Encon Tensile Structure

ENCON, started as fabricators in 1992, has come a long way from doing domes, skylights, atriums etc. in fiberglass and polycarbonate, to tensile membrane structures. Following the policy of continuous improvement in quality management systems and services, today, the company claims to be the pioneer in tensile covering in North India having the best and most experienced manpower in this industry in the region.

Sandeep Thareja
Sharing the success story, Mr. Sandeep Thareja, the company's director, said, "We are quick to adapt global influences and translate the same into our products and projects. Ten years back, we had done an Open Air Theatre of around 22,000 square feet, the biggest at that time in North India. Now, we are engaged doing one of the biggest coverings in North India of around 2,00,000 square feet of Atrium for Omaxe Connaught Place Mall, Greater Noida."

He informed that Encon has worked with quite a few big names in the country's real estate industry, which includes DLF, Unitech, Dial, Omaxe, Mahagun, Emaar MGF, Vatika, Supertech, Bestech, Ashiana, Ansals, Ascot, etc. "Apart from that, we have worked with some of the top-rated architects of the likes of Hafeez Contractor, Sikka Associates, Spazzio, Design Plus, etc."

Elaborating on the latest innovative solutions, Mr Thareja said, "Normally, tensile industry is for fixed structure, but we are trying to give the solution for open-able structure by offering retractable roof system, which is motorized and come with remote in such a way that a touch of button allows the fresh air as well as the sunlight in, and vice-versa."

Tensile structure is picking up fast irrespective of application areas. According to Mr. Thareja, apart from metros, tier-II cities are showing good potentials particularly, those with planned infrastructure developments including airports, stadiums, malls, hotels, restaurants, etc. "Any new building especially of airport or stadium will, by default, have a tensile ceiling. Even the mall atrium is made with this material. There are benefits to it. For instance, air-conditioning load with this material will be much better than that with glass or polycarbonate," he noted.

Mr. Thareja feels that specifiers, especially architects are the integral part of this business. "In fact, they are the people who specify our products. We get in touch with them. We approach all the existing architects, developers, and end users including hotels/restaurants, to keep them aware of any new product/system in our portfolio," he shared adding that infrastructure companies and developers are the main users followed by the café industry, which is rapidly emerging as the potential consumers of these products.

Tensile Structure

Mr. Thareja informs that with two production units at Pace City II, Gurgaon in Haryana and Chopanki, Bhiwadi in Rajasthan, Encon is the source for quality products. "We have in-house M. S. fabrication, membrane heat-sealing facility, spray painting facility for M.S. framework, state-of-the-art fabric welding facility, sufficient stock of a comprehensive range of imported tensile and other outdoor membranes, followed by a panel of qualified structural designers who have experience in various International projects and work on some of the best software in this industry. "Our designs are the industry standard for innovative engineering. We provide solutions right from the selection of fabrication to the complete installation of functional structure."

Tensile is one of the newest materials and at the same time, one of the flexible ones to take almost any shape. Tensile structure is the combination of fabrication and design, where design is the most important component for any structure to be sustainable. Speaking on design, Mr. Thareja said, "While going for design, certain important parameters such as aesthetics and wind pressure upthrust are taken care of for sure. Earthquake resistance is also factored-in, while designing any tensile structure based on which design is made. Structural safety is the most important concern for any tensile building, which very few fabricators follow as per the prescribed standard," he reiterated.