We already have a stunning bouquet of products that are eco-friendly.

- Animesh Roy

Chief Services & Solutions (Tata Pravesh), Tata Steel

What are the latest trends in steel doors and windows?

Rapid urbanisation, rising middle-class per capita income and increase in residential and non-residential construction activities have helped the industry recover from the COVID 19-related slowdown. Three key trends emerging in the space are:

Implementation of policies to develop eco-friendly buildings: The global windows and doors market is poised to grow exponentially. This is attributable to the increase in new construction, renovation and replacement activities in line with the emerging trends in green building practices. Imposition of certain regulations to ensure the mandatory use of green and energy-saving materials in residential buildings is fuelling the growth of steel doors and windows.

Altering trends in residential construction investment during COVID-19: After the sharp dip in residential constructions amid the pandemic, investment interest in this sector has spiked over the past few months. It has significantly recovered, touching the pre-lockdown levels. This offers significant scope for growth of the doors & windows market.

Growing demand for high-quality doors with minimal maintenance: This strong growth trajectory is a result of the rapidly increasing population and the subsequent increase in residential as well as commercial construction activities. Furthermore, there is rising investment in smart homes and high-quality houses which has led to the accelerating demand for tamper- and fire-resistant steel wall opening solutions with minimal maintenance and long service life.

How is design evolving in doors and windows in residential and commercial buildings?

With the pandemic driving more people indoors, home improvement projects are more popular than ever as homeowners focus on sprucing up their frequented living spaces. Following have emerged as new preferences in product design:

Steel finish doors: This old trend is coming back with a vengeance. Steel finish doors offer a modern, clean look, and it may be a timeless one too if it catches on strongly.

Bold entry doors: Statement doors with stylish patterns are being preferred for an impactful entrance to the home.

Eco-friendly doors: Ecology and sustainability are two common buzzwords of our day. A move towards doors that have low environmental impact - support sustainability while promoting energy efficiency - is a strong trend.  

Sliding doors: They are becoming popular for their space-saving design along with their ability to make a living space more multi-purpose. French doors are also being increasingly demanded for indoor partitions, patio, balcony and other applications.

Anodised aluminium windows: They are popular because they offer a shiny aluminium, the colour is steadfast and will not fade over time.

Larger windows: Homeowners are installing larger windows to bring more natural light into their living spaces. Taller and wider window openings offer that sense of connection with the outside world that so many crave.

What kind of innovative solutions do you provide in doors and windows?

When it comes to doors & windows, wood is the material that most people in India would go for. Historically, wood is the material that has been used and carpenters/contractors - the go to people for doors & windows - always recommend wood. There is very little awareness of materials other than wood apart from MDF, HDPE or PVC which are mostly used for internal doors and for doors of bathrooms and kitchens. Consumers may want to venture outside their comfort zone and try a door made from a
new material.

Be it doors or windows, wooden wall opening solutions involve 8 steps and 6 points of contact - selecting wood and seasoning it (wood supplier), transporting it (labour), constructing the frame, the shutter and installing it (carpenter), selecting & buying accessories (2 retailers) and painting/polishing (painter). With steel wall opening solutions, there are only two steps involved - measurement and installation - and one expert.

Tata Pravesh is a pioneer brand of doors & windows from Tata Steel. Launched in 2016, the brand aims to create a new category - wood finish steel doors & windows. Made in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities from high grade steel, Tata Pravesh products are engineered to perfection and conform to the highest quality standards. Unlike wooden wall opening solutions, Tata Pravesh has unmatched strength, is termite and fire resistant, weatherproof and maintenance-free. While no wood is used in its manufacturing, it has the best of both - the strength of steel and the elegance of wood. With Tata Pravesh, you no longer have to worry about termite attacks, damage by fire, break-ins and periodic maintenance. The products are four times more secure and durable, 12 times smoother and 7 times more resistant to warping than wood. They come with a 5-year warranty and are easy to install. In every which way, Tata Pravesh lives up to its tagline 'Akela Hi Kaafi Hai'.

Tata Pravesh offers strength, style, security and service. It is synonymous with peace of mind thanks to the Tata name and the promise of free delivery and contactless installation (conditions apply) by a wide network of channel partners and a team of trained service providers following all safety and sanitisation protocols. The brand takes the safety of its customers, employees and service partners very seriously. This is why, strict safety protocols are followed at every step of manufacturing, delivery and installation. This includes temperature screening of all personnel, mandatory use of PPEs [(ace masks, gloves), frequent washing of hands with soap/hand sanitiser, sanitisation of tools before and  after installation and adoption of strict  sanitisation protocols at manufacturing plants and dealer outlets.

How do safety and sustainability play a key role in your range of doors and windows?

Tata Pravesh is a product of the future. It is made for tomorrow. Being made from steel, it offers maximum safety and security by virtue of its unmatched strength. In addition to our regular range of doors, we have introduced Z+ Security Solution - fortified doors for high security.

Tata Steel Ltd (TSL) has long been a pioneering enterprise, focused on making tomorrow through its innovative and technologically advanced products, services and solutions. TSL believes in technology and innovation, not as an end in itself, but as a means to promote its agenda of sustainability. Tata Pravesh is shining evidence of this intent.

The one thing that makes steel a material of the future is the fact that it is infinitely recyclable. Steel is the most recycled material in the world. All types of steel can be recycled back into new steel of various grades, keeping their inherent material properties intact. Steel is fundamental to achieving a circular economy because it can be recovered, reused, remanufactured and recycled.

Made of steel, Tata Pravesh wall opening solutions are 100% recyclable, which is why Tata Pravesh is India's first brand of steel doors to have earned GreenPro certification. They look like they are made of wood, feel like wood, sound like wood, yet no trees are cut in their making. That's Tata Pravesh for you - environment-friendly steel doors and windows that keep your home secure with looks that add to your style. Tata Pravesh is made for tomorrow indeed.

How do you look at the future demand trend for doors and windows? What are your future plans?

Sustainability and energy efficiency have rapidly become imperative in business operations across myriad industrial sectors, especially construction. Mounting development of green buildings, increasing renovation and replacement activities, as well as robust adoption of long lasting building materials, will therefore contribute greatly to windows and doors market expansion over the upcoming years.

We already have a stunning bouquet of products that are eco-friendly and, thereby, meet the sustainability needs of the evolving consumer. They are available in embossed wood finish, plain wood finish and plain steel finish. Also available is a premium range of unique wood finish doors - Reflections Natura Series in classic & contemporary styles and French Doors - Lumiere. The windows range includes sliding aluminium windows and steel casement plus swing and slide windows.

We continuously work on enhancing our portfolio in line with evolving consumer needs and intend to foray into complete home solutions like smart kitchen, furniture etc in near future.

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