Ohio-based Lubrizol Corporation recently announced the termination of its processor agreements with Ahmedabad-based Astral Poly Technik Limited for the manufacture and sale of FlowGuard, BlazeMaster and Corzan branded pipes and fittings in India. 

Astral Poly Technik has recently entered into a tie up with Japan’s Sekisui Chemical Co Ltd for supply of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) resin.

According to Lubrizol, Astral Poly Technik Ltd’s recent decision to begin local compounding of material and launch house branded lines of CPVC is in conflict with Lubrizol’s long established and successful CPVC branded business model.  “With termination of this partnership, starting from October 9, 2016, Astral will no longer have access to Lubrizol’s compound or manufacturing assistance, and will no longer be permitted to sell FlowGuard, BlazeMaster or Corzan branded pipes and fittings,” Lubrizol Advanced Material said in a press release.

It adds, “Lubrizol will continue to make its CPVC brands and products available in wide distribution throughout India from other Lubrizol contracted partners.”

At the beginning of August, Astral Poly Technik Ltd announced its tie up with Japanese firm Sekisui Chemical Co Ltd, a $ 10 billion company, to source CPVC resin for hot and cold water plumbing system. This strategic tie up has enabled Astral to go for backward integration into developing its own CPVC compound. Through this tie up, Astral has launched its own brand Astral CPVC PRO for CPVC pipes and fittings for hot and cold water application.

The inventor of CPVC and the owner of the trademarks, Lubrizol, however, will continue to be associated with the other contracted partner in India, Ashirvad Pipes Pvt Ltd. Commenting on this, Mathew Timmons, Managing Director, Lubrizol Advanced Materials India Pvt Ltd said, “Lubrizol is dedicated to supplying the highest quality CPVC products to service the Indian market. Our commitment remains steadfast through our support of processors like Ashirvad Pipes Pvt Ltd who continue to benefit from our more than 50 years of expertise in compounding and manufacturing CPVC.”