We are the biggest plumbing goods manufacturer in the country.

-Kairav Engineer,
BDM, Astral Poly Technik Ltd.

Ahmedabad-based Astral Poly Technic is a name that symbolises CPVC plumbing systems for both residential and industrial application. Kairav Engineer shares his view on the piping industry and how Astral Poly Technic is leaving its mark, especially in the plumbing sector.

What is the current status of the pipe industry? Is it growing or stagnant?
The pipe industry is growing; however, due to recent slowdown in the real estate market, the growth has slowed down, but it is still growing in a positive way. The pipe industry was growing at about 20 per cent, but now it is declined to 10 to 12 per cent.

How will the industry grow in the coming years?
As of now, there will be a slowdown till March ’15. We are hoping for things to take positive turn after the next year’s Annual Budget as several areas of real estate market are gearing up.

What are the innovative products you have in your products portfolio?
We are the market leader in CPVC pipes for hot and cold water. In that we have recently launched a new product named FlowGuard Plus, which is a higher grade CPVC compound that will give 25 per cent more pressure rating at higher temperature compared to normal CPVC pipes. We are the first company to introduce CPVC polymer in India in 1999. We also have aluminium CPVC composite pipes called bendable pipes which are good for solar line downtek. Our downtek lines are really high temperature and high pressure so these pipes give composite of plastic and the strength of metal. Recently, we have also launched fire-sprinkler pipes named BlazeMaster pipes which are ISI approved. These pipes are used in fire sprinkler lines in commercial, residential, hotels and hospital projects.

Do you face any challenges catering to the products from low cost segments?
No. We have about 15 products. For the low cost segments, we have the PVC pipes and agricultural pipes. For high-end segments, we have FlowGuard Plus. So we have a product portfolio, ranging from high-end segments to low-end segment.

Any future investment plans?
We usually do the routine capex, and we plough back whatever internal cash approval into the business. Every year, we plough back about ` 60 to 70 crore for the growth.

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Astral acquires Seal It Services
Astral Poly Technik has acquired 80 per cent stake in Seal It Services Ltd., a UK-based manufacturer of adhesives and sealants for Rs. 44 crore. Seal It Services, formed in 2002, has its manufacturing facilities at Elland and operates under the brand name “Bond It”. It is one of the UK’s leading independent manufacturers of sealants, adhesives, waterproofing compounds and other building chemicals. Seal It Services will provide the technology to Astral, to manufacture adhesives locally if required under their international brand name “Bond It”.