India’s push toward smart infrastructure, industrial automation, and clean energy is creating strong demand for advanced specialty cables engineered for performance, reliability, and safety. In an exclusive interview with Wire & Cable India, Mr. Anil Gupta, Chairman & Managing Director, KEI Industries Limited, discusses the changing dynamics of the specialty cable market. He also shares KEI’s perspective on import substitution, emerging growth opportunities, and the company’s investments in advanced manufacturing technologies, in their recent expansion green field at Sanand, Asia’s tallest manufacturing plant which houses new VCV lines will cater to specialty cable requirements across the globe.
Wire & Cable India: How do you currently define the specialty cable segment within your organization, and which application areas are presently driving the strongest business momentum for you?
Anil Gupta: At KEI, specialty cables are defined as application-engineered cable solutions designed to perform reliably under demanding environmental, mechanical, electrical, and operational conditions. These products are developed to meet stringent industry standards and specific customer requirements beyond conventional power and control applications.
Currently, the strongest momentum is coming from sectors such as industrial automation, renewable energy, railways, data centers, oil & gas, and infrastructure projects. Increasing investments in industrial modernization, energy transition, and digital infrastructure are significantly expanding demand for high-performance specialty cable solutions.
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WCI: Among automation, railways, renewables, data centers, EVs, oil & gas, mining, marine, or defense, which end-use sectors are generating the most meaningful demand today, and how do their technical expectations differ?
AG: Industrial automation, renewables, railways, and Infrastructure are growing demand today in upcoming demand of near future data center will play a pivotal role. A lot of investment is planned in developing data centers in India.
Each sector presents unique technical requirements. Automation applications require high-flexibility, durability, and EMI resistance. Railways demand superior fire performance, low smoke and halogen-free properties, and long operational life. Renewable energy projects require UV resistance, weatherability, and thermal endurance in upcoming demand of near future data centers will play a pivotal role. Oil & gas, mining, marine, and defense applications demand enhanced mechanical strength, chemical resistance, flame retardancy, and reliable performance under extreme environmental conditions.
WCI: What major shifts are you observing in customer expectations regarding performance, reliability, lifecycle requirements, qualification standards, and application-specific engineering?
AG: Customers are increasingly moving beyond price-focused procurement toward value-based decision-making. There is greater emphasis on lifecycle performance, operational reliability, safety, and compliance with global standards.
End users are seeking customized solutions designed for specific operating environments while expecting longer service life, lower maintenance requirements, and complete traceability. Qualification standards are becoming more rigorous, particularly in critical infrastructure, industrial automation, new age transmission & distribution networks led by IOT Solutions and energy sectors.
WCI: Which performance parameters are becoming increasingly critical in specialty cable design today, including flexibility, thermal endurance, fire performance, EMI shielding, chemical resistance, weatherability, or signal integrity?
AG: All these parameters have gained importance depending on the application. However, fire safety, thermal endurance, EMI shielding, flexibility, and signal integrity are becoming particularly critical across multiple industries.
As systems become more compact and interconnected, cables are expected to operate reliably under higher temperatures, increased electromagnetic interference, and demanding mechanical conditions. Additionally, resistance to chemicals, oils, UV radiation, and harsh weather environments is becoming essential for long-term performance.
WCI: How are industrial automation, robotics, high-flex applications, and the growing convergence of power, control, and data systems influencing product development and cable architecture?
AG: These trends are significantly transforming cable design and engineering. Modern industrial systems require cables that can simultaneously support power transmission and control functions. This has led to the development of advanced cable architectures featuring enhanced shielding, optimized conductor designs, improved flexibility, and compact construction. Robotics and continuous motion applications require products capable of withstanding multiple bending cycles while maintaining electrical performance and reliability throughout their operational life.
WCI: What manufacturing and process challenges are most significant in specialty cable production compared to conventional cable systems, particularly in areas such as precision extrusion, shielding, testing, qualification, and consistency control?
AG: Specialty cable manufacturing requires significantly higher process precision and quality control compared to standard cable production.
Maintaining dimensional accuracy, shielding effectiveness, insulation consistency, and material performance across production batches presents continuous challenges. Advanced testing, validation, and qualification processes are necessary to ensure compliance with stringent customer and industry specifications. Additionally, customization requirements often demand greater engineering involvement and manufacturing flexibility.
WCI: How important have certification, traceability, and customer qualification requirements become in sectors such as railways, offshore, infrastructure, industrial automation, and critical installations?
AG: Certification, traceability, and qualification have become fundamental requirements in these sectors. Customers increasingly demand complete transparency regarding raw materials, manufacturing processes, testing records, and compliance documentation.
In critical applications such as railways, offshore projects, industrial facilities, and infrastructure installations, certifications provide confidence regarding product safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance. Traceability systems are also becoming essential for quality assurance and long-term asset management.
WCI: To what extent does India still remain dependent on imports for advanced specialty cable categories, and where do you see the strongest opportunities for deeper localization?
AG: India has made significant progress in domestic cable manufacturing capabilities. However, certain highly specialized cable categories, advanced compounds, and niche materials still rely on imports to varying degrees. The strongest localization opportunities exist in high-performance industrial cables, renewable energy applications, railway systems, data center infrastructure, and advanced automation solutions. Government initiatives supporting domestic manufacturing and growing industry investments are expected to further strengthen local capabilities and reduce import dependence.
WCI: How do you assess the present competitive landscape in specialty cables, particularly in relation to pricing pressure, qualification costs, customization demands, and margin sustainability?
AG: The specialty cable market remains highly competitive, with increasing customer expectations and evolving technical requirements. While pricing pressures are largely driven by fluctuating metal prices, success in the market increasingly depends on technological capability, product reliability, engineering expertise, and service support rather than price alone.
Qualification costs and customization requirements can be significant, especially in highly regulated sectors. Therefore, sustainable growth requires continuous investment in R&D, all of these actions ensure the margins and timely delivery manufacturing excellence, quality systems, and customer-focused innovation.
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WCI: Looking ahead, which specialty cable applications or technology areas do you believe will define the next phase of growth and development for the industry in India?
AG: The next phase of growth is expected to be driven by renewable energy, smart manufacturing, industrial automation, data centers, electric mobility, rail infrastructure, smart grids, and advanced communication networks.
Emerging technologies such as Industry 4.0, AI-enabled manufacturing, energy storage systems, and digital infrastructure will create demand for increasingly sophisticated cable solutions. Products offering enhanced safety, higher efficiency, improved sustainability, and superior data transmission capabilities will play a critical role in supporting India’s industrial and technological growth journey.
At KEI factories, we are developing VCV (Vertical Continuous Vulcanization) cable manufacturing along with CCV (Catenary Continuous Vulcanization) for EHV cables, also E- beam technology. The E-beam technology significantly enhances cable durability, thermal stability, and operational reliability, enabling the development of high-performance solutions for demanding applications across renewable energy, electric mobility, industrial infrastructure, and next-generation communication networks.
