Sandeep Engineer - Manufacturer Speaks.pmd - Ipt.co.in

INDIAN PLUMBING TODAY
MANUFACTURER SPEAKS
THE ‘PIPED’ MUSIC
Mr. Sandeep Engineer always believed in realising his goals that
not only led him to introduce piping & plumbing systems with ecofriendly
technology in the country, but his focus and principles also
influenced many. With a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering,
he possessed extraordinary interests in polymers and its technology
right from his youth days. After giving 8 years to his pharmaceutical
business of bulk drugs, he still craved for diversification. After delving
into market research in polymer processing, he approached Lubrizol
— a Fortune 500 Company of USA and pioneer in patented
Chlorinated Poly Vinyl Chloride (CPVC) polymers, used in piping
industries. This tie up came to establish Astral Poly Technik Pvt.
Ltd., the first licensee in India for manufacturing CPVC piping
systems.
He talks about his journey with Mr. Kamal Khokhani, Publisher-
IPT. He believes in right planning and right execution, a must for
ensuring things in the right place and maintaining consistency
throughout operations. He reveals the much-talked about
technology used behind Astral CPVC system and its promising
features. Here are the excerpts:
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INDIAN PLUMBING TODAY
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Please share broadly with our
readers about the journey of
Astral Poly Technik from its
inception in 1999 to the stature
where it stands today?
Astral Poly Technik Limited is a
manufacturer and provider of CPVC
and PVC piping and plumbing
systems in India since 1999. Astral
is the first licensee of Lubrizol, USA
(formerly known as Noveon Inc,
USA) to manufacture and market
CPVC piping and plumbing systems.
With a concept of providing a onestop
source for all the plastic piping
systems, Astral began trading in
products, such as CPVC and PVC
fittings, flanges and valves from
Spears (USA), solvent cements
(adhesive solutions) for joining
pipes and fittings from IPSC (USA),
underground specialty fittings from
Hunter (U.K) and CPVC and PVC
plastic pipes of a larger diameter
from Harvell Inc. (USA).
The company began with a team
of just five, but today it has over
450 employees. Innovative product
designs and improvements,
new technologies, and a fullyintegrated
manufacturing system
are all a part of Astral’s ongoing
commitment to quality, satisfaction
and service.
Please tell us about technological
and chemical parameters of CPVC
pipes & fittings and what impacts
do they leave on health?
CPVC is PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
that has been chlorinated via a free
radical chlorination reaction. This
reaction is typically initiated by
application of thermal or UV energy
utilising various approaches. In the
process, chlorine gas decomposes
into free radical chlorine, which
then reacts with PVC in a postproduction
step, essentially
replacing a portion of the hydrogen
in the PVC with chlorine.
Depending on the method, a varying
amount of chlorine is introduced
into the polymer allowing for a
measured way to fine tune the final
properties. The chlorine content
may vary from manufacturer to
manufacturer; the base can be as
low as PVC 56.7% to as high as 74%
by mass, although most commercial
resins have chlorine content from
63% to 69%. The chlorine content
in CPVC is increased, its glass
transition temperature (T g
)
increases significantly. Under
normal operating conditions, CPVC
becomes unstable at 70% mass of
chlorine. Various additives are also
introduced into the resin in order
to make the material processable.
These additives may consist of
stabilizers, impact modifiers,
pigments and lubricants.
What type of certifications Astral
pipes & fittings has achieved?
Astral is the only pipe
manufacturing company in India
having prestigious quality
certifications from National
Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and
Bureau of Indian standards (BIS).
Apart from these, Astral pipes are
approved by BMC, CPWD, DGMAP
etc. Astral pipes are regularly tested
by CIPET, CBRI-Roorkee, Shriram
institute at regular intervals.
How do you explain these pipes’
suitability for hot and cold water
supply to a common man?
The booming construction industry,
especially in the housing and
commercial building sector, has
fuelled high demand for cost
effective, reliable, quality piping and
plumbing systems. The choice of
piping systems for water utilities is
based on overall long-term value.
They must deliver on factors like
long term costs, reliability,
versatility, environmental effect,
drinking water safety and public
health. CPVC piping system is the
ideal choice, for its corrosion
resistant, fire resistant, durable,
smooth, friction free, resistant to
bacterial growth and environment
friendly features. The cold welding
using CPVC solvent is fast and
simple, and ensures leak free
installation for the entire life span
of the piping system.
The CPVC system is four times
quieter than copper plumbing
systems, reducing not only the
sound of running water, but also the
pounding noise of the water
hammer. Its thermoplastic
properties provide excellent
insulation and virtually eliminate
sweating and condensation. It keeps
hot water hotter and cold water colder
than copper plumbing. There is minimal
energy loss through pipe walls, saving
money on heating and cooling.
The excellent qualities of CPVC Pipes
make them ideal for a wide range of
applications, such as hot and cold
water distribution in residential,
industrial and public projects. They
are apt for carrying drinking water
and food liquids; water and
wastewater treatment systems;
transportation of chemical and hot
corrosive fluids, which includes a
wide variety of inorganic acids,
bases used in chemical processing.
These qualities render them fit for
use in industries, like metal
finishing, plating and treatment,
pulp and paper, air pollution
control, mining, aerospace, textile,
food and beverage processing, fire
sprinkler piping and municipal
projects. These are also preferred as
high tension cable protection pipe
for electric net improvement, solar
heating, central heating and radiant
floor heating application.
How does NSF approved solvent
cement with low Volatile Organic
Compound (VOC) contribute
towards the concept of green
building solutions?
We take great care to quantify and
constantly research and improve the
environmental impact of our
products both during installation as
well as for the duration of their life
expectancy. Not only do we make it
our mission to keep on top of any
innovations in plastic systems/
materials, changes in standards and
regulations, we lead the industry in
setting the standard and offer the
best solutions for the job and the
environment. As a case in point,
IPS Corporation was the first to
develop and offer low VOC (Volatile
Organic Compound) emission
products to the plastic industry.
Our products are environmentally
superior, as these meet SCAQMD
Rule1168/316A VOC emission
limits and with reduced odour
provide comfort and well-being of
pipe-installers. Low VOC emissions
contribute to cleaner air. Our
products are qualified for use in
applications such as potable water,
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turf, irrigation, pool, industrial, fire
protection, conduit, DWV, and/or
sewer. These also meet ASTM
standards for solvent cements and
primers used for plastic pipe
installation; and are LEED
Compliant (Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design).
SCAQMD Rule 1168 as a benchmark
to qualify one credit toward LEED
certification for green building.
How do you envisage the growing
market in the country with the
focus on building industry as
related to your product segment?
Mr. Warren Edward Buffett recently
quoted that the realty sector will
grow at the tremendous speed in
next coming years. The company
with its vast product range and huge
capacity has bright chances in
coming days.
How well Astral is equipped with
in-house facilities to ensure and
meet standards and performance
requisites at all stages of production?
We have world-class Quality
Assurance laboratory with latest
and ultra-modern equipment for
quality checking. We also have
latest extrusion technology and
injection moulding machines for
standard production and quality.
The foremost important fact is that
our products compete in the global
market.
Apart from CPVC pipes & fittings,
which are the other products
Astral deals into?
We are producing uPVC pipes and
fittings, SWR system, complete
underground drainage system,
composite pipes, CPVC pipes &
fittings for fire fighting, and
industries, foamcore multi-layer
pipes, column pipes, and sanitary
products.
Piping materials are normally
back-of-the-wall products. Any
plans of entering front-of-the-wall
product segment?
We are already with ALCA PLAST
sanitary products, some are in
process and very soon, we will come
out with some more innovative frontof-the-wall
products.
As regards fire fighting, do you
have a special product range?
Yes, we are the only licensee to
manufacture Blazemaster CPVC
products for fire fighting from
Lubrizol in South East Asia. We
have received almost all necessary
approvals and certifications.
What are the advantages of the
composite pipes being manufactured
by Astral? How is it different
from other composite pipes?
Astral Flowguard bendable is an
innovative multi-layer CPVC/
aluminium/CPVC composite pipes
from Astral. There is an excellent
combination of flexibility and
rigidity. The middle layer of
aluminium makes it extra tough,
while outer and inner layer of CPVC
provide free flow, low thermal
expansion, less bacterial growth
and scale build up.
Astral Flowguard is the only
composite pipe available in the
market today, which one can use for
both hot and cold water plumbing
applications, solar application,
under slab construction, where long
runs of potable water pipe need to
be bent to protrude through
concrete.
Where do you see Astral, five
years from now?
Our aim is to be a leader in the
Indian plastic Industry with more
numbers of innovative products,
which will not only bring changes
in the Indian plumbing industry but
will also help raise living standards
of common man.
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Who would you consider as your
‘partner in progress’ for success
in Astral?
We would consider a plumber, a
small trader in remote area or a
common man, who trusts in our
products and encourages us to make
it more and more effortless,
affordable and easy to use. They are
the real partners in our progress —
in Astral’s successive journey.
Indian Plumbing Association is
working incessantly towards
creating awareness about plumbing
standards and practices by
conducting plumbing education
programmes. What is your view
about Association’s initiative?
It is very important and a necessary
task since there are no formal
academic and educational courses
being offered in plumbing. Through
IPA and IAMPO initiatives, in some
towns and in some areas, plumber
training courses have started
in their regional languages. The
initiatives of IPA and IAPMO need
to gather momentum, thus, meeting
the increasing requirements of the
plumbing industry and match with
the standards expected from the
industry.
How has been your experience
about the recently held event —
15 th Indian Plumbing Conference?
With such an excellent mix of
deliberations and demonstrations,
15 th Indian Plumbing Conference
added one more feather in the cap
of Indian Plumbing Association.
The event was an excellent
opportunity for product promotion,
live demonstration, networking,
interaction with dealers/ distributors,
providing potential industry
information, providing new product
launch platform.
I believe the topics discussed in
Technical Sessions held at the
conference helped the delegates in
understanding the important issues
of plumbing and moulding future
plumbing practices.
How, according to you, has IPT
succeeded in bonding the Indian
plumbing industry?
We think this is the only platform
where manufacturers, plumbers,
consultants, students, meet and
share their views, ideas and
experiences with each other.
You have remained a staunch
supporter of PlumbexIndia, since
its inception. How do you rate its
journey so far?
PlumbexIndia is always helpful to
us. We have witnessed its journey
from its inception and to the heights
it has reached today. A small
manufacturer or even a consultant
can’t afford to miss it because the
requirements of consumers are
growing and fast changing, only
such media can keep us educated
about the latest innovations in the
plumbing world.
What message would you like to
give to the readers of IPT,
through this interaction?
First of all, I must congratulate
readers of IPT, who have made it a
successful and authentic platform
in the Indian plumbing industry. Its
readers inspire us to think beyond
the boundaries and at the same
time, make us think globally.IPT
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