JMD’S MESSAGE

The Indian pump and fluid management market has witnessed a significant transformation over the past few years. As one of the key enablers of India’s industrial and infrastructure growth, this sector continues to evolve in response to shifting economic priorities, increasing environmental concerns and technological disruption. At KBL, we have always believed in being ahead of the curve. The past year reinforced our commitment to not just adapting to changes, but to shaping them through strategic foresight and operational excellence.

We have observed a clear shift in customer expectations demanding not just reliable products but integrated, efficient and intelligent solutions. As competition intensifies from domestic players and global entrants, the need to differentiate ourselves through quality, service, innovation and digital prowess has never been greater. Our response has been deliberate and comprehensive, touching every part of our value chain.

Innovation remains a cornerstone of our strategy to stay competitive and relevant in a fast-evolving market. Over the past year, we have intensified our R&D efforts with a sharper focus on energy-efficient, IoT-enabled and sustainable pumping solutions. Our in-house capabilities have expanded to include predictive maintenance technologies, advanced fluid dynamics simulations and AI-integrated diagnostic tools. These innovations not only enhance product performance but also improve the lifecycle value for our customers.

We are especially proud of our work in developing application-specific pumps tailored for the infrastructure, irrigation, wastewater and renewable energy sectors. These next-generation products are the result of a close collaboration between our R&D teams, customers and field engineers. Through our innovation ecosystem, we are continuously leveraging customer insights and global trends to co-create solutions that are truly transformative.

As part of our digital and technological transformation, we are also embracing the power of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and Augmented Reality (AR) to redefine the future of pumping systems. AI and machine learning are enabling smarter diagnostics, predictive maintenance and autonomous system controls, significantly improving uptime and performance efficiency. IoT integration is allowing us to create connected pump systems that provide real-time monitoring and actionable insights, leading to more informed and responsive fluid management. Additionally, AR is being utilised in training, maintenance and on-site troubleshooting, creating immersive support environments for our customers and technicians. In the domain of product development, we have started leveraging 3D printing technology to prototype new pump components rapidly, validate complex geometries and accelerate our design-to-market cycle. These advanced technologies are not just tools – they are catalysts in our journey of transformation, helping us innovate with speed, precision and purpose.

India’s vision to become a global manufacturing hub is closely aligned with our own manufacturing excellence journey. At KBL, we have continued to invest in modernising our plants, upgrading processes and embedding digital technologies to enhance productivity, precision and agility. Our state-of-the-art facilities across the country are equipped with advanced technology, real-time quality control systems and environmentally responsible operations.

We have implemented several initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint, optimise water usage and increase the share of renewable energy across our manufacturing units. These measures are part of our broader sustainability agenda, ensuring that our growth is aligned with the needs of future generations.

Our commitment to ‘Make in India’ goes beyond a slogan, it’s a core philosophy. A significant share of our products are indigenously designed, developed and manufactured, reflecting India’s engineering excellence and manufacturing strength.

One of the most promising developments in recent years has been the strong growth of our retail business. Driven by rapid urbanisation, growing concerns around water security and the expansion of the rural economy, demand for domestic and agricultural pumps has significantly increased.

This success reflects our deep understanding of local needs, our ability to deliver reliable products at competitive price points and our commitment to prompt service and support. The introduction of compact, energy-efficient and easy-to-maintain pump models has been particularly well received by farmers, homeowners and entrepreneurs.

Looking ahead, we are focused on deepening market penetration and strengthening our emotional connect with end-users continuing to build on the trust and legacy associated with the Kirloskar brand name.

Our continued focus on critical and high-value sectors such as nuclear, defence, water & irrigation and process industries has yielded significant results. KBL has maintained its leadership position in supplying specialised pumping systems to India’s nuclear power programme, a domain that demands the highest level of precision, quality and regulatory compliance. We have strategically expanded into emerging applications such as thermal power, desalination and chemical processing by offering customised, high-efficiency solutions tailored to the unique requirements of each sector. These initiatives not only broaden our sectoral presence but also reinforce our position as a trusted partner in nation-building endeavours.

Digital is no longer an enabler – it is the very fabric of modern business transformation. Over the past year, KBL has accelerated its digital initiatives across marketing, sales, customer engagement and internal operations. We have adopted a data-driven approach to decision-making, real-time monitoring of performance indicators and predictive analytics to forecast demand and streamline supply chains. The digital transformation is helping us move closer to our vision of becoming a truly agile, responsive and future-ready organisation.

Transformation is not a destination, it is an ongoing journey of reinvention. As we look ahead, our focus remains clear: to strengthen customer relationships, drive meaningful innovation, foster an empowered and inclusive workforce and create sustainable, long-term value for all our stakeholders.

We firmly believe that growth must be both inclusive and sustainable. In line with this belief, we are deepening our ESG commitments, investing in skill development and supporting community water initiatives that deliver real impact at the grassroots level.

Our core values – integrity, excellence, innovation and responsibility continue to serve as our guiding principles. They shape our actions as we seize new opportunities, address emerging challenges and work towards making KBL not just a market leader, but a force for positive change.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all our stakeholders: employees, partners, customers, shareholders, financial institutions and communities for their continued trust and support. Together, we have built a solid foundation for the next chapter of our journey, one defined by transformation, driven by purpose and committed to unleashing our true potential.