Hi-Tech Pipes, a major player in the Indian piping industry, contributing to a host of national projects, is planning to expand its production capacity to 2 million tonnes by 2028. Mr. Ajay Kumar Bansal, Chairman & Managing Director, Hi-Tech Pipes Limited, shared this information and much more during an exclusive interaction with Tube & Pipe India.
Tube & Pipe India: Kindly walk us through the illustrious business journey of Hi-Tech Pipes Limited, highlighting major milestones and crucial achievements.
Ajay Kumar Bansal: Hi-Tech Pipes Limited (HTPL) is an NSE and BSE listed company established in the year 1985. From 1988 to 2001, the company commenced manufacturing MS pipes at its Sikandrabad unit 1, where it manufactured cold rolled coils and strips too. From 2001 to 2012, HTPL installed a hot-dipped galvanizing facility, commenced the production of highway crash barriers and began the production of hollow sections and solar mounting sections. Following this, from 2012 to 2016, the company commenced operations at Sanand in Gujarat for the manufacturing of ERW pipes and modernized the Sikandrabad unit’s cold rolling plant. The company also got listed on the NSE-SME. Between 2017 to 2018, HTPL commenced operations at Hindupur in Andhra Pradesh for the manufacturing of ERW pipes and commenced commercial operations for the manufacturing of steel tubes and hollow sections at its unit 2 at Sikandrabad, as well as the Sanand unit in Gujarat. In May 2018, HTPL became the third company to migrate to the NSE Main Board. The company received many accolades from 2018 to 2020, including the Secondary Steel Sector Award from the Ministry of Steel, the Top Performer Award from SAIL, and the Ispat Rachna Award from the Ministry of Steel, Government of India. The company started its third tube mill at Sanand, installed solar plants at Sikandrabad, Sanand and Hindupur units, and started a cold rolling expansion project for wider HRoP, CRCA and CRFH production, within this period. From 2020 to 2024, HTPL commenced operations at Khopoli in Maharashtra, started a continuous galvanizing line at Sikandrabad, got listed on BSE and started the manufacturing of colour-coated coils and sheets. During this period another milestone has been added to our company’s legacy. The recent addition of a new manufacturing facility in Sanand for large-diameter and solar torque tubes marks a significant expansion of our capabilities and commitment to excellence.
TPI: Brief us about your manufacturing set-up and production capacity of your plants?
AKB: With an installed capacity of 7,50,000 metric tonnes and six plants situated in different regions of the country, Hi-Tech Pipes has established itself as a leading manufacturer and supplier of ERW (Electric Resistance Welding) pipes, as well as other products. Our facilities are located in Sikandrabad, UP (2,55,000 MT); Sanand (Unit 1) Gujarat (1,25,000 MT); Hindupur, Andhra Pradesh (1,20,000 MT); Sanand (Unit 2) Gujarat (1,70 000 MT); and Khopoli, Maharashtra (80,000 MT). Further, the company is currently working on two more projects which are estimated to be completed by FY25. This includes a brown field expansion in Sanand Unit-2 and a green field expansion in Sikandrabad, UP. Post these projects the company’s total installed capacity will be at 1 million tonnes by the end of this fiscal year.
TPI: What does the product basket of Hi-Tech Pipes Limited contain? In what sectors do your products find application?
AKB: We have an extensive range of products, which includes ERW steel pipes, hollow sections & tubes, cold rolled coils & strips, road crash barriers, solar mounting structures, GP/GC sheets, color-coated coils, and a variety of other galvanized products.
Our ERW steel pipes are used for water supply, sewage, and drainage systems construction. They also find their use in process piping, machinery, and equipment. Additionally, our ERW steel pipes are extensively used in railway and metro rail infrastructure.
Another product, the hollow sections, is used extensively in building frames, columns, and beams. They are also used for building machine frames, conveyor systems, and storage racks as well as bus and truck frames, and trailer components.
Our tubes are used in handrails, door frames, furniture, heat exchangers, condensers, and evaporators. Our product basket also boasts GP/GC sheets used for roofing and wall cladding. They are widely used in the agricultural sector for making farm sheds, animal enclosures, and irrigation systems.
We also cater to the renewable energy sector where our solar tracker tubes are used for rooftop and ground-mounted installations of solar panels.
Our cold-rolled coils & strips are used in the body panels, door frames, and wheel rims and many more.
TPI: How has Hi-Tech Pipes positioned itself in the highly competitive steel pipes and tubes market?
AKB: We are committed to delivering superior quality products, enriching the lives of our clientele. Our mission is to achieve business excellence through effective utilization of our resources. We uphold sustainable and eco-friendly practices across all our operations, maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards. Embracing entrepreneurship and innovation, we keep pace with the ever-evolving industry.
TPI: Kindly share your observations on key market trends in the Indian tubes and pipes market.
AKB: The Indian tube market is witnessing an year-on-year growth. Many companies have started manufacturing large dia tubes, which can easily replace RCC (reinforced cement concrete) columns. These tubes reduce time required in the manufacturing of a building structure and have better strength. Hi-Tech Pipes manufactures the large dia circular, square and rectangular sections in its plants at Uttar Pradesh & Gujarat, and supplies them to various government as well as private projects in India. The solar sector is an emerging segment in the tube and pipe industry driven by the government’s ambitious renewable energy targets. The Indian government is supporting this emerging sector in big way’s. Hi-Tech Pipes is manufacturing a specialized solar torque tubes required for the solar panels. We are among the first one who have identified this sector as a big opportunity for the steel tubes and pipes industry.
TPI: Please tell us about your esteemed clientele.
AKB: We have successfully developed a versatile portfolio that caters to various industries. Our distinguished clients include Reliance Industries Limited, Indian Oil, Afcons Infrastructure, GAIL (India) Limited, Shapoorji Pallonji Group, DLF India, NCC Limited, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel (AM/NS) India, NTPC Limited, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, Adani Group, Tata Group, etc.
TPI: Hi-Tech Pipes recently started commercial production of color-coated coils. Please tell us more about the product as well as the manufacturing facility producing it. Also please tell us in brief about the New Manufacturing facility Sanand Unit 2.
AKB: Hi-Tech color GC steel sheets are made from high-quality galvanized steel, providing excellent strength, corrosion resistance and high durability. The steel sheets are designed to withstand various weather conditions, including heavy rain, wind and UV radiation. The demand for PPGI sheets is huge in the market. The company has received good response for these products in the market.
The recent addition of a new manufacturing facility in Sanand for large diameter and solar torque tubes marks a significant expansion of our capabilities and commitment to excellence. The facility is fully equipped with latest technology for manufacturing of large dia pipes and solar tracker tubes upto a 1.70 lakhs tonnes per annum.
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TPI: What is your plan for a bright future of Hi-Tech Pipes?
AKB: Our vision and objective is to position Hi-Tech Pipes Limited not only as a well-known brand or a piping solutions provider, but also as a company recognized for its ability and capacity to deliver. Our installed capacity in FY25 will stood at 1 million tonnes. And In the second phase of expansion, we will be doubling our capacity to 2 million tonnes by 2028.
