We’ve successfully created a standalone, niche positioning in the saturated market of two leading brands and innumerable cost,” emphasises Kaushal Mehta, Joint Managing Director, Walplast Products Pvt. Ltd.

Walplast holds commanding position in India’s wall putty industry, being one of the largest manufacturers. In an exclusive interview with B2B Purchase, Kaushal Mehta shares what makes Walplast so innovative and their future strategies

Started business in 2004, Walplast has gained significant share in the specialty construction chemicals market. How did it happen?

In our business, the growth is extra-ordinary. We are the third largest putty producer and occupying better positioning among the customers. It has happened due to the great vision, passion and structured approach of the CMD Ashok Mehta.

How did you manage to compete with already established multinational players?
We’ve successfully created a standalone, niche positioning in the saturated market of two leading brands and innumerable cost. The unorganised sector is riding mainly on enhancing the quality, positioning, service, and transparent and fair working.

Discuss about your production capacity and facility.
We have fully automated plant imported from China, commissioned in Vapi, Gujarat. The facility includes sand dryer, multi sieve for exact gradation of sand, Silo’s for storage of sand and cement, mixer and automated packing machine. This is a batch process, controlled by fully automated PLC without any manual operation. Its installed capacity is 250 tonnes per day.

How do ensure and maintain the quality of your raw-materials and end-products?
Being an ISO 9001-2008 certified, we keep proper control over the quality of raw material. Every raw material is thoroughly checked for all its property in QA lab. Polymers that we used are all imported from well-known leading companies from Germany, Taiwan etc. End products are tested as per ASTM and EN standard. For tile adhesives, we have ISI certificate and hence tested as per IS 15477 for all its properties.

What is the year-on-year growth you achieved so far?
We are in the expansion mode which has almost come to near conclusion in putty segment. Now we are consolidating ourselves in putty as well as other product verticals. Our installed capacity was 5,000 tonnes in Vapi in 2006. Today we’ve factories with a total installed capacity of about 30,000 tonnes per month in six locations. The year-on-year growth of last 2 years in sales will be around 40 per cent against the industry average of 25 per cent.

What is your current turnover and how much you are targeting this year?
Walplast Group’s turnover in putty business is around Rs. 450 crore. This year, we are expecting to continue our growth at 40 per cent.

Is there any drop in demand?
No there is no drop in demand so far.

Are you planning to venture into other specialty chemicals verticals?
Yes, we may be realigning ourselves and would like to be known as building material company.

What are your plans for next 5 years?
Our vision is to triple the current level of activities, production, sales and profitability.

Advantages of ready-mix plasters

• Different grades of sand used in exact proportion, ensuring the compactness in plaster, hence no penetration of rain water
•  Negligible silt and inorganic plaster ensures the strong adhesion and durability
• De-bonding losses are negligible
  Chances of crack formation are negligible subjected to proper curing and application
  
•  Due to dry sand, water to cement ratio is easily maintained and full strength of plaster is obtained
•  Sand to cement ratio is maintained as Easyplast is made in automated plant
•  Being a polymer based, results in to overall durability.Benefits of using ready-mix tile adhesive
• Excellent bonding to base plaster/concrete even at 2-mm thickness
• Water resistant and can be used on new as well as old walls and floors
• As the workability is good, easy to use at site
  Durable, no curing required which saves time and very much cost-effective.

Different ready-mix tile adhesive

• Easyplast Ready-mix Tile Adhesive Silver Star: general purpose for ceramic tiles
• Easyplast Ready-mix Tile Adhesive Gold Star: higher grade tile adhesive for vitrified tile
• Easyplast Ready-mix Tile Adhesive Platinum Star: White cement based tile adhesive for marble, granite and glass tiles