“Backed by robust research and development capabilities and the technical expertise of piping systems consultants, billions of feet of Lubrizol’s CPVC piping systems have been installed globally,” says Manoj Dhar, Head of TempRite Engineered Polymers, Lubrizol Advanced Materials India Pvt. Ltd.
The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a technology-driven global company that combines complex, specialty chemicals to optimise the quality, performance and value of customers’ products while reducing their environmental impact. Headquartered in Wickliffe, Ohio, United States, Lubrizol owns and operates manufacturing facilities in 17 countries, as well as sales and technical offices around the world.  Founded in 1928, Lubrizol has approximately 7,500 employees worldwide. 
Among the technologies it produces and supplies, The Lubrizol Corporation is the innovator and world leader in chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) resins and compounds. Its high performance and low-combustibility CPVC technology can be found in FlowGuard Gold® Pipes and Fittings, BlazeMaster® Fire Sprinkler Systems and Corzan® Industrial Systems designed for a variety of applications including plumbing, fire protection and industrial piping. Backed by robust research and development capabilities and the technical expertise of piping systems consultants, billions of feet of Lubrizol’s CPVC piping systems have been installed globally.
Having expanded manifold in India in recent years with its advanced plumbing products and mechanism, Lubrizol manufactures CPVC compound and sells it to its authorised licensee in India, which makes pipe and fittings that are used in the residential as well as industrial applications.
Manoj Dhar talks on the company’s business activities in India and the challenges it faces.
Lubrizol has significant presence in more than 100 countries. How important is the Indian market?Lubrizol has three enduring strategies that have been the foundation for sustainable performance —organic growth, improving operational profitability and efficiencies, and strengthening of our portfolio through complementary acquisitions.
Recognising the tremendous growth potential for CPVC resin and compounding products, Lubrizol is committed to supporting the Indian industry with the necessary technology and manufacturing enhancements.
How the Indian market has responded to your products?Lubrizol CPVC piping systems has created waves in the Indian plumbing market, be it residential or industrial by way of unique product offering commonly known as FlowGuard and Corzan. 
FlowGuard plumbing system is an ideal product for residential housing. Not only has the product helped, but also created a different set of customers who value quality and understand the problems of traditional plumbing. FlowGuard has turned out to be a real friend to plumbers.  It comes with varied features and addresses all of our customers’ needs. Out vast clientele includes architect, builders, contractors, plumbers and other consumers. BlazeMaster fire sprinkler system is a versatile, specified non-metallic sprinkler system option. It also offers corrosion resistance (including resistance to Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion/MIC), superior hydraulics compared to CTS piping products used for plumbing applications, plus high heat tolerances and superior flame and smoke characteristics.
Corzan Industrial Systems have turned out to be an elixir for industries like steel, paper and pulp, power, desalination and waste water management. Corzan and Corzan HP industrial piping systems are made from a non-corrosive, durable CPVC technology that makes them chemically inert to most mineral acids, bases and salts, as well as aliphatic hydrocarbons found in industrial applications, including metal finishing, chemical processing, water systems, wastewater treatment.
Are you planning to enhance your manufacturing capabilities in India?With an aim to increase our footprint In India, we are developing a new CPVC compounding plant and a warehouse. The total investment will be about $40 million. We’ll be setting up these plants either in Gujarat or Maharashtra.
The CPVC compounding plant in India will be expanded during Phase II, to add extra capacity with an additional investment of $15 million.
What are the challenging Lubrizol faces in CPVC plumbing market in India?Poor infrastructure is blight on Indian economy. On top of it, real estate in India is not organised even though its size is $12bn and grows at 30 per cent per annum.
Major challenges faced in plumbing market are slowdown in Indian economy, de-growth of foreign investment in real estate, weak position of Indian rupee against dollar, delay in environmental clearance of projects, hesitation by banks to focus more on home loans to real estate sector and increasing competition from conventional piping systems like GI, PVC, PPRC etc. Lastly, the mushrooming of generic CPVC piping players in the country also poses a challenge.