<p>Rajkot-based pump makers are planning to bring uniformity in the design of submersible pumps made here. With the help of the Rajkot Engineering Association, the pump industry is setting up a common facility centre (CFC), where pump testing and R&D work will be done. According to pump industry players, the initiative will make small pump manufactures stronger and help them grow faster.
“We will develop a common design for submersible pumps for the Rajkot-based industry. After completing our CFC we will start research and development work there,” said Jayesh Patel, director of REA Pump Testing and Research Centre, who is also managing director of Kiwi Pump.
Of the project cost of Rs 7 crore, about 70 per cent will be borne by the Central government as cluster development, while 20 per cent will be provided by the state government. The remaining funding will be provided by industry players.
“Our sub-lease issue with GIDC is almost over and we have received a positive reply from the government side and this project will be completed within the next two years. After that, we will develop the R&D centre in the CFC, where we have also planned to develop a common design for submersible pumps,” said Patel.
Last year, The Energy and Resources Institute had also conducted various programmes for the development of Rajkot as a pump cluster.
“A similar model has already been implemented in the pump industry in Coimbatore. We visited it and studied it in detail and then decided to adopt it,” Patel said.
“The uniform design will benefit small pump-makers as well as buyers, because it will reduce the cost of manufacturing,” said Dharamshi Bedia, managing director of Silver Engineering Private Limited.
