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Salzer Electronics Limited (SALZERELEC) Q4 FY23 Earnings Concall Transcript

Salzer Electronics Limited (NSE: SALZERELEC) Q4 FY23 Earnings Concall dated May. 25, 2023.

Corporate Participants:

Savli MangleFounder and Managing Director

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Analysts:

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

Senthilkumar NatarajanJoindre Capital — Analyst

Deepak PoddarSapphire Capital — Analyst

Ankur AgrawalRC Wealth Solutions — Analyst

Unidentified Speaker

Sanjay Kumar Elangovanithought PMS — Analyst

R. GovindarajIndividual Investor — Analyst

Sriram RIndividual Investor — Analyst

Rohit OhriProgressive Shares — Analyst

Deepika MurarkaChoice Equity Broking — Analyst

Presentation:

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, good day, and welcome to Salzer Electronics Limited Q4 FY ’23 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions]

I now hand the conference over to Ms. Deepika Murarka from Choice Equity Broking. Thank you, and over to you, Deepika.

Deepika MurarkaChoice Equity Broking — Analyst

Thank you, Nirav. Good morning, everyone. On behalf of Choice Equity Broking, welcome to the Q4 and FY ’23 post results conference call of Salzer Electronics Limited. This conference call may contain certain forward-looking statements about the Company, which are based on the beliefs, opinion and expectations of the Company as of the date of this call. These statements are not guarantee of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict.

I will now hand over the call to Ms. Savli Mangle to discuss the financial performance of the Company. Over to you, ma’am.

Savli MangleFounder and Managing Director

Thank you, Deepika. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today to discuss the audited financial performance for the fourth quarter and year ended March 31, 2023. I have with me Mr. Rajesh Doraiswamy, Joint Managing Director; Mr. Murugesh, Joint Company Secretary; [Indecipherable], GM Account; Mr. Sanjay, Assistant Company Secretary; and Mr. Raman, COO of Kaycee Industries.

I shall take you through the stand-alone financial performance of the fourth quarter and the year ended. During the fourth quarter, our revenues increased by 29% year-on-year to INR295 crores from INR228 crores in the previous corresponding period. This growth was driven by higher demand for industrial switchgear, as well as wires and cable businesses. The EBITDA, excluding other income, was INR23.3 crores in Q4 as against INR12.9 crores in Q4 FY ’22, a year-on-year growth of 81% on account of increased sales in the switchgear business. The EBITDA margin for the quarter stood at 7.9%, were a rise of 224 basis points year-on-year. This was mainly on account of increase in sales from higher-margin industrial switchgear products.

The profit after tax was at INR9 crores in Q4 FY ’23 as against INR3.8 crores in Q4 FY ’22, year-on-year growth of 134%. Coming to our full year financial performance, in the year ended March 2023, net revenue was INR1,013.1 crores as against INR783.6 crores in FY ’22, year-on-year growth of about 29%. This was driven by strong demand for almost all products on the back of better market conditions, both the India and global markets. The EBITDA, excluding other income, stood at about INR91.1 crores in FY ’23 as against INR63.8 crores in FY ’22, a year-on-year growth of 43%, mainly on account of higher sales in all product divisions.

The EBITDA margin was at 9%, a year-on-year increase of 86 basis points. The profit after tax was INR36.4 crores in FY ’23 as against INR22.5 crores in FY ’22, a year-on-year growth of 62%. The PAT margin was at 3.6% in FY ’23, as against 2.9% in FY ’22, a year-on-year increase of 72 basis points. Moving to the breakup of revenue as per business division. The industrial switchgear business contributed to about 53.4% of the total revenues in this quarter and 54.3% during the year. The EBITDA margin for this business stood at 10.5% in Q4 and 11.7% in FY ’23. One of our high-demand products, the three phase dry type transformers grew over to nearly 300% year-on-year in Q4 FY ’23 and 180% in FY ’23. The wire harness grew 52% year-on-year in Q4 FY ’23 to INR23.5 crores from INR15.4 crores in Q4 FY ’22 and 18% year-on-year in FY ’23.

The Wires and Cable division contributed nearly 41% to our revenues this quarter and 38% during the year. That is an increase of nearly 19% year-on-year in this division during the quarter and 15% year-on-year. The EBITDA margin in this division has been steady at 5.5% in Q4 and 6.5% for the full year. The Building Products division contributed nearly 6% in this quarter and 7% in the full year. The EBITDA margin in this business was 2.6% in Q4 and 2.7% in full year FY ’23. On the export front, we continue to see steady growth, mainly due to higher sales in Americas, including South American countries like Brazil, Argentina and Chile.

Exports to the Americas grew 55% year-on-year in this quarter. For this quarter, the export share of the revenue was 27%. Growth in export was nearly 73% year-on-year and 18% quarter-on-quarter. For the full year, export was 26% of the revenue growing 42% year-on-year. I’m happy to share that the Board has recommended a final dividend at the rate of 22%, that’s INR2.2 per equity share at a face value of INR10, this is subject to shareholders’ approval.

I would like to hand over now to Rajesh to take us through the business developments and the leadership. Thank you.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Thank you, Savli. Good morning all of you. I think we have listened to the financials division wise from Savli. So the past financial year actually brought a lot of headwinds for the economy and the overall industry in the form of various macroeconomic factors like increased inflation, exchange rate fluctuations, even reduced demand from the European markets and also some of the Asian markets. Despite that, I think Salzer has crossed various important milestones during this period. And the most important one was that we have crossed the INR1,000 crore revenue milestones by achieving INR1,037 crore on revenues on a consolidated basis. This was possible only due to our advanced engineering capabilities backed by a strong in-house manufacturing and R&D team, product innovation, strong technical collaboration and long-standing customer relationship.

So I’m once again very happy to share that our revenues for the year crossed INR1,000 crore, which was one of the key targets we have set for ourselves a few years ago. We are proud of this accomplishment, which is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. I would also say that this is just one step in our overall growth story. As you all must have been aware, demand for the infrastructure has been growing well in the country in the last financial year. There’s a growing demand for a lot of projects such as roads, bridges, buildings, government’s focus on smart cities development is also expected to spur demand for a lot of electrical products of our portfolio.

Even the private investments continue to happen in a big way in India, which is also increasing the demand for all our products. There’s increasing demand for renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydropower, which has opened new growth opportunities and demand for switchgears, transformers, wires and cables. During the year, we have seen good growth in all divisions, mainly due to better market conditions in India and also abroad in specific markets. On the switchgear front, growth was driven by high-margin products like toroidal transformers, three phase transformers, wire harness, rotary cam switches and isolators. All these comprised approximately 65% of our Switchgear division sales.

To cater to the continuous demand that’s coming from the country, we have set up a new manufacturing facility strategically located at Hosur in Tamil Nadu. Speaking of our Wires and Cable division, there was a slowdown in the first three quarters due to high inflation and slowdown in the agri market segment, leading to lower volume sales in the first three quarters. However, in the fourth quarter, the sales started to pick up, and we see similar demand continuing into this year. Over the last two quarters to three quarters, we increased our sales price for various products. At the same time, the raw material prices also started to stabilize and reduce a little bit, which helped improve our EBITDA margins year-on-year.

We also expect to reduce the raw material consumption in the coming quarters, which will further improve the realization of our price, which leads to better EBITDA margins in the coming quarter. On the export front, 26% of our revenue this year came from exports, mainly on account of higher sales in North America and also South America. Some of the new products that we developed for U.S.A. and Australia during COVID time has started to give revenues from March 2023 onwards. This year, we will see revenues from these new businesses coming. As far as our subsidiary, Kaycee Industries is concerned, the sales have been growing well, and EBITDA margins are also getting better.

Kaycee’s top line grew 42% to INR42.3 crore from INR29.8 crore last year. PAT grew 87% from INR1.86 crore last year to INR3.5 crore this year. At Salzer, we have continued to focus on improving our operational efficiency. We had an internal target of achieving 12% ROCE in FY ’23, which we have achieved this year. We also improved our net debt to equity for FY ’23 at 0.65% [Phonetic]. I’m happy to share that the net cash flow from our business operation was positive at around INR23 crores. Going to the next fiscal, we expect to grow at around 20% with our strong product offerings and brand position in the market. Based on the domestic and export outlook, we are cautiously optimistic about the overall business performance.

As a part of our strategy, we will continue to not just focus on profitable growth, but also on capital efficiency, enduring to improve our working capital cycle and being a cash flow positive Company continuously. I thank the entire team at Salzer Electronics for their untiring efforts and all our stakeholders for their continued support and faith in our Company. This is all from our side for now. I would like to thank you all very much for your time and attention. We can now take questions.

Questions and Answers:

Operator

Thank you very much. We will now begin the question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions] The first question is from the line of Rabindra Nath Nayak [Phonetic] from Sunidhi Securities and Finance. Please go ahead.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

[Technical Issues] for a decent set of numbers. So my question is regarding this how the capital allocation, we have done rightly around INR23 crores of operating cash flow this year. And also we have actually gone through a preferential issue, which will yield around INR47 crores of money to the Company. And going ahead also, you are expecting 20% growth on our business and also going for capital efficiency. While the capital allocation policy — how we are going to spend this money in the next one year or two years’ time? So please share some perspective on that? Thank you very much.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Sir, thank you very much. I think the point is that we will be doing some capital expenditure because we have set up a new facility in Hosur, which will take up around INR14 crores, INR15 crores of investment for further growth. And I think going forward, we also have the joint venture for electric vehicle charging stations coming up. Hopefully, that will require some investments. I think we have not really allocated how much we are going to put in, but we expect that the electric vehicle charging station, JV will take at least INR12 crores to INR15 crores in the next couple of years. So this is what we will be allocating and the rest will be utilized for the working capital in the Company.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

Okay, okay. Sir, can you please provide a product-wise breakup of the switchgear business, because a lot of things are completely jumbled together in one segment. If you can give at least two to three products category, which will contribute into the business, in the switchgear business, that would be helpful?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

I think I mentioned in the call that our top selling products, 65% of our sales comes from the toroidal transformers, three phase transformers, rotary switches, wire harness and isolators.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

Okay, okay.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

These are the top selling switchgear products for us.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

Okay, okay. And sir, when we can expect that the complete integration of Kaycee, even though we acquired 100% shareholding in our business, when we can expect on that?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

So we are only at 74% shareholder at Kaycee. And as far as the operations are concerned, we are fully integrated. The Company has worked together and are achieving the efficiency by utilizing each other’s strengths. And that is why we see a tremendous improvement in PAT margins at Kaycee Industries.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

So can we expect 100% holding in Kaycee in the near future or will we continue in the similar structure for quite some time?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

At 100% holding, then we have to delist. No, we are — there is no plan for that as of now.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

Okay, okay. And sir, in the product category, industrial switchgear, wires and cable, building segments, if you can give a breakup of — appropriate margin breakup of — EBITDA margin breakup of all these three categories, that would be helpful, sir, for FY ’23?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yes. I think the EBITDA percentage for industrial switchgear for this year is at around 11.7%, wire and cable is at 7%, and the building segment is at 3%.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

Okay, okay, okay. Okay, sir, thank you very much. Thank you.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yes. Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. [Operator Instructions] Next question is from the line of Senthilkumar from Joindre Capital. Please go ahead.

Senthilkumar NatarajanJoindre Capital — Analyst

Good morning, sir. Thanks for the opportunity. And firstly, congrats for the good set of numbers.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Thank you.

Senthilkumar NatarajanJoindre Capital — Analyst

In the opening commentary, you have highlighted that you have developed new products for North and South America. Can you elaborate what is the product and what is the revenue we can expect for FY ’24?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Sir, I think this year, we have grown close to 30%, which is actually a strong growth, I would say. Going forward, we are projecting around 20% growth for — on the top line. And on the bottom line, we should be growing at around 25%.

Senthilkumar NatarajanJoindre Capital — Analyst

Okay. No, actually, my question is about the new product development in North and South America. Now I’m asking on what is the incremental revenue we can expect from that particular…

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Okay, about the new products?

Senthilkumar NatarajanJoindre Capital — Analyst

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Okay. These products are — so I mean the potential for these products are quite high. But we expect — I think in the first year, we will be seeing a revenue of close to USD1 million to USD2 million in U.S.

Senthilkumar NatarajanJoindre Capital — Analyst

Okay.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

But the potential, we expect that in the next five years, we should be able to clock around $20 [Phonetic] million, $25 [Phonetic] million sales only in these products from the North American market.

Senthilkumar NatarajanJoindre Capital — Analyst

Okay, okay, okay. So what is the product, sir? Is it switchgear or…

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

They are contactors for various applications in U.S. Contactors.

Senthilkumar NatarajanJoindre Capital — Analyst

Okay, okay, contactors. Okay, sir. And my second question, in the earlier con call, you said like for EV conversion kit, we are developing a prototype, where are we, sir, what is the update on that? Is it completed?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

I’m afraid that I don’t have any new update because as I mentioned in the last call, I think we are going slow on that conversion kit project because we are not seeing much potential — sales revenue potential or profit potential in that product and technology. So we are actually going slow, though we are doing some research and prototyping, but I don’t have an update that to be — that needs to be given right now.

Senthilkumar NatarajanJoindre Capital — Analyst

Okay, sir, what about this charger unit, sir, EV charger?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Chargers in the final stage, I think it’s under testing. So we should be launching the chargers mostly in the second quarter of this year for sale.

Senthilkumar NatarajanJoindre Capital — Analyst

Okay, sir. Okay, sir. Okay, sir, thank you, sir. All the best, and thanks. That’s it from my side.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yeah, thank you.

Operator

Thank you. [Operator Instructions] The next question is from the line of Gaurav Sachdeva [Phonetic] from Further [Phonetic] Investments. Please go ahead.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

Hello, good morning, sir.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Good morning.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

Sir, my question is regarding the EBITDA margins. In comparison to Q3, despite of our revenues have increased in both the segments, but the EBITDA has dropped more than 200 basis points. What is the reason, sir?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

I think in the switchgear business, it’s because of the product mix. What happened was I think we had tremendously higher sales coming in Q4 in wire harness and three phase transformers, which has actually pulled the EBITDA margins by close to 200 basis points. That’s one. On the wire and cable, again, I would say it’s a mix of product and various sectoral sales that has happened. But this is only a quarterly change. Overall, I think we are seeing a 200 basis point improvement year-on-year, and we will continue to see at least 100 basis point improvement over the next financial year in all segments.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

But in your last — yeah. In your last con call somewhere you told that maybe we can have 11% EBITDA on overall basis?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yes. We are getting there. As you see that we have improved 1% compared to last year. We will definitely get to around 10%, 10.5% next year, and we’ll reach 11% — blended 11% in the next few — five quarters, six quarters.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

Thank you. That’s it from my side. Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. Next question is from the line of Deepak Poddar from Sapphire Capital. Please go ahead.

Deepak PoddarSapphire Capital — Analyst

Hello? Am I audible?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yes, sir, you can. Yeah.

Deepak PoddarSapphire Capital — Analyst

Yes. Yeah, thank you very much, sir, for the opportunity. Sir, I just wanted to understand, I mean, in terms of the previous question on the margin front, I think what has changed? Because I mean, earlier, we were targeting 11% EBITDA margin FY ’24. So is there anything that has changed in terms of our — the raw material scenario or the pricing scenario, which kind of has pushed back our target to maybe, what, one and a half years now we are targeting right as compared to…

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Nothing major has changed. As we all know that FY ’21, FY ’22 was a very, very tough year for all the businesses due to this post-COVID scenario, where raw material prices increased tremendously over the year and fluctuating widely. So overall, if you see our switchgear business’s EBITDA margins dropped drastically. I think we used to be at around 13%, 14% EBITDA margin levels in our switchgear products, which considerably dropped to around 9%, 9.5% in FY ’22 because of the raw material price fluctuations. So which we gradually started improving in FY ’23, and we are at around 11.7% as of today.

The one thing that has changed is, I think the raw material price has stabilized, and we have got our price increase from our customers, I think that has happened. But also during the course of the year, we have seen a slight change in our product mix, which is giving the revenues to switchgear business. So the more the transformers that sell, then I think the blended margin inside the switchgear business will be slightly down compared to what we will sell more of the contactors or switches and terminal blocks and things like that. So there is a slight change in the EBITDA margin within the switchgear businesses. There are certain products like rotary cam switches or isolators or cable ducts that can give us 17% EBITDA or 16% EBITDA.

And there are also certain products like wire harness or three phase transformers or toroidal transformers, for example, which will give us 11% or 12% EBITDA. And also, sometimes we sell into certain sectors, where we are new, where we have to get the business. So then the price we have to be competitive and the EBITDA margins in those sectors, sectoral sales also can be a little down. So that is the reason that we have not gone to 12%, 12.5% EBITDA margin, but we are at around 11.7% this year.

And overall, we couldn’t get to 10%, but we are at around 9%. But I’m sure that we are seeing a jump in the absolute numbers. I would say, year-on-year, there’s an 80% jump on the absolute EBITDA number from INR63 crores to INR92 crores. And we will see — we will continue to see similar growth going forward, and we will improve the EBITDA margin percentage also going forward, because I see a lot of stabilization in the raw material prices, and we will definitely improve on the switchgear EBITDA margins by around at least 1% in the year that’s coming, the next year.

Deepak PoddarSapphire Capital — Analyst

Okay, understood. But in terms of switchgear segment, so currently, about 65% of your switchgear revenue cater — is catered by high-margin product in this division?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Actually, all the switchgear products, I would consider it as high margin, but within that high margin, there are differences. There are certain 11%, 11.5%, there are certain 15%. So this combination is what is bringing a 12% EBITDA margin to us right now.

Deepak PoddarSapphire Capital — Analyst

Okay. Okay. I understood. Fair enough. And in terms of your outlook that you have shared, now in terms of — even if I take 10%, 10.5% EBITDA margin next year, so your bottom line should grow much faster than 25% that you are kind of given as a guidance as such. Is that — because even if you take 10%, it should grow much faster than 25% bottom line?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yes, I think it will grow — it will have a similar growth, I would say. We will see at least a 35% EBITDA, absolute number growth for 35%, 40%.

Deepak PoddarSapphire Capital — Analyst

Correct.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

But just being a little conservative, let’s see how the first two quarter goes and then we can have a real projection for next year because the markets are still, I would say, little fluid. People are a little conservative. Though the Indian market is growing well, but we don’t know how the global headwinds is going to turn out in the next few months.

Deepak PoddarSapphire Capital — Analyst

Correct. So any specific, I mean, concern that you have in terms of business or globally or anything that as a investor, we should…

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Globally, there is a financial risk that will — that is — that everybody thinks that is going to happen in the U.S., then if U.S. gets into a recession, then I think it will be a problem for the entire world market, then we will see a short term, maybe a two-quarter slowdown. If that doesn’t happen, then I think we are good that we should be able to grow at the same level. Because even though we do a lot of business within India, I think those businesses are also dependent on various other foreign markets. There are a lot of private investments by the foreign company that is happening in India. There are a lot of others who export out from India. So which all may be affected.

Deepak PoddarSapphire Capital — Analyst

Okay, understood. Yeah, I think yeah, that’s about it from my side, sir. All the very best. Thank you so much.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Thank you, sir.

Operator

Thank you. Next question is from the line of Ankur Agrawal from RC Wealth Solutions. Please go ahead.

Ankur AgrawalRC Wealth Solutions — Analyst

Good morning, sir.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Good morning.

Ankur AgrawalRC Wealth Solutions — Analyst

[Foreign Speech] capex plan [Foreign Speech]?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Capex plan, our regular maintenance capex we are doing. And as I said, we are having this Hosur plant investment, and the next capex will be for the EV chargers.

Ankur AgrawalRC Wealth Solutions — Analyst

How much amount required for that capex?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Hosur, we have estimated around INR15 crores in this year. And the next year, for EV chargers, it will be close to around INR15 crores again.

Ankur AgrawalRC Wealth Solutions — Analyst

Okay. [Foreign Speech]?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

We are already doing business with railways. We are selling our switches and other — various other switchgears and transformers to railways. And we are seeing constant business from railways, not great growth but constant business.

Unidentified Speaker

Hello?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Hello?

Ankur AgrawalRC Wealth Solutions — Analyst

[Foreign Speech]?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

No, I didn’t get your question, sir, because I’m not very good in Hindi. So if you can translate — somebody can translate…

Ankur AgrawalRC Wealth Solutions — Analyst

Next three years, four years, how much Company will grow like how much top line and bottom line?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Sir, we expect to grow at around 20% for the next two years, at least, for sure.

Ankur AgrawalRC Wealth Solutions — Analyst

Okay. And bottom line will be better than top line?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yes. Yes.

Ankur AgrawalRC Wealth Solutions — Analyst

Okay, thank you, sir. Thank you. That’s all from my side.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. Next question is from the line of Sanjay Kumar from ithought PMS. Please go ahead.

Sanjay Kumar Elangovanithought PMS — Analyst

Hi, sir, thanks for the opportunity. First question is a very broad question on strategy, vision and capital allocation. So you have toroidal transformers, wire harness, where you’re putting up capacity, but you also have dry type transformer business, where peers like Voltamp, CG Power are putting up capacity, you have wires and cables, Kupper [Phonetic] are putting up capacity, in fact Kupper is exporting a lot of cables to U.S., Australia. So without the scale in these segments, why you venture out? Is it because the base business growth is very slow or you want to move to other segments?

So why EV charging? Does it have any moat from the JV? And you were even looking at retrofitting or conversion kits for three-wheelers. So I don’t see lack of capability because we have even a license for many products in the U.S. So capability is not a constraint. Just that I don’t see cognition and vision or long-term strategy. I maybe completely wrong. So if you could explain your thinking and rationale? And I’m just trying to think it through in terms of management bandwidth will be diluted in terms of EV charging and the retrofitting or do we have any moats in EV charging? So any thoughts on these lines, sir?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yeah, got your point, got your question. I think our total long-term vision is to be a global electrical solutions provider. I think that is what we are looking at. So anything to do with electrical solutions, we want to be there and we want to be a first mover. So that was one of the reasons we got into electric charging because we thought that I think that EV is going to be a future in the next 10 years, 15 years, at least a 2-decade business from now before the technology can change or whatever happens. So we thought we have all the capabilities, we have all the components that will go into a charger and why not we make a charger. And luckily, we got a JV partner to manufacture that, and that is how we are into that. That is the reason that we are into that.

Conversion kit, maybe you rightly said, maybe it’s a little deviation from us, and — but as we ventured into that, we understood that, that business is not giving us scale or giving us a great opportunity. So we are scaling back on that, which we’ve — I’ve already said in the previous two calls that we are scaling back and going slow on that conversion kit. But charging, yes, we have a reason for that because we can use our components, and we have the technology, and we can see that the future business is there, it’s the future technology is there. And we — as an electrical Company, we want to be in that space. That’s the reason we’re doing that.

On the other product expansion, as you know that we started off as a rotary cam switch Company, that’s how the Company started three decades ago. And there is a limitation for a rotary cam switch within India or globally because the market size is limited. So — and then we — reason that we ventured out and started making various other different products is that we wanted to grow on scale and also be with the customer connect with many products. And that’s how almost all the top switchgear companies across the world have grown, including Schneider, including Siemens or Eaton or even the Indian company like Larsen & Toubro or Havells, for example.

L&T is a switchgear company, but they have 25 products within that switchgear segment. So that’s how this business happens in the market, the business trend is like that. We actually went a little more diversified, started making transformers, wire harness and also various other products that may or may not fall under the switchgear definition, but it sells to the same customer. The same customer uses this. Sometimes we get a customer for rotary cam switch because of transformers or vice versa. So that’s the advantage of having the large product portfolio and trying to expand all the products. And as you asked rightly, how and which [Technical Issues]. Hello? Am I audible?

Sanjay Kumar Elangovanithought PMS — Analyst

Yeah, sir. Yeah, sir.

Operator

You are audible.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yeah. So on how and which product you are going to expand, I think we — as the opportunity comes, I think we are allocating capital and expanding capacity dynamically as the opportunity comes to us. I think last year was the year for three phase transformers because I think the growth in three phase transformers was close to 70%, 80% or 100% — 250% actually year-on-year. So when the demand that came in, then we had to be dynamic and we had to expand the capacity and then we have to capture that market.

So that was the reason that from INR25 crores in FY ’22, I think we were close to around INR75 crores in FY ’23 on that business. And it continues to — I think the growth has slowed down, but it continues to grow at around 30%, 35% in this year. So that is how we manage the product portfolio within the segment. And on the scale about — I think you mentioned two companies, Voltamp or CG, I think we are not in that space. I want to clarify our three phase transformers or dry type, indoor application transformers for low voltage, whereas Voltamp or CG makes oil-cooled or cast resin transformers for high voltage distribution transformers. We are not into that space.

Sanjay Kumar Elangovanithought PMS — Analyst

Okay. I think Voltamp, 30% of their business is dry type. But anyways, just to…

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Dry type high voltage. They are all 11 kV or 22 kV, those kind of transformers. We are only in 440 volt, less than 1000 volt.

Sanjay Kumar Elangovanithought PMS — Analyst

Yes, sir. So just two follow-ups there then. So if dry type is growing so fast, any capex for wires and cables business or the dry type transformers? That’s one. Two, what components in the EV charging, I mean, how much will we be making in-house and how much will be bought out in the EV charging product?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Around 30% of the value of EV charger will be in-house components.

Sanjay Kumar Elangovanithought PMS — Analyst

Okay. Okay. And on the capex in dry type and wires and cables?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yeah. As I said, I think the wire and cable is a little different because we are not doing any major capex because we still have a capacity open in wire and cable. But dry type transformers, yes, we have done around INR4 crores, INR5 crores in this year on capacity expansion, and we will continue to do around INR3 crores, INR4 crores in the coming year for three phase dry type transformers. So not much, I think it is dynamic. As and when it requires, I think we will keep adding machineries for that.

Sanjay Kumar Elangovanithought PMS — Analyst

And asset turn for dry type would be 6 times, 7 times?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

It’s right now at around 4 times, 4.5 times.

Sanjay Kumar Elangovanithought PMS — Analyst

Okay. Okay, sir. Just last question, if I may. Five years from now, what kind of product mix breakup are you looking at in the top line? Any rough figures?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

The way that it goes looks like, I think we will be a 60-30-10 or — that’s how it is, 60% from the industrial switchgear business, 30% wire and cable, 10% from building electrical, that’s how I’m looking at.

Sanjay Kumar Elangovanithought PMS — Analyst

And EV charging will be part of?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

EV charging will be a subsidiary. So that will be again, I think the business is still evolving. If it grows, I think it can give an equal amount of revenue.

Sanjay Kumar Elangovanithought PMS — Analyst

Okay, okay, okay, sir. That’s it from my side. Thanks a lot for the detailed answers.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yeah.

Operator

Thank you. [Operator Instructions] Next question is from the line of Manish Maheshwari [Phonetic] from Manu [Phonetic] Group. Please go ahead.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

Hello?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Good morning.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

Yeah, hi, sir. Good morning. Sir, you said you used to command a EBITDA margin of about 14% odd in your switchgear business, right, which eventually came down to 11% during COVID or…

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

It has actually come down to 9.5% last year.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

Okay. So when do you expect margins to restore north of 14% or at least 14%?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

That’s what I said know, whether we will go back to 14%, I’m not sure because of the change in the product mix, because if you go back a few years, we didn’t have transformers as a top selling product in the switchgear segment. We had all other products in the switchgear segment, which gave 15%, 14% EBITDA margin. When the volumes grew, I think we — in my opinion, as from 11.5% right now, we may touch around 13% in next year FY ’25, 13%, 13.5%.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

FY ’25 is an year after that, right, FY ’24 and then FY ’25?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yeah, FY — I think we will see a 1%, 1.5% improvement year-on-year.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

For the next year, you mean for FY ’24?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

FY ’24, 1% to 1.5%.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

And sir, if I may ask you, what are your — I mean, your key raw materials?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Key raw materials are various engineering plastics, you’re talking about switchgear business, right?

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

Right.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Switchgear business, various engineering plastics. We buy copper. We also have silver as a content, small content and then steel, PVC.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

It’s a combination of variable set of products, right?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yeah.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

And how about…

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

These are the top product — top commodities, I would say.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

And how about wires and cable?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Wire and cable, it’s copper and PVC.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

Okay, all right, sir. Thank you. Thank you so much

Operator

.Thank you. Next question is from the line of R. Govindaraj, Individual Investor. Please go ahead.

R. GovindarajIndividual Investor — Analyst

Sir, can you throw some more light on the patents which are in the process, sir? I think we are having some six products which are in process now.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yes, I think there are certain products that we have applied patent for, like one the — one for rotary switch, again, a new technology rotary switch we have applied patent. There are some contactors, some contactors we have developed new, which we have applied patent for. And there is also a wire management, the cable ducts we call, but the broad name is wire management system, we have applied a patent for that. There are also new designs, new concepts, which we have applied patent for.

R. GovindarajIndividual Investor — Analyst

Any time line, sir, when you’ll be getting it?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

I think next two years to three years.

R. GovindarajIndividual Investor — Analyst

Okay, sir. And regarding — you said that you are getting into new contactors, whether the bimetal kind of contactors we are making it in home or we are outsourcing it from other manufacturers, sir?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

In the contactor, there is no bimetal. I think bimetal comes into play when there is a overload relay.

R. GovindarajIndividual Investor — Analyst

Okay.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

So bimetals, we source out.

R. GovindarajIndividual Investor — Analyst

Source out. Okay.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yeah.

R. GovindarajIndividual Investor — Analyst

Any improvement can be seen in the wires business, sir, because Finolex Cables and other cable manufacturers are getting higher margins, whether any improvement can be done in our side?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yes, sir. We are constantly working on that. Unfortunately, our segmentation in the wire and cable has been more into agri segment and we — our distribution is through Larsen & Toubro. And that’s the reason I think we — and the agri segment is a seasonal market, so when it goes up and down, we are struggling. We are trying to bring down the dependency on that particular product segment, but it is taking time. I think it will take some more time before we see 8% to 10% margin improvements, 8% to 10% EBITDA margin in the wire and cable at least two years from now.

R. GovindarajIndividual Investor — Analyst

Okay. And regarding the supplies to LMW and LG, what sort of materials we are supplying to them, sir? If you can provide any details, sir?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Custom-built control panels.

R. GovindarajIndividual Investor — Analyst

Control panels, okay.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yeah.

R. GovindarajIndividual Investor — Analyst

But 100% they are sourcing it from us or — in case of LMW, you have LOPS [Phonetic]?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Any OEMs will always have two, three suppliers. So we are just one of the three, one of the three or one of the two.

R. GovindarajIndividual Investor — Analyst

With regards to LMW or LG, sir?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Both.

R. GovindarajIndividual Investor — Analyst

Both. Okay, thanks. Thanks a lot, sir.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yeah.

Operator

Thank you. Next follow-up question is from the line of Deepak Poddar from Sapphire Capital. Please go ahead.

Deepak PoddarSapphire Capital — Analyst

Hello?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Hello. Yes, sir, good morning — good afternoon.

Deepak PoddarSapphire Capital — Analyst

Yeah, good afternoon, sir. Sir, just one more thing I wanted to understand, how do you see the revenues scale up in your EV charging business? I mean, what sort of revenue we might target this year or — and over next two years?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

This year, I’m not projecting much because this is going to be the first year. We are expecting some sales back to our collaborator because of the demand that they are seeing in the European market. So that is one opportunity that we are looking at. And we are also looking at some opportunity within India, where there are companies who are doing charging services. So we — once the chargers are ready, we are trying to sell our chargers to those companies who are installing and doing charging services. So this year, we are not really projecting much, but next year, I see that at least we should be able to do a INR40 crore — INR35 crore, INR40 crore top line if everything goes well.

Deepak PoddarSapphire Capital — Analyst

Okay.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

But this business, I would say, is constantly evolving. It’s quite fast. So I will not be able to tell next year whether only the sale of chargers will give us revenue or there will be any other opportunity that will be coming to us or maybe the Company itself will get into a charging services business and how the revenue models will be in those kind of business, I think it is still a little fluid.

Deepak PoddarSapphire Capital — Analyst

Correct, correct. And in the past, we had a vision of maybe what INR500 crores revenue from this segment, right? Is that still what we are targeting over the year?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yes, I think it is still possible because we see that the demand for chargers will continue to grow as the electric vehicle starts coming in. So I’m definitely expecting FY ’25, FY ’26, the demand should be very good. A lot of companies should be getting into the charging space. And I’m still hopeful that INR500 crore revenue from EV charging space is not far away.

Deepak PoddarSapphire Capital — Analyst

So maybe what five years is what the aspiration would be?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Even before that, even less than that, I would say.

Deepak PoddarSapphire Capital — Analyst

Yeah. Okay, understood.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

I think the speed at which the electric vehicle markets are growing, I would say, it can happen much faster.

Deepak PoddarSapphire Capital — Analyst

Correct, correct, understood. Yeah, that’s it from my side. Thank you so much.

Operator

Thank you. Next question is from the line of Sriram R, Individual Investor. Please go ahead.

Sriram RIndividual Investor — Analyst

Thank you for the opportunity. I have two questions. One is, can you give the breakup of wires and cables segment, like how much is for copper and how much is for wiring harness for FY ’23? And my second question is, where do these toroidal transformers go into, who are your customers? And if you can also talk a bit about your competition there, that would be very helpful?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

You’re talking about the sales revenue breakup for wire harness and wires and cables?

Sriram RIndividual Investor — Analyst

Yes. Out of wires and cables, how much is each of the subset?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

That is totally different. Wire — our wire and cable sale, I think we have done around INR390 crores last year. That INR390 crore is purely wires — raw wires, cables to market, we sell it. And wire harness, we have done around INR70 crores last year, which is a product because we take the wire and we do a lot of process in that wire before we sell that to a OEM. Wire harness is sold to OEM, wires and cables are sold in the market to the retailer, to the dealer and to OEMs. So it’s two different businesses. So that’s around INR390 crores, and this is around INR70 crores. That’s the breakup.

Sriram RIndividual Investor — Analyst

So that — so this INR390 crores is purely copper wires, right?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yeah, copper. We only make copper wires. We don’t make aluminum wires.

Sriram RIndividual Investor — Analyst

Okay. Okay. Okay. Understood, sir. And on the toroidal transformer…

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Toroidal transformer is nothing but a transformer, a little different transformer, it can replace the normal transformers in the market. So any transformer — a small transformer, I’m not talking about the large transformers on the roads, the distribution transformers. But these are small equipment transformers that you see inside a stabilizer, inside a UPS. That’s a common equipment that I can cite, if you can see a stabilizer, a transformer inside a stabilizer, it’s a stabilizer, which we can — which a toroidal transformer can replace.

A toroidal transformer is a little different in technology, which is high efficient. Sometimes the shape and size can be adjusted to suit the requirement of the customer. These things cannot — it will be having low magnetic noise. These advantages will not be there in a normal EI core traditional transformer. So that’s the difference between a traditional EI core transformer and a toroidal transformer. So the competition, I think there are hundreds of manufacturers of standard traditional transformers in the country.

If you take toroidal transformers, there used to be very few, but now I think a lot of people have started making toroidal transformers also because the whole technology, I think people are converting from the EI core into toroidal transformers because of the high efficiency and the advantages of flexibility in shape and size. That’s the difference between toroidal and the transformers. And the application is wide application, medical equipments, any equipment, that’s a toroidal transformer that is being used.

Sriram RIndividual Investor — Analyst

In that case, you will have a diverse customer base, right, for it — for this transformer?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yeah, it’s very large customer base, yeah.

Sriram RIndividual Investor — Analyst

Okay, okay. Can you name some, sir, few customers on toroidal transformers?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yeah. We think all the large OEMs, we supply, we supply to ABB, Schneider, Eaton.

Sriram RIndividual Investor — Analyst

Okay, okay, thank you.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

There are some petrol pump manufacturers to whom we supply transformers.

Sriram RIndividual Investor — Analyst

Okay, that’s helpful, sir. Thank you so much.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yeah.

Operator

Thank you. Next question is from the line of Anant Chaudhary [Phonetic] from Electrum PMS. Please go ahead.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

Thank you for the opportunity. My question is regarding this EV charging segment. So what would be the EBITDA margins in this segment, sir?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

It’s maybe a little too early for me to give a figure — number on that. But I expect that it should be between 18%, 20%. Because it’s a new technology product, there’s not many players in the field. So I’m optimistic that it will — should give us a 18%, 20% EBITDA margin.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

Okay. Any number on the capacity volume wise, what is the capacity today we have?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

We — right now, we have 100 chargers per month. This is what…

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

100 chargers per…

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Per month.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

Okay. So we are saying that we will do INR500 crore revenue in this thing. So we are going to increase the capacity or we can do this with the existing capacity?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

No. I think existing capacity, we can’t go — I think it can go around INR120 crores, INR150 [Phonetic] crores. For INR500 crores, then we need to invest further.

Unidentified Participant — Analyst

All right, sir. All right, thank you so much.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yeah.

Operator

Thank you. Next question is from the line of Rohit Ohri from Progressive Shares. Please go ahead.

Rohit OhriProgressive Shares — Analyst

Hi, sir, congrats on achieving this target of INR1,000 crore. And glad to hear that long-term shareholders like us are rewarded. Sir, a couple of questions. First of all, we did touch upon the contactors and the relays. So do you think that there is opportunity for Salzer in terms of China Plus 1 or Europe Plus 1? And if there are, then would you like to take us through that?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yeah, good afternoon, Rohit, thank you for your wishes. Yes, I think China Plus 1 is definitely working as an advantage to Salzer and our products, not just the contactors and relays, but overall, as a Company, we are seeing — as a Company, as a country, we are seeing China Plus 1 as a plus. I think in the last two years, at least, we have seen so many companies who have approached us to — given inquiries to buy products, particularly from the U.S. and the Australian markets. And also a lot of foreign companies who have set up facilities within India for manufacturing are also becoming our customers.

So definitely, that is — that’s a continuing story. People want to derisk China and want to get into other manufacturing locations and also they’re scouting for locations. And definitely, I think India is there at the top, along with, of course, other countries like Thailand, Vietnam or Indonesia. So we are seeing growth because of that.

Rohit OhriProgressive Shares — Analyst

Okay. And any number would you like to put in terms of the client addition or maybe the clients who had gone and come back to Salzer and in terms of revenue?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

No, we have — there’s no client that has gone out and come back, but we have got new clients. As I said, the new products that we developed in the last two years for a couple of customers in U.S. have started seeing revenues in March. We — I think this full year, we will see some $1.5 [Phonetic] million revenues from those products from these two clients in U.S. and at least $1 [Phonetic] million from Australia, New Zealand. So these are the new additions that we have got for this year. And I think this will definitely grow in the years coming FY ’25 and FY ’26. How much more new business you will get, if you ask me, that is something that I will not be able to judge and give a number now because the opportunities are coming. So I think we will continue to see good growth if this happens constantly and continuously. That’s what I’m hopeful of.

Rohit OhriProgressive Shares — Analyst

Okay. Sir, we did speak about toroidal transformers and the dry type. And looking at the capacity, I think that we should be at 100% capacity. So are you looking at some debottlenecking that is happening in the plant currently?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

I think this value engineering, debottlenecking is a constant work. So we are doing that constantly. The toroidal transformers or even three phase transformers or a rotary switch or any other switchgear contactor, I think the capacity expansion is quite dynamic. Since it’s — dynamic in the sense, what I mean is like as and when we see that we are touching 80%, 85% capacity utilization, and then we — what we start is we start doing some small expansion and then try to bring it down to 65%, 70%.

So that’s how we have been going because we can’t really go and do a 95% utilization in these machinery, the process and the way that the production is happening, it’s a little bit complicated. So we will not be able to achieve a 95% capacity utilization like in a continuous process industry. It’s not possible in this. So I think at the max, we will be able to achieve around 85% utilization. And then by that time, I think we’ll start doing expansion.

Rohit OhriProgressive Shares — Analyst

Because we have ample of property, which is unutilized in one of the units, I believe, Unit 3 is having 1.5 acres of free land. So I was just gauging if at all, you have any more plants, because the demand is also increasing favoring Salzer and the products that we sell. So maybe…

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yes, yes, yes, yes, land is available. So we can construct building as and when our existing space is fully utilized. So right now, since we have gone to Hosur, I think we would like to fill that up and see how that business grows and that unit gets full. And in the meantime, we are also filling up the spaces within our factories here, and we’ve continued to grow.

Rohit OhriProgressive Shares — Analyst

So the commercial production has started in Hosur because the presentation says that…

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yes, yes, yeah, yeah, in April, it started.

Rohit OhriProgressive Shares — Analyst

Okay. Okay. We did touch up a little bit on the solar sector and the opportunity there. So what sort of revenue can we anticipate because this is the new sector that people are looking at and…

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Which one you’re saying?

Rohit OhriProgressive Shares — Analyst

The solar sector.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Solar sector. Solar sector, we are not — we are actually a Tier 2 indirect supplier to solar renewables. Any solar inverter manufacturer or a solar park that is coming up means there are inverters being used and we supply components to those inverter manufacturers. And it’s a windmill, then we supply components to Danfoss — sorry, Enercon or Siemens Gamesa. These are the companies that we supply products to. So when we see a lot of demand coming for renewable power across the world starting last year. And we see good demand going in for the next two years in these products in India as well as globally. So there are companies, large companies who make products for wind and solar, and we are suppliers to them.

Rohit OhriProgressive Shares — Analyst

Any number you’d like to put for the orders that we have for the solar?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

I think we — actually speaking, we are doing large quantity of three phase transformers for solar. So one of the main reasons that we have grown this 300% last year is, I would say, half of the business came from solar, so half of the growth came from solar. So I think that business continues. Three phase transformers and wire harness will be the primary product that will be — we will be selling to the renewable business.

Rohit OhriProgressive Shares — Analyst

Okay. Sir, one last one from my end. You did mention that in your opening remarks that you have just crossed the first step in the growth story of Salzer and that is growing demand. So is it fair to assume by ’25, ’26, you will be a INR1,500 crore Company? And by ’28, you should be targeting double of the revenue what we are at today?

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

I think over the last 10 years, we have given a 16%, 17% CAGR in sales and in the five years, 18%. Hopefully, we will continue to better that in the coming years.

Rohit OhriProgressive Shares — Analyst

Okay, sir. Sir, that answers the question. Thank you, sir. Thanks a lot.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Yeah, thank you.

Operator

Thank you very much. I now hand the conference over to Mr. Rajesh Doraiswamy for closing comments.

Rajeshkumar DoraiswamyJoint Managing Director

Thank you, Choice, and thanks to all the stakeholders, investors who are here today in the call, taking so much interest and having faith in the Company. Looking forward to meet all your expectations and looking forward to talk to you soon in the next call. Thank you all very much. You all have a great day.

Operator

[Operator Closing Remarks]

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