Astral strives to have a curated range of innovative solutions designed to meet the customer requirements.

- Saumya Engineer

Vice President, Business Development, Astral Adhesives

How is the construction chemicals market evolving in India?

The construction chemicals industry in India has had a different trajectory as compared to the world in the last few years. The demand for chemicals such as concrete admixtures, adhesives, sealants, and waterproofing has been strong due to an increase in awareness about the long-term advantages of building chemicals. The industry had been limited to a few players until recent years, but with the entry of new firms especially paint companies, there has been an accelerated expansion of this category in the last five years.

The growth has to be attributed to increased awareness, healthy growth in the construction activity across India and also the increasing FDI investment. All these factors have been supported by the government with new policies and have been pivotal for increased demand. The industry has grown at a CAGR of more than 12% in the last five years and is expected to grow at more than 7% in the next five years.

What are the new solutions from Astral in construction chemicals?

Astral has always endeavored to provide a comprehensive range of solutions to the customers for the whole structure. With retail segment and mid-size projects being the larger focus of the company, we have come up with innovative products in the segment of cement additives and exterior surface coatings with newer chemistries and class-leading performance. Our recently launched Rooftect and Walltect range of coatings for terraces and exterior walls are quite innovative offerings with class-leading performance. While all other companies mention only waterproofing and insulation, our product range performs on attributes important for the protection of the structure and being a 'blister-free' technology. Due to the high breathability properties of the coating as compared to the standard waterproof coating available in the market ensures that the product sets high standards on performance and durability.

On the other hand, in the segment of cement additives, we have CPS 111 Concrete Porosity Sealer, which has been developed based on a unique 'Silicate based' chemistry. It drastically reduces pores in final concrete when used as an additive. This unique technology maintains higher pH of the concrete to provide a base environment for the steel so that all the reinforcements are protected from corrosion which in turn increases the durability of the concrete. The product performs above and beyond any competing product in its class while also being much safer to use by the contractors at the site.

Which are the major application areas and demand drivers for your range of construction chemicals?

In the current construction chemical industry, the major application areas are the surfaces which are exposed to water ingress namely terraces, exterior walls and bathrooms. These surfaces are of the most concern for retail consumers since they are the largest source of waterproofing-related problems. In metros and mini-metros where the high-rise buildings are the major part of the new development, basements, podiums, terraces and bathrooms are major surfaces that require the use of construction chemicals.

Apart from these, the one segment which is seeing great adoption in the construction industry is tile adhesives. With the increasing usage of tiles in new constructions and renovations, the adoption of specially formulated tile adhesives is rapidly increasing in the Indian market.

What are the key R&D initiatives?

A robust assessment of R&D can help companies understand how their performance compares to others and focus investment where it matters the most. Astral Adhesives has always striven to develop innovative solutions in the segment of construction chemicals. In the coatings range of Rooftect & Walltect products, apart from having the industry standard features, our special formulation provides 'blister-free' performance to the products. The range has higher water-vapour transmission, higher elongation, and excellent surface bond strength compared to other products in the same class. These are attributes which lead to the excellent durable performance of our products in real life.

As part of our Drive to Innovation, the R&D at Astral has successfully tested new hybrid chemistry-based products which would be able to provide excellent waterproofing and protection while exhibiting high durability and easy-to-apply features. At the core of all the innovation is to develop all these solutions as 'Green Products' and be responsible towards the environment.

Do you manufacture these products in India? How is the demand?

All the products of Astral Adhesives are manufactured in India. We currently have three plants, one in Gujarat and two in Uttar Pradesh that serve our customers across India.

Astral has customer satisfaction at the centre of all product development. What the customer seeks are accurate and effective solutions assisted by excellent customer service to prevent any hassles in the future. A small step in this direction by Astral was to introduce 'instant warranty' on many products. We also have a team of technical experts to provide expert advice and resolution to any queries from the customers. These services help the customer to make informed decisions with complete trust and confidence.

How are policies such as PLI and Make in India pushing the growth of construction chemicals market in India?

Make-in-India and the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) have become the fundamental stepping stones to shaping India as an efficient, equitable and resilient manufacturing hub. Make in India aims to promote investment, encourage innovation, enhance skill development, protect intellectual property and create best-in-class manufacturing infrastructure in the country.

The Make-in-India campaign by the Government of India has given manufacturing an impetus, and the investments made in infrastructure, healthcare, and electronics, amongst others, are already bearing fruit.

In the Union Budget 2021-22, an outlay of Rs 1.97 lakh crore for the PLI schemes for 13 key sectors was announced to create national manufacturing champions and generate employment opportunities for the country's youth. This means that minimum production in India as a result of these schemes is expected to be over US$ 500 billion in five years.

India already has a massive domestic market, the largest pool of workers across diverse  skill categories, and its industrial ecosystem is maturing which making it a viable option for investment and growth. Both Make in India and PLI have the potential to be transformation multipliers.

Make in India and PLI make for the single largest manufacturing initiative undertaken by a nation in recent history. Indian sectors need to leverage this opportunity with vitality, optimism, and a global quality mindset to usher in a new economic era.

What opportunities do you look forward to for your products and solutions in future?

In the foreseeable future, the construction chemical industry will be becoming a pure solution and service-driven industry. Keeping this vision in mind, Astral strives to have a curated range of innovative solutions designed to meet the requirements of its customers. It will be supported with excellent service both on post-application services by creating a trained group of professionals who can execute the application of products.

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