A significant milestone was achieved as all Group companies reported profitability during the year, underscoring the effectiveness of our strategic direction, governance framework and execution discipline.
A significant milestone was achieved as all Group companies reported profitability during the year, underscoring the effectiveness of our strategic direction, governance framework and execution discipline.
Dear Stakeholders,
Since 1926, Kirloskar Brothers Limited (KBL) has been synonymous with engineering excellence and purposeful manufacturing.
What began as a pioneering effort to manufacture pumps in India has, over nearly a century, evolved into a global enterprise delivering solutions that support water security, critical infrastructure, industrial growth and community protection across geographies. Our journey has been defined not only by longevity, but by our ability to adapt, innovate and create impact in a constantly changing world.
The year under review unfolded against a challenging global backdrop. Geopolitical conflicts, trade realignments, volatile tariff regimes, inflationary pressures and uneven economic recovery across regions continued to influence business sentiment and capital investment decisions. In such an environment, resilience, agility and disciplined execution become critical and it is here that the strength of the Kirloskar philosophy once again came to the fore.
Despite these headwinds, the Group demonstrated stability and operational strength, delivering a consistent underlying performance. While foreign exchange movements influenced reported results during the year, the core business remained robust, supported by resilient operating margins and sustained cost and process optimisation initiatives. A significant milestone was achieved as all KBI BV Group companies reported profitability during the calendar year, underscoring the effectiveness of our strategic direction, governance framework and execution discipline. We also enter the new financial year with a strong and healthy order backlog, providing positive visibility and confidence.
Performance across regions remained robust and strategically aligned. SPP Pumps Ltd (UK) delivered a strong performance, driven by record growth in its Fire Division and a higher share of long-term framework contracts, while reinforcing its industry leadership through fourth year to recognition as “Manufacturer of the Year”.
The United States operations recorded an outstanding year, supported by strong distributor engagement, geographic expansion into South America and Canada and focused growth across warehousing, data centres and complex systems. South African operations delivered resilient performance, anchored in long-term partnerships, repeat business and growing government-led demand. The Netherlands operations recorded improved profitability through effective cost optimisation and an expanded presence in the water and power generation sectors.
Another key highlight was the successful turnaround of KBTL Thailand, which achieved profitability following strategic initiatives. The certification of the Thailand facility as an FM/UL approved manufacturing site represents an important strategic milestone, enhancing our competitiveness and strengthening our position in Asia.
Innovation continues to be a key driver of long-term relevance and differentiation. During the year, we introduced new product platforms including the iNSx series, KRO pumps and advanced AR/VR enabled solutions, alongside an IoT-based remote monitoring system that enables predictive maintenance, improves uptime and enhances customer value. These developments reflect our commitment to combining engineering strength with digital capability to meet evolving customer expectations.
In parallel, the Group has made steady progress in its digital transformation journey. The deployment of platforms such as Phoenix for production labour tracking, Colligo for real-time shop floor data capture and service process documentation and Apollo, an AI-enabled tender and documentation tool, has enhanced productivity, strengthened knowledge management and improved decision-making across the organisation.
The certification of the Thailand facility as an FM/UL approved manufacturing site represents an important strategic milestone, enhancing our competitiveness and strengthening our position in Asia.
We also continued to fortify our governance systems, strengthen enterprise-wide risk management and advance de-risking initiatives to support sustainable, long-term growth. In a global environment shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, shifting trade dynamics and cautious capital spending, these measures have been critical. Even amid slower investment cycles in certain markets, our ability to align closely with private and government-led investments, particularly across water, power, fire protection and infrastructure has enabled balanced performance and positioned the Group to respond decisively to emerging opportunities.
I would like to place on record my sincere appreciation to our employees for their commitment and resilience, to our customers and partners for their trust and to our shareholders for their continued confidence. As we move forward, KBL remains firmly anchored in its heritage, guided by strong values and focused on building a future defined by innovation, responsibility and enduring growth.