Kabra Extrusiontechnik (KET) is a part of the renowned Kolsite Group, delivering high performance extrusion solutions since 1962. With over 6 decades of experience, more than 15,700 installations, and a presence in more than 105 countries in the Americas, Middle East, Asia, and Africa, they have two manufacturing facilities in Daman over a combined area of 83820 sq. m. In a recent interaction with Tube & Pipe India magazine, Mr. Atanu Maity, CEO- Extrusion Division, Kabra ExtrusionTechnik, talked about his company, product portfolio, and market footprint. He also shared his views on the current market scenario and the company’s future plans.
Tube & Pipe India: Please provide a brief overview of your company including its history, mission, and values.
Atanu Maity: We are a 60-year-old group diversified into a machinery group, master batch group, and other plastic products. Our company is quite old, running across multiple generations and has been one of India’s pioneers in the plastic machinery and the plastic product business. I represent the machinery group, the plastic machinery group, which is primarily based on the extrusion of plastics. Our mission is very clear. We are here to maintain a long-term relationship with our customers which is necessary for sustaining in the Indian market. If you have to be a long-term player, integrity, commitment, and trust, are the main foundations of business in a place like India. What sets us apart from our competitors is that customer satisfaction is most important to us. We’re a respected brand driven by the belief that every purchase should be a positive experience.
TPI: Kindly walk us through your manufacturing setup and production capacity.
AM: We have been evolving our manufacturing setup aggressively. Currently, we have two manufacturing facilities in Daman with a combined area of 83820 sq. m. Our unit number 1 makes all of the pipe-related machinery and can manufacture approximately 200 to 300 pipe machinery units per year. Unit number 2 manufactures film plants with a production capacity of approximately 150 to 2000 units per year.
TPI: What is the USP of Kabra ExtrusionTechnik’s products? Tell us about your product line and market footprint.
AM: Our USP is superior technology. We have been basing our products on certain collaborations with German and Austrian companies. The other USP is that we are adopting and innovating to the Indian market requirements. Today to succeed, you need a fundamental, which is if you don’t innovate and adapt to Indian technology, your products will not be reliable or durable for the Indian conditions. Furthermore, we customize the products as per the customer’s demand. We export our diverse range of products to over 105 countries in Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. Our product basket includes blown film lines, twin screw PVC pipe extrusion lines, PE pipe extrusion lines, sheet extrusion lines, auto feeding systems, etc.
TPI: How do you stay ahead of the curve in terms of product development and innovation?
AM: We invest heavily and aggressively in research and development. We have one of the largest R&D teams in the plastics machinery industry with more than 45 dedicated engineers working in different areas of processing, manufacturing, application development, design, controls, and automation. Our R&D facilities have been recognized by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India. We strive to manufacture long-term reliable, and durable products. We aim to manufacture the best machines that can run for long periods continuously with our unwavering focus on integrity and quality.
TPI: Kindly comment on your new developments.
AM: Oriented PVC (OPVC) is one of the latest products available in the plastic market. It is seen as the rival of ductile iron pipe in terms of strength and volume with the additional benefit of being cheaper than metal. Plastic has its advantages. It is lighter in weight, long-lasting, and cheaper than the metal pipes available in the market. Since the world is now focusing on recycling, companies like us are adapting our technologies to make use of recycled material. The hardware, the electronics, everything has to be changed to adapt to, and the metallurgy has to be changed for the use of recycled material.
TPI: Please shed some light on the current scenario of the tube and pipe market in India and globally. How do you perceive the industry’s future?
AM: In India, development is happening rapidly and the pipe industry is going through a transition with an expected 10 percent CAGR over the next 10 years. There’s an increase in private consumption, construction, and gas distribution. Additionally, government projects are also aiding in the growth of the pipe sector. Our community, which is the Plastic Manufacturers Association of India, has taken it as a mandate for adopting ‘Make in India’ to avoid disruptions in the supply chain and quality due to the geopolitical events. India is capable of manufacturing good quality products. As compared to last 10 years, there has been a shift in customers’ preferences as well. People are willing to pay extra and support the ‘Make in India’ initiative boosting the domestic demand. The industry is moving towards a more sustainable model.
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TPI: What are your vision and plans for the future?
AM: For the next 2-3 years we will be busy with the OPVC, other larger models, and different types of combinations in film including multiple layers, 7 layers, and 9 layers. Our goal is to move towards acquiring the European type of machinery because, in the film, there’s a lot of market that the Europeans have captured in the larger premium segment. As Indians, we must fight to capture the market with the right technology and quality. We are committed to demonstrating our leadership in our chosen field of business by focusing all our actions toward customer satisfaction and making significant contributions to his success. Our mission is to meet customer’s needs in a sustained manner by use of cutting-edge technology and innovation, quality, and efficient support.
