The challenges faced by pump manufacturers are horrendous, and it is defined by size. The industry is growing rapidly, and the growth forecast varies from region to region. There are common issues the industry is facing due to globalization and continuous competition. The requirement of pumps varies depending on the property size, dwellers, personal needs, and geography. As it is a highly fragmented market, the Indian pumps industry faces a huge challenge with counterfeit products, both locally manufactured and imported from other countries.
Mr. K. Nithyanandam, Managing Director, Masimalayam Industries, Coimbatore, manufacturer of DELTA PUMPS, shares with us about various challenges the pump industry is facing now with reasonable solutions.
“Our Brand Delta Pumps is one of the successful brands in manufacturing submersible borewell pumps, serving the south Indian market since 2009. Even though the competition is high, we ensure a quality end product in agricultural & domestic borewells, keeping us in business even today. India being a land of farmers, there is always a need for an agricultural pump. Globalization is, infact, a challenge disrupting the business but our Indian Pumps are the ones always liked by many globally.
The quality & output of an imported pump (mostly use & throw pattern) is much-much lower than an Indian one. A farmer’s income and cash flows are not consistent, so they insist on a long-term guarantee. We ensure that our pumps serve them for a lifetime. Massive improvisation of the technology, such as how much material is required to give an economically viable output, quality, and engineering inputs, is better placed today. Checking up the electric current variation and digitalization to the minute perfection are all really helping us to give accuracy-bound end products. The real challenge here is that we should race with the same speed of technology as a manufacturer.
“Our Government’s regulations in this industry is, of course, a challenge. But, we feel these restrictions are suitable for the industry. If there is no check – there won’t be any worth which will kill the industry. Human resources shortage is a roaring challenge today. People have come to the extent that it is difficult to survive without earning money. The cost of living is more, but their thronging to make easy cash stops them from hard work.
Additionally, the output of individuals differs from person to person. An older adult’s output might help me slower than an active youth of today. We need to balance both & run the show. The growth of other industries will not at all be a threat to the pump industry as agriculture is the one that feeds that too, and for agriculture to flourish, the pump industry’s role is vital.
“Demand in the market is also a challenge. Until it has the magnetic force, a motor pump will work. Since water is of utmost importance & additionally when the water level goes down further, the farmer has to go for a better pump with higher pumping capacity. Usually, a pump’s lifetime is around 5 to 10 years (depending on the needs & usage). Now farming patterns have changed because of new and advanced features venturing in. Demand is high here. Pertaining to the domestic market, apartments have sprung up even in tier 2 cities. A pump should have the capacity to pump even above the 10th floor. A manufacturer will always see a challenge in the market’s demand, which he has to overcome to sustain in the field.
Balancing the Production & Inventory:
Balancing the production & inventory is an uphill task. We will be manufacturing pumps that have more flow during rainy seasons, whereas during summer, it will be different. A city needs drainage water pumps, pressure pumps, booster pumps, etc. For some areas with no electricity, solar pumps bridge the needs. We have to be more cautious in the production and maintenance of stock – however since there is an unavoidable need, the product is getting sold at lightning speed. So, we should manufacture and maintain inventory as per the market’s needs.
Innovative technologies have been disrupting the water industry in the past decade. Be it the agriculture sector or commercial space, with the growing requirement to use water effectively, the role of pumps has been more crucial than ever. Agriculture consumes a significant portion of the groundwater where freshwater is used. Indian industries are also impacted hugely due to the current water crisis that the nation faces. So, there is a need to work on ways and methods to improve water security and resilience by adopting newer technologies.
As the world adopts digital solutions, the pump industry is resorting to digitalization for better water management, identifying faults, capturing live data, and all the while through a remote monitoring option. Modern pumps are being developed to fit the needs of constructions of the future, where output is required to be delivered faster, with more competence, and integrating computerized digital technologies into pumps is the potential solution to offer this.
