Use of prefabrication technology is still limited. Nilesh Jadhav, Founder, INPOD, shares how the uses and benefits of high-quality prefab structures can be increased
What difficulties do you face while constructing the porta cabins?For us, at INPOD, dealing with an entirely new concept in the space meant we spent a lot of time focusing on product development so that we got our specifications just right.
Prefabrication technology is not transferred as easily as other technologies. The technology at INPOD is of epoxy resin which is far superior and not used by many manufacturers here. I did not want to bring a new technology into the market as people are rather disinterested in technology. I wanted to bring a superior product into the market that people can understand. Still awareness and education on uses and benefits of high-quality prefab structures is lacking.
Also for us, while developing INPOD, we decided to look at the luxury category. There are very few who work with the epoxy resin system as it is expensive. However, it is the best system to combat salt water and corrosion. It is the strongest as compared to other prefab materials. It is also earthquake and fire resistant. In the long run, consumers should know that with their investment in INPOD, the value will be greater.
What are the pros and cons of the porta cabins?The uses of porta cabins are varied. Sectors like PSUs, government departments and ministries, defence establishments and diplomatic missions, major private sector companies, elite schools, big hospitals, top hotels, biggest builders and airline companies can be consumers.
For many years, porta cabins and the technology used in their manufacture have been limited. It is only now that builders, engineers, and architects are adapting this technology in the manufacturing (construction) of conventional dwellings.
In fact, we have gone one step further and made a product that users can chose according to his requirements. It will do away with having someone else control how big your office or house should be, and how it should be built. In this sense, INPOD is truly a consumer product.
Scalability and true portability seem to be the other two constraints of portable structures in our country along with assembly and delivery time. INPOD is the only luxury product that is portable and can be relocated simply by our specially trained team. Also, there is a never prolonged mess of materials or labour at your site.
While durability of porta cabins maybe a concern, INPOD is tested to withstand natural calamities as well as being fire resistant and able to combat corrosion. However, this gives our product unmatched quality with a lifespan of over 70 years for the materials we use. Thus we can still maintain the look and feel of being brand new.Is it economical to use porta cabins for the projects?Companies that are starting projects and need a project site office with minimal construction would find these structures economical. Building concrete structures are time consuming and problematic and have to be broken down once the project is complete. INPODS are designed to be movable and easily set-up. This considerably decreases cost.
Recently, we had one of our builder clients come to us saying that he had sold over 100 flats in one month even before he had started construction on his site. He saved his money of building a sample flat and instead used one of our INPOD site offices. It also was ready and installed in a much shorter time so he could start his sales immediately. He can now also reuse his INPOD office module at his next site whenever he likes.
The concept of reusability is important as this makes our product less impact on resources and more value for money. We envision supporting consumers to resell their INPOD as low-cost housing for those who need them.
What makes your porta cabins different from others?Our INPODs are a new modular building system, not yet seen in India. These are built using INSKIN, a unique composite building material. This is used in creation of yachts and floating homes in Germany. This material lends qualities like crack resistance, extreme robustness, and a tactile, hygienic surface.
We wanted to bring a superior product to the market that matched what was being used internationally. Conventional porta cabins in India look mediocre. Germany, which was genesis of our technology, has high-end houses built out of prefab materials. Given the fact that demand for luxury products and projects are on the rise in India, our pods match in look and feel.
We use only top of the line accessories for our pods. These include Jotun/Nippon, floor coverings by Egger/Laminam, joinery and sealants by Bostik, bathroom equipment by Grohe, sanitary ware by Duravit, and plumbing supplies by John Guest. INPOD structures can continuously be modified to suit its users’ needs with minimum effort and disruption. We do not want our customers to feel as if their portable offices are 2nd grade, but one that is rooted in class and luxury. In fact, it is possibly a better alternative.
What is the rate of demand of porta cabins in the market?It is true that we are still at a nascent stage in India. Conventional products still get preference and the range of uses of high-end prefab structures has not been explored. However, the concept is not entirely new, and there is tremendous growth potential. The discerning buyer is looking for high-quality products. Internationally, a lot of constructions are done with prefab materials and individuals will become comfortable once they see it over time in offices and commercial spaces. We, at INPOD, are optimistic on the demand in this sector.