Kernex gets new order from Egyptian National Railways

Hyderabad: Kernex Microsystems (India) has bagged a $17.5-million order from the Egyptian National Railways for supply and development of semi-automatic level crossings.

The contract, for 136 semi-automatic level crossings, would be executed in about 15 months, Mr L.V. Raju, Managing Director, Kernex Microsystems, said.

The Hyderabad-based company is in the process of negotiating a contract to develop an additional 174 semi-automatic level crossings. “It is likely that we may get another Rs 100 crore order in this regard soon,” he said.

Kernex is also eyeing the South Africa, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan and Sri Lankan markets for supplying its Anti-Collision Devices (ACDs) and semi-automatic and automatic level crossings. “We are talking to South Africa and Bangladesh in this regard,” he said.

Kernex has received confirmation from the Indian Railways for deployment of ACDs in southern, South Central and North Frontier Railways besides 4,000 locomotives. “This will mean a Rs 300-crore contract, which will be formalised by the end of next month,” Mr Raju said. The estimated market size for ACDs in India is Rs 4,000 crore, he said, adding that the company would have a ‘monopoly’ in the segment.

Kernex is currently working on variations in automatic level crossings, multi-section digital axle counters (used to monitor the integrity of railway tract between two stations) and microprocessor-based solid state locking systems.

The company, which posted a turnover of Rs 25 crore last fiscal, is hoping to clock Rs 500-600 crore turnover in the next three years. “This will be possible in view of our sound order pipeline,” Mr Raju asserted.