Kirby India’s journey from a mere manufacturer of PEB to a total solution provider

Kirby Building Systems India Ltd., a subsidiary of Kuwait-based Alghanim Industries, is one of the world’s largest PEB manufacturers. The $2 billion company with total annual capacity of 400,000 tonnes across five different locations (Kuwait, UAE, Hyderabad, Haridwar and Vietnam) has vast experience of serving more than 60,000 customers across the globe since 1976. Kirby Building Systems started the revolution in the construction industry with the introduction of PEB concept in India in 1999. Since then it has gained impetus in the construction industry, and Kirby is leading this revolution with its constant innovation in products and applications thereby setting benchmarks for the PEB industry.

Kirby India has a capacity of 200,000 tonnes per annum with Hyderabad and Haridwar each having an annual capacity of 100,000 tonnes, respectively, thereby making the company a leading player in the Indian PEB market with a market share of over 30 per cent. Kirby India has over 27 sales offices and a network of more than 100 certified builders to cater to the erection procedures as per the international standards. Since its inception, the company has served over 4,500 customers with more than 15,000 buildings spread over an area of 20 million sq. metres. Kirby India has the privilege of partnering who’s who of corporate both from national and international front, operating across all industry segments by setting up their facilities in India and across the globe.

Kirby’s Hyderabad and Haridwar factories are ISO 9001:2008 certified. Kirby India is also a member of Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) and Institute for Steel Development and Growth (INSDAG). The company has also been awarded with British Safety Council membership after meeting their stringent qualifying criteria. The company internal processes and operations are well integrated through SAP, thereby ensuring the best
customer service.

Kirby India’s buildings are designed as per with the norms of AISC, AISI, MBMA, BIS, etc., keeping customers’ requirements in mind. The company uses its proprietary software for design and detailing of PEB structures, in addition to the standard packages which include AutoCAD, STAADPro, ProSteel and Tekla. which allows all the buildings to be customized as per the unique demands of the customers. One of its popular products include KSS-600 (Kirby Standing Seam Panel) roofing system which is having double-lock standing seam ends and completely leak proof. Kirby India is the first PEB company in the country to achieve FM Global approval for its KSS-600 roofing system.

Steel is the preferred material for all prefab structures and PEBs use steel which is more than 90 per cent recyclable. These buildings are cost-effective and energy efficient and provide better quality environment as they are cooler in hot conditions due to the favourable roofing material and natural ventilation. These buildings also help in energy saving due to more amount of natural sunlight through skylights used on the roof of the building, thereby reducing the overall power consumption. Effective usage of insulation material, louvers and other materials also help in making PEB one of the most preferred green buildings. Kirby India supplies its buildings with materials which are easily recyclable and do not use materials that are harmful for the environment. The company is always looking forward to be a part of green buildings and eco-friendly products.

Kirby India has also demonstrated its capability to design and manufacture complex, heavy structures by executing mega projects in the automobile, shipyard, general engineering, infrastructure, logistics and various other industry segments. These big projects require not only the superior design but also excellent project management right from beginning to the end. Kirby India has also successfully ventured into many unexplored territories like power plant structures, bridge girders, shipyard etc. and became the role model for other PEB players by making inroads into these areas and laying the foundation for similar type of projects.

Kirby’s unique projects

• Renault-Nissan, Chennai: World’s single largest PEB at one single location involving over 20,000 tonnes of steel and spread over an area of 300,000 sq. metres
• Pipavav Shipyard Ltd., Pipavav: One of the largest ship building facility built with a height of 40 metres
• Gammon India, Delhi: Pre-engineered steel bridge girder which is one of its type in India for the Commonwealth Games 2010
• Madhucon Projects Ltd, Nellore: Power plant structure (TG building) for its 300 MW thermal power plant with heavy structural columns weighing 17 tonnes each.
• Toshiba-JSW, Chennai: Unique structure consisting of a single 500 tonnes
• Hindusthan National Glass, Nasik: World’s largest container glass manufacturing facility
• Hansen Drives, Coimbatore: World’s largest wind turbine gear box manufacturing facility
• Nipro India, Satara: 90-metre long standing seam roofing system
• Danieli India Ltd, AP: Complex structure with 42 cranes running across different directions
• Delhi Metro, Delhi: First of its type with curved rafters and the first metro rail to use PEB technology
• Bangalore Metro, Bengaluru: Sheeting through reverse rolling
• Suzlon Wind Energy, Mangalore: World’s largest rotor blade manufacturing facility
• S E Forge, Coimbatore: World’s largest foundry
  Sterlite Infratech, Aurangabad: G+6 structure to manufacture optical cable with heavy loading on each floor.

Kirby India also received many recognitions and accolades such as Dun & Bradstreet Infra Award 2013 for the “Best Project” under the category of pre-engineered, Era Fame Awards 2013 for Outstanding Company (Pre Engineered Building), EPC World Award 2013 for the Outstanding Company in Pre-Engineered Building and International Safety Awards 2013 by British Safety Council.

The industry is growing at an average of 10-15 per cent per annum with the market demand pegged at 500,000 tonnes per annum. Due to the increasing demand for these type of structures, Kirby has entered into heavy engineering applications — including offices/ commercial buildings/ high-rise buildings, shopping malls, multiplexes, power plants, oil and gas structures, steel plants,  bridge girders, multi level car parking structures, airport terminal buildings and residential buildings — to cater to growing structural steel demand in the country.

Over the years, Kirby India has evolved from a mere manufacturer of PEB to a total solution provider which is capable of supplying a packaged solution for all building requirements maintaining international standards and fulfilling the entire customer demand. Like a true leader, it has constantly tried to set new standards in the PEB industry. Its buildings have stood the test of time, time and again against all odds — manmade and natural.