Exhibition Inaugural

Intent should always be complimented with action; otherwise it ends up as a futility! Simply saying that 'We are Going Green' won't suffice unless we ensure that 'Greenness' is pushed down the throat, in fact, to such an extent that even a commoner starts contributing towards the welfare of the environment. We have been fortunate that the Indian Green Building Council took cognizance of this imperative and conceptualized a slew of initiatives to promote 'Greenness'! And 'Green Building Congress', a perennial exhibition, is one such notable endeavour!

The 11th edition of the event was held at the Chennai Trade Centre, Nandambakkam, from 24-26th October, 2013. Attended by more than 2,000 delegates and over 100 exhibitors, both domestic and international, the three day event unveiled the latest global trends in green buildings, provided a platform for networking, and opened new business vistas for the industry. In fact, the range of green products showcased at the exhibition was quite vast and left visitors spellbound. From architectural takeaways such as venetian blinds and u-PVC doors windows to thermal insulation offerings such as roof tiles and paint coatings, the product pool was enriching and befitting the Indian requirements.

Apart from green products, the other highlight of the event was a series of conferences and seminars. Dr. K. Rosaiah, His Excellency The Governor of Tamil Nadu, while flagging off the event, remarked, "The concept of 'Green' should reach every nook & corner of the country and every construction should be designed Green. It should become a way of life. The next 10 years will be a decade of integrated sustainable built structures with the upspring of large integrated townships, satellite cities, gated communities, and campuses with multiple buildings.

Mr Jamshyd N. Godrej, Chairman, CII – Godrej GBC, said the most important aspect of the Green building movement in India is that it is a part of larger aspects of sustainability. He added that the solution ahead is not a choice between sustainability or development, rather sustainability and development.

Dr Prem C Jain, Chairman, IGBC, informed that IGBC has inked a MoU with the National Housing Bank for special concessions for homes going green. He said that already there were over 600 million sqft of Green homes and the footprint will multiply manifold, he added. Dr Jain informed that, today India has over 2,235 IGBC registered green building projects with a total area of 1.65 billion sqft, making India one of the top three countries with high footprint.

Mr B Santhanam, Chairman, CII Southern Region, said the climate change has impacted all countries. "The Indian industry is committed to mitigate the environmental impacts, he added. The rise in the number of Green buildings, developments in renewable energy programmes and increase in the manufacturing capacity of green building materials were part of these initiatives", he said.

Mr N K Ranganath, Chairman, Green Building Congress 2013 Conference Committee, said that it was a huge challenge to manage our resources and the environmental degradation would be irreversible if we did not act now.

Meanwhile, during the session on Renewable Energy and Green Buildings Mr Sudeep Jain, IAS, Chairman and Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency, said that all Government buildings, all Government street light installations and water supply installations have necessarily moved to solar and there has been significant progress in all these areas.

Dr Arun Tripathi, Director, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India, said that the design of a new house or building should be in such a way that all available sources of energy from nature could be effectively harnessed. As the building sector consumes a major share of the energy produced in the country, adoption of the renewable energy would go a long way in reducing the dependence on fossil fuels. The residential sector could use solar water heaters, and solar roof top grid-connected power generation systems. Even the kitchen waste could be converted to biogas and used for cooking or generation of electricity.

Speaking at the Conference on Green Homes, Existing Buildings & Green Interiors, Mr Arun Kumar Misra IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Government of India, informed that in the coming 4 years, one million houses across the country to be constructed by the Government would be coming up in different blocks and municipalities. "All these would go the green way by design at the construction stage itself underlined. The finances for greening will be part of the project cost."

Mr Misra also proposed entering into a MoU with Indian IGBC to further build the capacities of the Ministry staff by ways of organising training and outreach programmes. Further, he also called on the need to promote green building materials and technologies and alternative technologies. The Ministry, through the Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC), would also explore the possibility of inking a MoU with IGBC. "The new upcoming Housing Policy would also consider providing non-financial incentives to the construction sector. This would go a long way in promoting green buildings and sustainable development," he added.

GBC 2013

Notably, Green Building Congress 2013 was sponsored by corporate giants such as Blue Star, Tata Housing, DLF,Daikin, Carrier, Grundfos, and Godrej to name a few. The event was supported by various organizations such as; CREDAI, AIGMF, ASHRAE, Good Governance India Foundation, Institute of Indian Interior Designers, IFMA, IPA, and a slew of international green building councils including Sri-Lanka, Indonesia, UK, Emirates, Jordan, and Colombia.

Significantly, the participants' profile was quite rich and diversified, and included Architects, Builders & Developers, Corporates, Government Representatives, Educational Institutions, Engineers, Energy Modelers, Electrical Consultants, Green Building Facilitators, Contractors, Green Product / Equipment Manufacturers, HVAC Consultants, Interior Designers, International Agencies, Landscape Consultants, Lighting Consultants, Plumbing Consultants, Project Management Consultants, and Town Planners.

With the green sentiment already reaching a crescendo, we wonder what the next edition of Green Building Congress has in store for everyone!

In exclusive interactions with MGS Architecture, exhibitors acknowledged the new avenues that Green Building Congress opened up for them.
CII

Asahi India Glass (AIS)

A Abrar Sulaiman
Asahi India Glass Limited (AIS), a giant in the Indian Glass Industry, showcased a wide range of glass products in various categories such as Heat Reflective, Solar Control, Solar Control Low-E & Low-E glass products along with uPVC doors and windows.Mr. A. Abrar Sulaiman, Business Development Manager, AIS, informed, "This time we are focusing on high-performance glass products, which provide better thermal insulation and visible light transmission which are ideal for external applications in buildings."

He continued, "Nowadays, no building is complete without thermal insulation and AIS offers the most suitable products for this purpose. Time and again, we have proven our credentials as one of the key players in this segment." This year at IGBC, we have had a wonderful experience as our products have generated a tremendous response.

ANI Water Solutions

ANI Water Solutions

ANI Water Solutions is an innovative enterprise offering customized and state-of-the-art solutions for the disinfection and treatment of fluids and surfaces. A joint venture of two renowned Swiss clean-tech companies, AquaNetto Ltd. and IMETH Ltd, ANI specializes in treatment of air, water, waste water, and surfaces by means of ultra-violet irradiation in combination with complementary methods of treatment.

During the show, the company exhibited a mobile water kiosk for the disinfection and treatment of water, and the skid-mounted ultra-filtration and reverse osmosis unit for the treatment of brackish or heavily contaminated water. Meanwhile, the other products on offer included Tank-IN/OUT and UV-C disinfection units. Mr. Andreas Kasper, one of the company's Directors, informed, "Our products have generated a lot of interest, but the only drawback is the price-sensitivity of Indian consumers. We are promoting through architects and consultants, and had discussions with quite a number of professionals."

Notably, ANI has set up a manufacturing unit at Pune, and is planning to get it GRIHA certified. "Our USP is that we offer customized 'GREEN CONCEPT' solutions and enter into a project right at the initial stage. These attributes have found takers amongst architects and consultants. We have observed that in India, a lot of architects are concerned about greenness, whereas there are some who prioritise costs over everything else. But we are educating them and this will have positive bearings in the long run."

EMMEDUE /B K Chemtech Engineering

Angelo Battigelli


Bangalore-based B K Chemtech Engineering, a leading name in designing and building automated machines and plants in various industrial fields, showcased a new and innovative Advanced Building System called M2 which is the brand name for EMMEDUE of Italy. "It is an innovative and ingenious construction system composed of walls, floors, and roofs made of reinforced concrete with a polystyrene core which insulates the entire building shell. It guarantees complete creation of the building using the system: load bearing walls, floors, roofs, staircases, partitions, curtain walls and insulation panels," informed Mr. Angelo Battigelli, CEO.


Chemtech Engineering
He continued, "This building concept has been in use for almost 35 years in Europe, South America, Africa, Middle East, and the Far East. We now wish to showcase it to the Indian Construction Industry. M2 is highly cost-effective, light weight, and time saving in terms of construction time."

According to him, Indians are becoming aware and quite inclined towards innovative and green construction technologies and this will keep EMMEDUE a mass favourite in the years to come.

BPS-Building Protection Systems

Bangalore-based BPS Building Protection Systems Pvt Ltd, which participated in Green Building Congress for the fourth time, showcased Insuladd, a Thermally Insulating Paint Additive, which, when added to paint, results in a cool roof coating with energy savings in the range of 10-20%. According to Mr. Aditya Kaura, the company's Director, "Compliant with IGBC green rating norms, this product has been applied in over 2 million sqft of roof area in India and top corporates have used it."

Insuladd
Notably, Insuladd mixes with any paint, primer or coating, can be applied on metal and concrete, improves energy efficiency, aids in noise reduction, is cost-effective, non toxic, reduces condensation, and comes with a lifetime guarantee. It can be used both in exteriors and interiors of commercial, residential, and industrial buildings.

"We are keen that more companies adopt our products which are not only green but also extremely cost-effective, thereby breaking the myth that going green is expensive. Our alternatives are not only greener but also cheaper." In-fact, Insuladd turned out to be a crowd puller as architects, consultants, and students of engineering and architecture frequented the company's stall and enquired about the product in depth.

"We are in the process of developing a nano glass coating as well, which will allow day LIGHT to enter, but prevent infra red and ultra violet light to pass through. This product is revolutionary and easy to apply internally to glass surfaces at a price much lower than any other alternative with minimal disruption to the workplace," he concluded.

Emerson

K Raghhavan
Emerson Climate Technologies is the world's leading provider of heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions for residential, commercial and industrial applications. During the event, the company highlighted its wide range of Copeland ScrollTM compressors for R410A Multi Scroll Chillers, residential split ACs, as well as commercial air-conditioning. .It also displayed information on scroll powered water heating solutions, recently introduced in the Indian market. For all applications, Emerson focused on its leadership in providing alternate refrigerant solutions. Mr. K. Raghavan, Director – AC Marketing for Emerson Climate Technologies (India) informed, "Copeland Scroll powered solutions can help save customers as high as 31% of annual energy consumption, while improving human comfort and protecting the environment. Emerson is committed to environment responsibility, and hence, besides continually improving efficiency of our scroll compressors, we are also a step ahead for alternate refrigerant solutions across the world. We work with key OEMs across India to provide these solutions to end users."

Copeland Compressors
Meanwhile, Emerson has also developed an AC Energy Calculator that allows consumers to learn about star rating and its significance by simply calculating the money saved with a 5-Star AC as compared to any lower star rated AC. This calculator is available online as well as for Android, Blackberry and iPhone mobile users. "This is an attempt to educate the market about various aspects of energy conservation in air-conditioners and know the quick pay-back period of their initial investment. People just need to log on to www.SaveEnergy.co.in and follow four simple steps to calculate annual electricity charges of selected air-conditioner and compare it between 5-Star and 1-Star ACs. You can do the same even on your mobile phone now through our AC Power Saver app," he said.

According to him, the AC Industry in India is on a threshold of revolution considering the rate at which OEMs are showing keenness to incorporate latest and innovative technologies in their offerings. "Green Building Congress is the perfect platform to gauge this sentiment," he concluded.

Evolve India

Rajesh Shah
According to Mr. Rajesh Shah, Managing Director, of Chennai-based Evolve India Solar, which is a premium grade Solar EPC, and System integrator, the market for solar products is growing in the country, but has not reached the desired levels yet due to the lack of awareness among people. "Well, a majority of people don't even know that solar replaces requirement of electricity from the Grid and instead generates and powers the home during the day and night (with batteries) thereby reducing your power bills to zero or near about. We are trying to educate them and spread awareness, and Green Building Congress is a perfect medium to get in touch with prospective end-users. Solar systems offered in the markets today can be defined as per the grading systems in Energy Savings like 3 Star for some brands in India or 5 Star like SCHNEIDER OR SMA and unbranded or little known inverter brands would be as low as 1 star. We are currently using UPSOLAR PV Panels, which are amongst the best in the world for our installations. Buying Solar plant is like buying a PREPAID POWER FOR 25 YEARS with today's prices thereby freezing your power at today's cost, at the same time giving you consistent and 24/7 power. What a customer fails to realize is that he has to buy a system which has to last for 25 years and not what the cheapest KW price is?"

Evolve India Solar

The company, which is an EPC contactor, undertakes quality solar projects for rooftops, on-grid and off-grid. "We are into direct selling and cater to hotels, factories, independent houses and villas. We offer PV modules manufactured in Europe, USA, China, and India. All the factories are ISO certified with global recognition in quality certification. Besides, we also offer inverters from Schneider Electric."

Notably, this was the company's first participation in this event. "The experience was good and we were able to get in touch with architects, consultants, and engineers, and apprise them about our USPs such as quality, experience, and timely execution of projects."

Eximcorp

Delhi-based Eximcorp India Pvt Ltd, is a leading importer and distributor of wood and wood panel products derived from certified sustainable forestry. The company markets WBP Birch Plywood, Pine MDF and HDF, Soft Boards in the range of panel products and White Wood (Spruce)- Kiln Dried S4S HT Lumbers. Mr. Kumar, Business Development Manager, informed, "Our products are premium priced, eco-friendly, green rated (FSC), long lasting, fire retardant, and imported from Russia & New Zealand."

Eximcorp Stall

He continued, "Currently, we are dealing directly with the end-users and construction companies. The market for these products is growing slowly, but steadily. In our opinion, the popularity of these products depends a lot on the architects' and consultants' will to recommend the same. That's why we are undertaking serious efforts to educate them. Green Building Congress is an ideal platform for this."

SGS

SGS India Pvt Ltd is the Indian arm of Swiss concern SGS a leading testing, inspection, certification and verification agency. At the Green Building Congress, SGS showcased its Green Building Consultancy services such as LEED Facilitation, Energy Simulation, Commissioning, Indoor Air Quality Assessment, Safety Audits, Energy Audits, Thermography Audits, Environment Impact Assessment Studies, and CDM Projects.

"This time around, we are promoting our green building services, indoor air quality assessment, and renewable energy services. Our main objective is to help companies enhance their environmental reputation, manage risk and increase business efficiency. We are currently present across 32 locations across the country to cater to the requirements of builders, developers, and architects. In terms of green footprint, we cover 20 million sqft, that encompasses 120 green buildings," stated Mr. Shivananda Shetty, the company's Director.

SGS Stall

Well, the best attribute of SGS is that it's the one agency where all the services related to green building and sustainable services like, energy simulation, facilitation, third party commissioning, ASHRAE level audits, LCA Analysis, Carbon/Water foot print, Environmental clearance, PMC, MEP, Indoor air quality testing are available. So in a nutshell, SGS is one shop solution for all the sustainable requirements.

In fact, SGS' stall at the Green Building Congress turned out to be a wonderful exponent of its endeavours and it was awarded the greenest stall. "Our stall is based on recycled materials and we are trying to set an example through this. In the future, we plan to launch a training programme for students of architecture and engineering." The stall bagged greenest stall award at the event.

FunderMax

Niraj Borikar


FunderMax, a leading manufacturer of architectural products from Austria which offers high pressure laminates (hpl) for both exteriors and interiors, showcased its various applications. Mr. Niraj Borikar, the company's Regional Head - South & West, informed, "We have been present in India for the past six years and offer internationally acclaimed top-class products. Through this exhibition, we want to reach out to architects, consultants and inform them about the benefits of the FunderMax range. As architects play a major role in convincing the end-users, their knowledge of an architectural product needs to be in -depth."


FunderMax Stall

Significantly, the company has already executed more than 2,000 projects across the country spanning over 3-4 lakh square metres already, and what's appreciable is the support extended by architects and consultants," he said. "Our products," he added, "fetch up-to 6 green points. Though the product is premium, it offers unparalleled attributes which benefits the customers / users in the long run in terms of sustainability and negligible maintenance."

Japeva

Japeva Engineering Pvt Ltd is a leading manufacturer of construction chemicals and building materials. The company's clientele includes builders, developers, power and lighting companies, petroleum companies, and much more. During the show, the company showcased Insulla roof insulation tiles, and Cool Shield cool roof coating. Mr. R.K. Saran Raj, the company's Managing Director, informed, "We develop green products and energy saving materials. Insulla is our latest offering and is based on inorganic and non-conductive materials, which don't allow heat to enter a building. By using this product, energy savings of 30–40% are possible. It's a lime based product, is water resistant, and balances room temperature to such an extent that it nullifies the need of air-conditioning. Honestly speaking, a fan is enough to maintain the internal cool. Insullad is a long-lasting product as it's resistant to acid rain."

Japeva Engineering

He continued, "The biggest shot in the arm for us is that energy auditors are recommending our products and we are promoting through them. Even consultants have shown a liking for these products. Apart from this, we are distributing educational CDs and material to installers and applicators. Since we offer premium products, we believe in thorough impartation of knowledge. Moreover, we are members of the Indian Green Building Council, which is a coveted status in itself!"

Godrej & Boyce

Rumi Engineer
Considering the leadership position Godrej & Boyce enjoys in the market, it isn't surprising that the company took the green sentiment to monumental levels during the Green Building Congress 2013. Mr. Rumi Engineer, Sr. GM & Business Head – Godrej Green Building Consultancy Services, informed, "We are showcasing a handful of energy efficient appliances and green furniture. Apart from this, we are also promoting our Green Building Consultancy Services."

He continued, "We are displaying a miniature model green building and have also mentioned the green appliances that come along such as solar electrical charging point, grass pavers, solar lighting, building integrated photovaltics, rain water harvesting and down take pipes, geo thermal cooling, solar shading device, garden lights, and solar hot water system. Today, it's imperative to share the correct information and portray the true picture to architects and consultants, and through this exhibition, we have been able to do that quite wonderfully."

Kone

Sreelakshmi Menon

Kone Elevator India Private Limited promoted a wide range of new offerings at the Green Building Congress 2013. Ms. Sreelakshmi Menon, the company's Director – Marketing & Communications, informed, "We are promoting energy saving machine, elevator car, car operating panel, and new design samples. By the virtue of being a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, Kone always aims at sophistication, need of the hour solutions, and sustainability."

"KONE," she continued, "has constantly been the forerunner in developing the most energy efficient elevator hoisting technology in the industry. The new offering was launched last year and the response has been very positive."

Kone Elevators Escalators

In-fact, Kone had set up one of the most attractive stalls at the event, wherein visitors were invited to try the new 3D Design application, which literally provides a touch-and-feel experience of an elevator whose interiors can be custom made for clients. "Through this initiative, we want to expand our reach to potential end-users, architects, and consultants."

Owens Corning

Nilesh Sonawane


Owens Corning Industries (India) Private Limited, showcased FOAMULAR® – extruded polystyrene (XPS) pink foam insulation, which is typically used for roof and wall applications. Mr. Nilesh Sonawane, Leader – BD, informed, "We are a Fortune 500 organization with a production facility in Hyderabad, and are committed towards sustainability and energy efficiency of buildings. FOAMULAR® -XPS is a most suited solution for building envelope due to its unique features of long-term thermal performance and high compressive strength."



Owens Corning Foam Insulation

The company works closely with various stakeholders including architects, consultants and builders to understand the needs and develop suitable solutions with FOAMULAR® such as external wall insulation of new and existing buildings. "We conduct periodical awareness programs by participating in events organized by IGBC chapters in different parts of the country. Green Building Congress is a good medium to spread awareness, it's a very ideal platform," he said.

According to him, in India there is much scope for robust regulatory framework when it comes to green products. "A lot has been done with various initiatives including BEE's ECBC but still, a lot needs to be done in terms of strong implementation efforts by State governments." he opined.

Sohom

Amrit Patel
Sohom Fenstertech Pvt Ltd is a Hyderabad based company incorporated in the year 2009 with the vision to serve the Indian market through a network of its channel partners in the field of uPVC door and window systems. SOHOM is the Licensed distributor and fabricator for Deceuninck a Belgium headquartered company. Deceuninck is one of the leading manufacturers of u-PVC profiles and operates in more than 75 countries.

SOHOM's continuous efforts in innovating premium product range such as Bi fold system, Lift & Slide and Large Combo Systems has helped many architects to provide their customers best solutions for thermal, noise and dust insulation. SOHOM's uPVC Doors and Windows do not warp or rot and are fire retardant as well as termite free. SOHOM also provides its customers the comfort and solution by suggesting best suitable options apt to their requirement.

SOHOM participates in events like Green Building Congress where people find information on how they can maintain energy efficiency as well as aesthetic look of their houses.

Thermoshield

Rajpal U Navalkar


Mr. Rajpal U Navalkar (Managing Director), Thermoshield India Pvt Ltd., informed, "We manufacture eco-friendly products for the construction sector such as High Albedo Roof Coatings and Waterbased Waterproofing chemicals, and Paints.

Further we are in Strategic Partnership with Green Build Product, Pune, and promote their range of eco-friendly Synthetic Mortars and Renders.



Thermoshield Greenbuilding Products

There is no need of cement, sand, and water, and as a result there are no pre-wetting requirements. These are all eco-friendly attributes. Moreover, the products are applicator-friendly and enable hassle-free installation. Our punch-line is "Apply and Forget It."

The company, which was established in 2001, has a pan-India presence and is now looking forward to joint-ventures with foreign companies. "We plan to forge alliances with Swiss and Australian companies. Talking of India, we have pre-sales team that gives live demos on sites, and educates applicators, masons, contractors, and architects. The sales and marketing team promotes through exhibitions and personal meetings with clients."

Trott

Laminate wooden flooring
Chennai-based Endura Trading Company, which markets laminate wooden flooring and vinyl flooring under the brand name Trott, showcased its wares at the event with an intent to poplularise them amongst architects and consultants. "We have launched the 8mm & 12mm thick laminate wooden floors which are lifestyle products and ideal substitutes to hardwood flooring. Through this event, we are planning to educate professionals such as architects and consultants about our product," said Mr. K. Anantharaman, the company's Director.

"Our products," he added, "are based on the tongue & groove technology, and therefore, are easily installable, require very less maintenance, are moisture resistant, and come with a 20-year warranty. We recently obtained the Forest Stewardship Council (South Africa) certification for our laminate wooden floors." He further stated that Indians are now opting laminate flooring for master bedrooms and living rooms as well, and this is giving a huge boost to this market. The company is in the process of appointing Channel Partners all over India.

U.P.Twiga

Twiga Fiberglass
Delhi-based U.P. Twiga Fiberglass Limited promoted fiberglass wool for thermal and acoustic insulation of green building walls and roofs as well as for HVAC applications. Mr. Biswajit Roy, the company's Manager-Building Solutions informed, "This product is also ideal for cryogenic insulation, bus body manufacturing, rail coaches, auditoriums, cinema halls, chimney lining and pre-engineered buildings."

The company, which caters to OEMs, promotes its products through architects and consultants. "We cover more than 20 segments and manufacture according to OEMs' requirements and specifications. Green Building Congress is a vital platform for us that provides an excellent opportunity to get in touch with influencers and decision makers. Also, through this medium, we are able to spread awareness about our products with respect to their green and sustainable features."

Talking of the company's future plans, he informed that, "We are exploring South East Asian markets and trying to extend our reach to the Automobile Sector, and supercritical boilers."

Umicore (VMZinc)

Saleem Mohammad Shaikh
"This is our first participation in the Green Building Congress, and although we have executed 80 projects in India over the past four years, we want to expand our operations by reaching out to architects and consultants," informed Mr. Saleem Mohammad Shaikh, Regional Manager – South, Umicore India Pvt. Ltd. Notably, Umicore is a Belgian concern and markets rolled zinc products under the brandname VMZinc in India.

He informed, "We are showcasing our Zinc Panel which is an excellent architectural product for roofing solution products. This exhibition provided a wonderful interaction platform with architects and consultants, and we are really heartened to learn that a majority of these influencers are really concerned about eco-friendly and value-added products. Our speciality lies in our ability to customize products according to the clients' requirements, a trait, which has made us quite popular among builders and developers."

Umicore

Ishaan Industries

Ravi Rangaswami
Ishaan Industries specializes in cool roof products, and its offerings are suited to tropical climates. Mr. A.C. Ravi Rangaswami, informed, "We market our products under the Thermatek brand. We are showcasing heat resistant terrace tiles (cement-based), paramsudha tiles (ceramic), coloured heat reflective paints, and roof putty."

He continued, "Our roofing tiles reduce surface temperature considerably, are easy to install and maintain, anti-skid, stain free, aesthetic, energy efficient, lightweight and durable, and comply with IGBC, TERI, BEE, CPWD, and MOEF. Meanwhile, the paints and putties are low VOC, long lasting, cost-effective, and increase comfort in a building."

According to him, participating in Green Building Congress was a great experience as the company was able to network with professionals, exhibit its products, and disseminate knowledge to clients, architects, and designers.

Wienerberger

L Joseph Gavaskar
Austrian building material solutions provider Wienerberger showcased Porotherm horizontally perforated clay bricks, Argeton clay façade tiles and Koramic clay roof tiles. Mr. L Joseph Gavaskar, Associate Manager – Sales, Wienerberger India Private Limited, informed, "Porotherm is manufactured in our Bangalore factory, Argeton, and Koramic are imported from our European factories."

Delving into the product details, he informed, "Porotherm bricks are mainly used as infill applications for non-load bearing structures. The main advantages are lightweight, high thermal-insulation, faster construction, and energy conservation. Meanwhile, the Koramic roof tiles, which also provide excellent thermal insulation, are available in six profiles with different colours and finishes. All our products are dimensionally stable and require less plastering, which avoids cracks and results in cost saving."

Wienerberger

He continued, "We work very closely with architects, contractors, developers, and builders since these influencers are very much keen on green building materials nowadays."

Methra Industries

P Venketesan
Chennai-based Methra Industries India Pvt Ltd. showcased the CELL O CON Aerated Autoclaved Concrete blocks made with internationally proven state-of-the-art technology. Mr. P. Venketesan, informed, "CELL O CON is inorganic and incombustible aerocon block and it is about one-fifth the density of normal concrete blocks and one-third density of conventional clay bricks. The moisture absorbed is less than 2 percent. This has significant environmental advantages addressing longevity, insulation and structural demands. These AAC or autoclaved aerated concrete blocks are the right investment, justified for buildings intended to have a lifelong saving."

He continued, "The appearance is light coloured, and it contains many micro cells that can be clearly seen when looked at closely. The closed cells contribute to the material's insulating properties and its aerated nature. CELL O CON or aerocon blocks can deliver big savings in heating and cooling costs through the life of a building and national savings on electricity due to their thermal mass performance and insulating properties."

Methra Industries

According to him, the growing requirement of thermal insulation, as a result of global warming, is pushing the market for CELL O CON. "Architects, consultants, and project developers are finding this product very useful and it's a good sign for us."