C.R.I. Pumps Private Limited, a reputed global player and India's fastest growing pump manufacturer, now enters the non-metallic high endpipes segment as part of its rapid diversification strategy. It will manufacture uPVC and CPVC pipes, designed with higher durability to provide an efficient pumping and plumbing system, at its two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Gandhinagar and Hosur.

Gandhinagar in Gujarat that will cater to the western, northern and central markets, and Hosur in Tamil Nadu that will cater to the southern and eastern markets, are expected to commence full-fledged commercial operations soon. The Gandhinagar plant has successfully test-marketed its products with highly encouraging results.

Announcing the launch of the manufacturing facilities, G. Soundararajan, Vice- Chairman of the Rs 1,300 crore annual global turnover company, said the foray into pipes segment was not an adhoc one, but part of an overall business development strategy arising out of their five-year VISION 2020.

Explaining the rationale behind the entry, he said: "As part of VISION 2020, we have fixed on achieving an annual turnover of Rs 5,000 crore by the end of 2020. To achieve this, we planned to rapidly diversify and add more products to our existing line. Even in an adverse market situation, C.R.I. has grown around 20% compared to the previous year to achieve the highest growth in the organized Indian pump sector in the financial year 2014-15."

He added that as part of its diversification process, the first product that the company decided on introducing was pipes. C.R.I., with a clear mission to provide a one-stop fluid management solution, would now shift its focus to becoming a provider of an entire pumping system. The contribution of pipes in the total investment of a pumping system is much higher and even more than double that of the pump set itself.

According to Mr Soundararajan, in the initial phase C.R.I. is investing about Rs 120 crore in the pipe business. Funding would be through internal accruals and borrowings from financial institutions.