Page 193 - CW E-Magazine (15-7-2025)

Special Report Special Report

Design and fabrication of unit operations equipment: alloys, ceramics, polymers, teams should be adept at economically fabrication fi rms can eff ectively scale
composites, and nanomaterials are securing high-performance materials up and compete with global counter-
Unlocking chemicals manufacturing excellence in India essential for developing cutting-edge through strategic sourcing strategies, parts by focusing on two key areas:
equipment and accessories that off er such as long-term contracts and part-
enhancing R&D capabilities and esta-
high corrosion and temperature resis- nerships with suppliers. Alternative- blishing robust supply chain manage-
INTRODUCTION particularly for complex unit opera- SAPTARAG HOTA tance. These materials are crucial in ly, fi rms may need to make strategic ment systems.
nit operations equipment is tions, was largely imported, as local Consultant, Avalon Consulting ensuring that fabricated equipment meet investments to secure a stable supply of
crucial for chemical plants, fi rms lacked the expertise and infra- the specifi c needs of clients, particularly these materials. This could involve By investing in R&D, these fi rms
Uimpacting production rates, structure to meet industry demands. leaders in chemical equipment design in demanding environments where collaborating with suppliers to establish can develop innovative technologies
product quality, and effi ciency. and fabrication. durability and reliability are paramount. local production facilities or acquir- and proprietary designs that meet the
Proper design ensures optimal per- However, in recent years, there has ing stakes in material manufacturing evolving needs of the Indian chemical
formance by integrating thermo- been a signifi cant shift, with Indian Imperatives to achieve excellence The availability of advanced engi- companies. By doing so, Indian fi rms industry. Simultaneously, building a
dynamics and chemical kinetics into fi rms increasingly taking on the fabri- To address how Indian fi rms can neering materials in India remains spo- can ensure consistent availability and robust supply chain will ensure con-
process fl ows. Advanced fabrication cation of chemical equipment. This scale up the design and fabrication of radic due to an underdeveloped supply aff ordability of advanced materials, sistent access to advanced materials at
techniques utilise durable materials, change is driven by advancements in unit operations equipment, it is essen- chain and high procurement costs. The thereby enhancing their competitive- competitive prices, reducing reliance
such as stainless steel and titanium, local manufacturing capabilities, govern- tial to fi rst understand the challenges supply chain for these niche materials, ness in the global market. This pro- on imports and enhancing operational
to withstand harsh conditions. Inno- ment support for ‘Make in India’ they face. such as high-performance alloys, active approach will not only mitigate effi ciency. This dual approach will
vations in design tools, such as CFD initiatives, and the growing demand ceramics, composites, and nanomate- supply chain risks but also foster enable Indian fi rms to deliver high-
(Computational Fluid Dynamics) and for cost-eff ective solutions tailored to One of the most signifi cant obstacles rials, is still in its nascent stages, leading innovation and effi ciency in equipment quality equipment tailored to local
FEA (Finite Element Analysis) pre- domestic needs. is the limited research and development to inconsistent availability. Addition- design and fabrication. requirements, thereby strengthening
dict equipment behaviour and ensure (R&D) capabilities within the industry. ally, the limited number of suppliers their position in the domestic market
reliability. Modular designs facilitate Several Indian companies have Many Indian fi rms continue to rely on for these specialised materials creates Concluding remarks and paving the way for global
faster construction and easier integra- also begun venturing into the design of outdated, hand-me-down technologies a monopolistic environment, driving In conclusion, Indian design and competitiveness.
tion, minimising downtime. Empha- chemical equipment, aiming to provide rather than developing proprietary solu- up prices and making it challenging for
sising energy-effi cient designs and integrated solutions to chemical manu- tions. This reliance not only hinders Indian fi rms to access them at competi- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
sustainable materials aligns with global facturers. These fi rms leverage indi- technological advancement but also per- tive rates. Sapratag Hota is a strategy consultant with expertise
decarbonisation goals. By prioritis- genous expertise and advanced tools such petuates dependence on foreign fi rms, in the Chemicals sector and Supply Chain domain. He has
ing cutting-edge design and robust as CFD and FEA to create customised which maintain a competitive edge due To address the challenges related worked with clients on multiple engagements developing
fabrication, chemical plants achieve designs. Despite these advancements, to their robust R&D infrastructure and to accessing advanced engineering market entry strategies, logistics network design, and fi nan-
higher effi ciency, lower costs, and the industry still relies on foreign players innovation-driven approach. To over- materials, design and engineering cial models. Prior to consulting, Saptarag worked in an
superior product quality while meeting for highly specialised and advanced come the challenges in scaling up the fi rms in India must develop top-tier integrated fertilizers and chemicals manufacturing fi rm.
safety and environmental standards. equipment, such as high-pressure reac- design and fabrication of unit operations strategic procurement teams. These
This strategic focus on design and tors or precision distillation columns, equipment, domestic fi rms must commit
fabrication is essential for maintain- which require cutting-edge technology to substantial investments in R&D. This Target Your Market More Effectively
ing competitiveness and operational and materials. involves hiring highly skilled design IndiaChemTrade
integrity in a rapidly evolving indus- engineers who possess expertise in ad-
try landscape, which mandates chemi- Moreover, many Indian fi rms vanced technologies and methodologies. Free for subscribers of Chemical Weekly
cal engineering solutions tailored engaged in the design and fabrication Additionally, acquiring state-of-the-art IndiaChemTrade provides consolidated trade statistics of India. The information provided here is based on
to the domestic industry. of unit operations equipment operate design tools, such as CFD and FEA the annual trade data published by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics,
as subsidiaries of foreign companies. software, is essential for creating cut- Government of India. The database can be searched by: Chemical Name/Harmonised Code to obtain the
Current state of design and fabrica- These partnerships bring access to ting-edge equipment that meets global consolidated trade (import or export) in that item; or by Country to obtain the trade (import or export) in all
tion of chemical equipment in India global technologies but highlight the standards. Furthermore, strategic part- chemicals and related products between India and that country.
Historically, the Indian chemical in- continued dependence on international nerships with academic institutions and
dustry has depended heavily on foreign expertise for innovation. To achieve international collaborations can provide ChemXchange
fi rms for the design and fabrication self-reliance and global competitive- access to emerging technologies and Open to all – no subscription required
of chemical equipment essential for ness, Indian fi rms must further invest talent pools, further accelerating ChemXchange – the chemical exchange with a diff erence – is where you can identify your buyers and
its operations. This reliance stemmed in R&D, enhance their design capa- technological advancements. supplyers on-line, any time. Listing in this unique platform is free to all advertisers in the print version
from the limited domestic capabilities bilities, and adopt advanced manufac- of Chemical Weekly for a period of 12 months.
in engineering design and manufactur- turing practices. By doing so, they Another signifi cant challenge faced
ing during the early stages of industrial can reduce dependence on imports by Indian fi rms is access to advanced For more information contact: 022-24044471 / 72
development. Advanced equipment, while positioning themselves as global engineering materials. High-performance Email: corporate@chemicalweekly.com or log on to chemicalweekly.com

192 Chemical Weekly July 15, 2025 Chemical Weekly July 15, 2025 193

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