Forging Ahead Inorganically

Two main types of plastic pipes are sold in the country. The first is PVC pipes - the kind that Finolex and Supreme Industries have made a name for themselves in. Then there is another kind of pipe - the CPVC or chlorinated PVC pipe, which undergoes a process that makes PVC pipes more heat resistant than traditional PVC pipes. The most common place where CPVC pipes are used is in hot- and cold-water applications. Astral has made a name for itself in the CPVC pipe segment. Astral Poly Technik was formed in 1996. The company introduced CPVC pipes in 1999, bringing CPVC products for the first time into the country. It took another turn in 2004 when it started producing lead-free PVC pipes. Down the years, Astral has acquired a couple of companies and licences that today promise to push the company forward, both in terms of technology and network reach. Growth drivers Tie-ups with global technology majors: CPVC is a licensed product of the US-based Lubrizol Corporation. There are only two companies that are Lubrizol's licensees of CPVC in India - Astral and Ashirvad Pipes. On top of that, Astral is the only company in the world to receive licences for four CPVC products from Lubrizol. This gives Astral a huge push ahead of the competition. Astral also has tie-ups with Speciality Process Systems and Harvel, both US-based companies, to utilise their technology in the manufacture of PVC and CPVC pipes. It has other tie-ups like those with IPS Corporation to manufacture solvent cement for pipes and fittings and with UK-based Seal It Service

This article was originally published on May 21, 2015.