Monumental solutions

Fosroc Chemicals is known for fixing monuments like the Buddha statue on the Hussain Sagar lake.

Lord Buddha's monolith of 72 feet, weighing more than 350 metric tonnes erected in the middle of Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad is undoubtedly a large crowd puller, especially, among Buddhist pilgrims.

A visit to the Buddha statue by boat is a memorable experience. But not many would remember that the erection of the statue, said to be the largest in Asia, was a big challenge for the authorities back in the 1980s.

The statue, while being transported from the shore to the middle of Hussain Sagar on a barge sank, when the barge capsized. The lifting and erection of the statue, a complex task, was accomplished by Fosroc Chemicals.

It was also Fosroc which helped a Mumbai Jain temple ward off chloride attacks by using Galvashield XP sacrificial anodes for the first time in the country.

Fosroc is a 100 per cent subsidiary of Fosroc International, a part of $500 million JMH group, headquartered at Dubai. It is the first multinational construction chemicals company to start its operation in India, back in 1981. Apart from providing traditional expertise in concrete admixtures, Fosroc also provides chemical products for industrial flooring, repair and protection, grouts and anchors.

Today, Fosroc has emerged as the leader in the Rs 1,000 crore construction chemicals industry, which is growing at 20 per cent annually. Presently, Fosroc has 30 per cent market share in India.

Fosroc's recent accomplishments include the reconstruction of airports at Andaman and Car Nicobar Islands, which were devastated by the tsunami in December 2004. The Shrirangam Temple is another example, where it restored the sagging Gopuram.

Fosroc India has over 200 products catering to different segments of civil construction industry. The products include concrete admixtures, industrial floorings, sealants and waterproofing to name a few. Its global R&D centre in Bangalore employs 10 scientists who are currently working on several new technologies in construction chemicals.

Fosroc, has traditional expertise in concrete admixtures, industrial flooring, repair and protection, grouts and anchors. Fosroc currently has over 210 employees and it plans to increase its significantly during the next few years.

Fosroc has operations in Europe, Americas, Oceania, South and East Asia and West Asia. It exports to over hundred countries giving it a wide global coverage.

"Fosroc's strength lies in concrete, cement and polymer technologies. These technologies are under continuous scrutiny by our technical and marketing experts, developing products to give innovative and lasting solutions for any construction requirements," said R Shridhar, the company's managing director.

Fosroc India, which is growing at 30 per cent annually, has drawn up a multi-pronged approach to grow its business in the speciality chemicals business in India.

"We want to expand our presence mainly in the construction chemicals segment by setting up more manufacturing plants in the country. We are also looking at making India an export hub for Asian region," said Shridhar.