Media

Construction Chemical Industry – Face to Face

Nirman Udyog – May 2010

Mr Akhil Kakkar, General Manager (South Asia), M/s Kryton Buildmat Co. Pvt. Ltd. (A Unit of Kryton Group of Companies, Canada) www.kryton.com

NU: Kindly provide a brief profile of your industry segment.
It would be no surprise to say that the construction-chemicals industry is totally dependent on the construction industry. Luckily for India, the construction industry has been growing at an average of 15 to 20 % annually. Even after the recent downturn, with the Indian Government’s decision to allow 100% Foreign Direct Investment into real estate and with the continuously growing number and scale of infrastructure projects, the stated growth average is being maintained. The construction chemical industry in India has grown and matured significantly in the past decade. According to a recent Frost and Sullivan report the market size of the Indian construction chemicals industry in 2006 was 1000 crores and is predicted to grow to 4000 crores by 2013.

NU: According to you what are the strong points of your industry segments and your company?
The constantly growing construction industry in India is the most important strong point for the construction chemicals industry in India. There is also a good outlook for the future of emerging technologies in construction chemicals. Kryton’s technology, our ‘By Your Side’ approach with our customers and the fact that we are a green alternative to regularly-used petroleum-based products are our strongest points. All of our clients have realized the multiple advantages of using our innovative cost-effective construction chemicals.

NU: According to you what are the grey areas in your industry segment?
The construction chemicals market in India is restrained by the low end-user awareness it faces. Although consumers, i.e. builders, developers and construction companies, are beginning to recognize the significance of using innovative construction chemicals for infrastructural work, construction, maintenance and repair.

NU: What actions are needed to make your industry more vibrant and deliver better benefit to the society? How does Kryton help?
For the Indian construction chemicals industry, it is important for the Indian construction industry to move towards green and environment-friendly technologies to better benefit the society. Vibrant moves have already been taken. An example of this would be the formation of the ‘Indian Green Building Council’ by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII). Kryton’s integral crystalline technology is a green alternative to common external-membrane products that are often petroleum based and are typically applied with adhesives with high volatile organic compounds. Our company offers products that are a significant solution to today’s “green building” requirements. Kryton’s integral crystalline technology, Krystol®, creates strong, waterproof, environmentally-safe concrete.

NU: Please highlight any typical issue related to your industry segment?
I think one typical issue could be the inadequacy in the quality standards of application and manufacturing of construction chemicals. Due to this inadequacy some market participants in the construction chemicals industry face price wars which sometimes results in substandard products and customer dissatisfaction.

It is important for construction companies, builders, developers, and consultants to use products of construction chemical companies that have high standards of manufacturing and quality-control and have a global history of success and customer satisfaction, like Kryton.

NU: As CIDC is working in HRD of Construction Industry in a big way, kindly specify an action(s) for CIDC for your Industry segment.
I would suggest developing a workable strategy for creating awareness of new innovations and technologies in the construction chemicals industry to construction companies, builders, developers, and consultants.