Rajkot Engineering body to develop pump cluster

With already an over Rs 500 crore pump industry eyeing a 40 per cent growth, the Rajkot Engineering Association is planning to develop the region as a pump cluster. What's more, the city-based pump industry is setting up a Common Facility Centre (CFC) with the help of The Energy Resources Institute (TERI).

The CFC, a detailed project report (DPR) for which is being prepared by TERI, will provide R&D and testing facility to the small manufacturers of pump.

"We have started the process, beginning with a DPR from the Gujarat Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation Limited (GITCO)," said Bharat Dawada, Cluster Manager at TERI.

 

TERI has already placed the DPR before the Industrial Commissioner of Gujarat and the centre will commence within two years. The total size of the project is estimated to be around Rs 7.40 crore. Out of it 80 per cent funds will be provided by the Centre while the rest will come from industry players.

"With the help of CFC, we are hoping to reach 40 per cent growth from present 20-25 per cent," said Jayesh Patel, managing director of Kiwi Pump, and member of REA pump committee.

Currently, pump manufacturers have to go to private laboratories in Gandhinagar and Vadodara for testing and R&D work which tends to be costly and time consuming. "One time testing cost is about Rs 2200-2500. When the CFC commences in Rajkot the cost will come down by 20-25 per cent. Moreover, this CFC will not only help the pump industry but also the foundry industry in Rajkot," said Dawada. At a turnover of Rs 500 crore, the pump industry in Rajkot is the third largest in the country after Coimbatore and Ahmedabad. The Rajkot-based pump industry comprises of 350 manufacturing units providing direct employment to more than 10,000 people and indirect employment to over 100,000. Moreover, out of 350 units, 30-40 units are large while rests of the units work as small and medium scale units.

In all, Rajkot manufactures 1500-2000 pumps per day.