A series of three workshops on “Building a Stainless Future in India” for the architecture building and construction (ABC) segment were held in July 2007 in New Delhi and Mumbai. The participants in the workshops were drawn from the ABC segment which included fabrication companies, industrial construction companies, architects, real estate and building companies together with senior representatives from the central and state governments. Stainless steel has recently witnessed a major shift in preference over other metals in India's ABC segment.
The Outokumpu India Delhi team with guests: from left Janeric Nilsson, Purushothama, Deepak Vaidya, Mamta Jain, Ankita Kashyap, YPS Suri and Dr Anders Olsson. |
|
The main objectives of the workshops were to create awareness in the entire ABC segment about Outokumpu capabilities and presence of the company in India, familiarize the delegates with the Outokumpu innovations, specifically LDX2101®, and showcase to them the various magnificent Outokumpu stainless steel applications globally in the ABC segment, highlight the advantages of using stainless steel in architecture, building and construction and provide a platform to the Indian ABC segment to interact with Outokumpu experts, offer technical inputs to one and all on fabrication and welding procedures for stainless steels and create a committed network of users to help us in achieving our vision and business goals. |
In India, the application of stainless steel has predominantly been for kitchenware and utensils. In recent years, with proactive efforts of the Indian Stainless Steel Development Association, the applications of stainless steel in the ABC segment have witnessed a major shift in preference over other metals in the country. An increasing number of senior architects, builders and fabricators are being attracted towards stainless steel for its environment friendliness due to recyclability, aesthetic appeal superior functional performance, longer life and low life cycle cost. The inspiration behind the workshop was to raise the preference of stainless steel over conventional materials by more and more architects and interior designers.
The Indian economy is upbeat with GDP growing at an average of 8% in past few years and the stainless steel usage growth has been over 15% with increasing share of ABC and railway segments. The increased thrust on infrastructure and manufacturing, hundreds of billion dollars is planned to be invested in airports, metro railways, ports, highways, IT parks, industrial estates, new townships with multiplexes, malls, hotels, hospitals and important Government buildings. The stainless steel usage growth in ABC is expected to be over 25% p.a. in years ahead.
With India’s national capital, Delhi as the venue for Commonwealth games 2010, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and the Delhi Tourism Ministry are all geared to give New Delhi a new look. Metro rail with shining and bright stainless steel coaches is a daily reminder to people on the stainless appeal. Bus stands, road dividers, park benches, swings for children in playgrounds, lampposts, planters, dustbins, sign boards etc are focus areas and Outokumpu presentations were aimed at pitching LDX2101® as the alternative to 304 for all these applications so as to gain competitive advantage.
Meetings with top Railway officials were also undertaken to enlighten them on advantages of choosing Outokumpu as a vendor for conventional and Duplex Stainless Steel. With Railways leaning heavily on stainless steel for new coaches, wagons and rail stations, the opportunity was well utilized to introduce LDX2101®. A one to one meeting and brainstorming was helpful to show how Duplex stainless steel is so extensively used in innovative applications globally in Railway segment too.
Real estate company executives appreciated the endeavor to educate them on efficient use of stainless steel, particularly LDX2101® in buildings and bridge construction around the globe. The Executive Director of Indian Stainless Steel Development Association delighted us with his comment that India is poised to experience a stainless landslide in years ahead wherein the >25% annual growth expectations are going to be surpassed by a huge margin. Lift manufacturers advised setting up of Warehousing and Service Centre facilities by Outokumpu India Pvt. Ltd. to serve their needs satisfactorily.
The presence of senior officials from some of the biggest infrastructure and equipment construction companies such as Larsen & Toubro, Godrej, Alfa Laval, Hindustan Dorr Oliver, Shapoorji & Pallonji together with top Architects, service center Tata Ryerson, consultants Aker Kvaerner and elevator manufacturers OTIS, Schindler etc made it perfectly clear that the Indian ABC segment is extremely keen to accept and welcome stainless steel for emerging challenges in ABC applications.
|
Mr Ramesh Gopal, Executive Director of Indian Stainless Steel Development Association responding to queries on LDX2101® applications at the Mumbai Workshop alongwith Saby Oommen, Janeric Nilsson, Purushothama and YPS Suri.
|
|
Architects, builders, fabricators, elevator manufacturers and infrastructure construction companies at the workshop at Mumbai.
|