge iron. The technology of borrowed from M/s Elkem, Norway. This project was coordinated and Supervised at site from the Engineering and project department side.
SIIL has given consultancy to five plants in India and two plants in abroad (Vietnam and Peru) to setup Sponge Iron plants during 1990 and 1995. He was extensively involved in preparation of Project Feasibilities and supported project design and engineering.
In 1995 he formed Engineering and Consultancy Services Company to give consultancy services from concept to commissioning of DRI plants with the motto of designing and implementing economically viable projects with less implementation time and investment.
Along with his team of professionals have designed and implemented DRI projects all over India and in few other countries.
Till now 495 successful Sponge Iron Kilns with different capacity are installed in India.
India Stands at No. 1 in the world with respect to Coal Based DRI production, for which Mr. P. Ankineedu contributed the best. In recognition of this achievement he was awarded with 'Great Son Of The Soil' award for "Research & Development of Sponge Iron for Outstanding Services, Achievements & Contribution" on 24th December 2006 by Honorable Governor of Andhra Pradesh State in the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of All India Conference of Intellectuals.
His vision was accomplished with respect to the DRI industry in India in 15 years. Now he is working towards different technologies in DRI to make the projects viable in todays market conditions and raw material availability. Also started working on design and implementation of forward and backward integration of Sponge Iron Plants.
He started his career in M/s Kakatiya Cements and he was In-charge of Operations & Maintenance of total plant starting from Lime Stone crushing unit to the cement packaging unit up till 1986.
In 1987 he joined Sponge Iron India Ltd (SIIL) in Projects Division and involved in :
- Execution & commissioning of 5.5MW Captive Power Plant
- 5 TPH Sponge Iron fines Briquetting Plant
- Execution of 150 TPD Submerged Arc Furnace plant for making Pig Iron
He joined Popuri Engineering and Consultancy Services in 1998. Now heading the Design & Engineering Department involved in
- Concept to commissioning of DRI plants of different capacities ranging from 15,000 TPA to 1,00,000 TPA.
- Waste Heat Recovery power plants.
- Design and Engineering of 1000 TPD Iron Ore pelletisation plant.
Mr. C. Lokendranath Reddy, B.Tech, MBA Heading R & D Team of Popuri Engineering Technologies Pvt Ltd.
He is Metallurgical Engineering graduate from Regional Engineering College, Warangal and joined M/s Nava Bharat Ferro Alloys, Paloncha as Shift In-charge in the production of FeSi, FeMn, SiMn, CaSi etc.
In 1986 he joined Sponge Iron India Ltd (SIIL) in R & D division. He is extensively involved in testing of suitability of raw materials for the DRI production.
He was the commissioning engineer for all the five plants consulted by SIIL in India and abroad.
He was total plant In-charge for two years before leaving the SIIL.
He joined Popuri Engineering and Consultancy Services, in 1999 and till date rendering his services in process designing of DRI units ranging from 15,000 TPA to 1,00,000 TPA.
He is also heading the all the R & D activities in Tunnel Kiln technology for DRI and smaller capacity Iron Ore Pelletisation plant.
Mr. G. Narayana Reddy, Mechanical Engineer Heading Project Execution works of Popuri Engineering Technologies Pvt Ltd.
He worked for M/s National Building Construction Company in 1979 and supervised civil and erection works carried out for Sponge Iron India Limited (SIIL).
Later he joined SIIL in 1980 and continued till 1989 as a Supervisor in Mechanical department looking after operation and maintenance in Raw material handling plant.
And from 1990 till 1999 he delivered his duties as In-charge of maintenance department of total SIIL plant.
He joined M/s BISCO Sponge, Jamshedpur in 1999 as Plant In-charge.
In 2001 he joined PECS and he is heading the all the erection and commissioning activities of Sponge Iron (DRI) plants.
Mr. B. Venkata Rao, Mettalurgical Engineer, Heading Operation and Maintenance department of Popuri Plant Tech Pvt Ltd.
He joined Sponge Iron India Limited in 1977 and worked as Process Engineer till 1986.
From 1987 till 1997 as Asst. Manager Production.
He worked for M/s Bellary Steels Ltd, Karnataka as DGM from 1997 to 2000.
He worked for M/s Raipur Alloys & Steels Ltd as GM (Process) from 2000 to 2005.
He joined hands with PECS in 2005 and heading Operation and Maintenance team of several DRI plants under 'Popuri Plant Tech'.