Its new systems house in Lote Parshuram, along with Dow India Technology Centre (DITC) in Navi Mumbai, will enable collaboration with customers to create sustainable, market-centric products and solutions.

 

Dow Polyurethanes, a business unit of Dow Chemical International that recently opened a new systems house in Maharashtra, is eyeing huge opportunity in India as the demand for PU in the country is growing significantly faster than some of the other markets.

 

“In India, the per capita consumption of polyurethane (PU) is very low compared to developed countries, and the market is growing at more than 10 per cent. Big drivers for the market are increasingly need for energy preservation and urbanisation (driving infrastructure industry). We expect the PU market to double in India by 2025,” said Adriano Alfani, Global Business Director, Polyurethanes Group, Dow Polyurethanes, The Dow Chemical Company, during an exclusive interaction with IPF’s Rakesh Rao. 

 

In the last few years, Dow Polyurethanes has increased its global footprint by focussing on providing not just the products but the complete solution to its customers by working closely with them. 

 

In April this year, Dow Chemical International Pvt Ltd (Dow India) opened a state-of-the-art application development hub, Dow India Technology Centre (DITC), in Navi Mumbai to enable collaboration and innovation with customers to create sustainable, market-centric products and solutions.

 

Adriano Alfani stated, “In India, the new systems house for PU business in Lote Parshuram and DITC will enable us to provide innovative products and solutions for different industries right from automotives to energy-efficient products, appliances, construction sector, etc.” 

 

The new site in the Lote Parshuram industrial area in Ratnagiri (Maharashtra) adds production capacity and technical capabilities to deliver high-quality polyurethane materials and customised solutions to customers in the region, serving growing market segments such as consumer durables, infrastructure and automotive. 

 

Chandrakant Nayak, Sales Director for Polyurethanes & POPG in Middle East, Africa & India, Dow India, said, “There are three main growth drivers of PU market in India - product upgradation (like in case of mattress segment), increasing product penetration (such as in  footwear, refrigeration, etc) and innovation. In India, we see a huge potential for our innovative products and solutions that can help customers (the end-users) to differentiate themselves from their competitors and stay ahead in the business. New regulations and upgradation of specifications are also driving the demand for PU. For example, in insulation, there is a constant push from the government to keep improving insulation performance in appliances, construction and storages.”

 

PU market in India is at a nascent stage as penetration in some of the most common applications (for example insulation) is still very low in the country. With new applications making inroads into India and penetration level increasing, the PU market is all set for a healthy growth.

 

Nayak added, “Dow India has played a key role in sourcing global technology that is commercialised in automotive, insulation, footwear and bedding industries of the country. Over the last twenty years we have diligently innovated across these industries to ramp up local capabilities and opportunities. The new investment is the natural progression that creates a perfect confluence of systems house at Lote and innovation at DITC.” 

 

Dow Polyurethanes develops and delivers a broad portfolio of technologies and customised solutions to customers in a variety of industries under its DurableScience, ComfortScience and InsulationScience category brands. Applications range from industrial and infrastructure solutions, to consumer comfort solutions in flooring, furniture, bedding and footwear, to automotive solutions for vehicle interior, and energy-efficient insulation materials. The business manufactures and sells key chemical components as well as fully-formulated polyurethane systems for rigid, semi-rigid and flexible foams, and coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers and composites. 

 

In India, the per capita consumption of polyurethanes is very low compared to developed countries, and the market is growing at more than 10 per cent. We expect the PU market to double in India by 2025.

 

Adriano Alfani, Global Business Director, Polyurethanes Group, Dow Polyurethanes