IBMA’s third AGM showed the resolve of SMEs to get organised and become technologically competitive
The Indian Bath Manufacturers Association (IBMA) held its third Annual General Meeting in New Delhi on 5th May. The event, which also included a technical seminar and exhibition of component suppliers, was attended by over 250 members of the fraternity. HSIIDC’s senior executive Salil Narang was the chief guest.
The meeting was opened by IBMA’s founding member and executive committee official Dinesh Agarwal, who is also managing director of Agmeco Faucets. Agarwal recalled how the idea to address common challenges facing the bathroom fittings industry cropped up in 2013, when a group of 20-odd manufacturers met to discuss pressing issues.
“The response has been overwhelming and we now are a group of over 200 manufacturers from across India, but mainly from Delhi NCR, Chandigarh, Mathura etc.” Agarwal stated that IBMA’s core mission is to accelerate adoption of technology and best practices and help the industry become organised. To this end the association has organised educational seminars on various topics including GST. “Also on the cards is an industrial cluster catering to the bath fittings industry, about which we have been in discussions for some time. Our interactions with HSIIDC indicate that the cluster may soon become a reality, and could possibly come up in Kharkhoda, in Haryana’s Sonipat district.”
Ajit Garg, president of the association, shared the way ahead. “We need to get organised to survive in this competitive market,” he stressed, adding that it was due to the efforts of the association that the government agreed to lowering GST rates from 28% to 18% on bath fittings. He also informed that Haryana government had identified a 100-acre land parcel near Kharkhoda, and that talks were on with HSIIDC for allotment of 20 acres for the bath fittings industrial cluster at discounted rates.
Initiatives in Pipeline
- Seminar on technologies related to processes of the industry such as casting, electroplating, etc.
- B2B expo
- Standardisation of specifications for bathroom products, to facilitate specialisation, interchangeability of parts, and servicing
- Common after-sales service across country
The presidential address was followed by technical presentations from Neoperl, Busy, Ace International, Kesaria Industries, DNR Techno Services, Guru Kripa Metal, and other sponsors.
Neoperl’s managing director Navin Vats showcased his company’s expertise in developing products that can control water flow to exact specifications such as aerators, flow regulators, check valves, pressure compensating washers, etc. “Not only will such precise components help the bath fittings industry become more technology-oriented, but will also help in water conservation,” he asserted.
Dinesh Gupta, managing director of accounting software major Busy Infotech, revealed that his company had customised its Busy software for small and medium businesses in the bath fittings sector, to provide users a one-stop solution for accounting, customer and operations management.
IBMA’s leadership received widespread appreciation from members for commitment to the common cause, as well as the initiatives being taken to make the industry competitive and organised.
