Ahmedabad-based Chlorinated Poly Vinyl Chloride (CPVC) piping and plumbing manufacturer Astral Poly Technik Limited has commenced the expansion of its plant. | |
| While the first phase of the expansion will end by April 2007, the second one will end by June 2008. The company is expanding its operations to include manufacturing of fire sprinklers under the brand name of 'Blaze Master'. |
| |
| Blaze Master belongs to Noveon Inc. of USA, a global producer of specialty chemicals and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lubrizol "" a $4 billion global specialty chemical company. |
| |
| Noveon is the only producer of CPVC fire sprinklers and has signed a licence agreement with Astral Poly Technik to manufacture and market its Fire Sprinkler System under the brand name of 'Blaze Master'. |
| |
| With the licence agreement Astral becomes the fifth licensee of Noveon Inc. for CPVC fire sprinklers and the first licensee for industrial pipes, plumbing pipes and fire sprinklers. |
| |
| Speaking on the licence, Peter Clough, Business Director (Europe, ME&A, South Asia), Noveon, said,"We have four licensees for our three applications but Astral becomes the first licensee to acquire the right to manufacture and market all our three applications. Since CPVC fire sprinkler systems come in three types viz. High Hazard, Ordinary Hazard and Light Hazard, we have seen that almost 50 per cent of the Indian market is for LH, which is used in hotels, hospitals, and residences." |
| |
| On the plant, Sandeep Engineer, Managing Director, Astral Poly Technik Ltd., said, "The market size of fire sprinklers in India itself is Rs.300-400 crore and is bound to grow. The plant will now help us to manufacture and market all kinds of CPVC pipes like hot water pipes, cold water pipes, underground pipes, sewage treatment, industrial pipes for hazardous chemicals, plumbing and now fire sprinklers. When we launched in 1998, CPVC pipes were costlier than galvanised pipes but with metal prices soaring in 2-3 years, it is much cheaper and wiser to opt for CPVC pipes." |
| |
| Engineer said that with infrastructure development and realty boom, fire sprinkler market will be revolutionised in the country. |
| |
| "Like USA and UK, if government regulations favour the use of fire sprinklers then the prospect is high for CPVC fire sprinkler systems. Also, the realty boom has come at the right time. Since 5-6 years we were busy making people aware of CPVC piping and plumbing systems. Now that they are aware and the real estate is booming, people are bound to opt for our fire sprinklers," said Engineer. |
| |
| The company has already registered sales of Rs.42.48 crore for FY06-07 (till Sept) as compared to annual sales of Rs 53 crore for FY05-06. It has already initiated talks to market 'Blaze Master' at several parks and SEZs coming up in the state. |
| |
| "The companies that will come up at these SEZs and parks will demand international standards for fire safety and this is where we will enter. The state is going to see a market rise by Rs 45-50 crore in the next two years," said Engineer. |
| |
|
| |
