Eureka unveils new water purification tech

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Madras and Eureka Forbes Limited, a leader in the domestic water purifier market, have found an environmental-friendly solution to pesticide contamination in water.

Eureka Forbes, part of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, has successfully transformed and fine-tuned the technology invented by T Pradeep, professor at IIT-M, as a component fitted into its new model 'Aquaguard Total'.

While the company has an exclusive licensing arrangement with the institute for using the nano-particle technology-based 'Urgentum Nano Fresh' blocks in domestic water purifier products, it is now approaching the institute authorities for similar arrangement for large-scale industrial applications, such as softdrink and mineral water industries.

S K, senior vice-president (marketing) of Eureka Forbes, said the company would also retrofit the component to the water purifiers already in use. The new model, Aquaguard Total, is priced at Rs 9,590.

IIT-Madras is expected to gain from the deal through royalty of 1 per cent, which amounts to Rs 15 per block sold by the company.

"We expect to sell close to 16,000 blocks per month. Once the product is popularised, the number will further go up because it requires to be replaced for approximately after one year," P J Reddy, Eureka Forbes, the consultant involved with the new product, told Business Standard.

Eureka Forbes achieved a turnover of Rs 850 crore turnover last year, with the water purifier business accounting for 60 per cent, according to Palekar.