The demand for pumps in India has been growing at a steady pace due to their increased application in several end-user sectors. Pump manufacturers in India have, till now, focused solely on the agricultural and construction services sectors. However, the increasing oil demand and rising investments in water and wastewater treatment activities are also likely to affect the pump market substantially. Domestic demand is largely being met by local vendors with robust capabilities.
Industrial pumps are also witnessing high demand from the cement, steel, oil and gas, water, and wastewater sectors. The industrial pump market in India is expected to reach over $2 billion by 2026. The water, wastewater, chemical, pharmaceutical, construction, food and beverage, and mining industries are expected to become the major end-users of these pumps in India. Factors such as the increased focus on energy efficient products in the water and wastewater industry, the development of generic pharmaceuticals, rapid urbanisation, rise in massive housing schemes, and expansion of infrastructure projects are likely to influence the growth of industrial pumps in the country.
India’s pump market is highly fragmented, with small, medium and large vendors operating across the country. Buyers tend to have long-term contracts with vendors that possess engineering expertise and extensive experience. Another key competitive factor for vendors is providing after-sales services.
On the basis of regional growth, southern India is expected to lead the pump market in terms of revenue. The region is likely to register revenues of over $1.1 billion by 2026. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are projected to emerge as the major contributors to the revenue market share.
Pumps can be classified into positive displacement and dynamic pumps, based on the type of operating principle. Displacement pumps can be further classified as rotary and reciprocating pumps, while dynamic pumps can be centrifugal or special effect pumps. The centrifugal pump market in India is expected to become highly competitive in the coming years, with several established vendors expanding their product portfolios. Centrifugal pumps are best suited for non-air-or vapour-containing liquids with low viscosity. The technological capabilities of centrifugal pumps such as submersible pumps are a key driver for increased demand from India’s agricultural sector. The continuous decrease in groundwater levels is also contributing to the rising demand for submersible pumps among farmers. Meanwhile, the increasing awareness of energy star ratings among consumers is expected to drive the market towards energy efficient and modern pumps.
Need for technological advancement
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a paradigm shift in the operations of various industries. Companies are now being forced to implement digital strategies and adopt relevant technologies. Adapting to the digital transformation will be an important factor for the sustainability of industries in the post-Covid world.
Moreover, due to massive growth in infrastructure development, many sectors such as domestic buildings, commercial buildings, industries and water utilities are becoming highly dependent on water pump systems in their daily operations. For such routine activities, pumps need to be resistant to failure with a high capacity for fast functioning. Traditional pump systems are often prone to leakages and require human intervention.
In order to ensure higher efficiency in operations, there is a need to integrate advanced technologies into pump solutions that can help operators measure pump performance. This will help in improving productivity, saving energy and delivering the desired output. Hence, technology upgradation and digitalisation will play vital roles in shaping the future of the organised pump market in India.
Recent technological advancements
Internet of things (IoT) is an emerging digital solution in the smart infrastructure sector. The integration of IoT in pump solutions has helped in developing a human-machine interface that allows the operation of pumps in real time with reduced human effort. Smart sensors that integrate embedded sensors and external sensor arrays are an example of this technology. IoT’s interconnectivity facilitates the creation of a network of devices equipped with smart solutions, thus enabling an ecosystem of wireless connections across a facility.
Digitalisation is another trend that has brought revolutionary applications and technologies to the development of pumps. Innovators have been leveraging big data analytics by integrating digital technologies in pump systems. This will help in optimising their effectiveness by studying, foreseeing and rectifying recurring damages. Big data analytics will also help in proactively monitoring the history of a pump system to be serviced, thereby reducing the servicing time and increasing accuracy in rectifying failures within shorter periods of time. Big data analytics will thus prevent disruption of work in extensive facilities where several systems are interdependent and a breakdown in any one unit may delay the overall outcome.
Another innovative upcoming technique is the ability to customise modern pumps, which will enable pump systems to experience shorter downtimes and fewer failures, thereby emphasising the benefits of digitalised pump solutions.
Grundfos has been at the forefront of introducing innovative pumping solutions. Its iSOLUTIONS, for instance, is designed to study the performance of a pump and adapt to it in order to minimise energy consumption. This solution has also made pumps smarter and greener. In a bid to address the issue of water leakage, Grundfos came up with a demand driven distribution (DDD) solution. This is a multi-pump solution operating at proportional pressure, which is essential for effective leakage management. It is designed to provide the precise amount of flow at the same pressure. DDD has helped in water leakage reduction by up to 20 per cent.
Grundfos has also launched a mobile application called SmArt Serv. This intelligent application allows customers to connect with the company team or the nearest service provider on a real-time basis, and report their issues. Assistance requests for digital pumps are usually fixed remotely, while for onsite issues, the service provider deputes an engineer.
Other major players in the organised pump market have also been introducing innovative and energy efficient pumping solutions. Kirloskar Brother Limited has launched two innovative pumping solutions, KU6 and K-Kleen 25. The KU6 is an oil-filled borewell submersible pump series, available in three variants, and is designed to ensure higher efficiency at a lower cost. Meanwhile, the K-Kleen 25 has been designed to improve the quality of water delivered through pumps and is equipped with an inbuilt in-line chlorinator and cartridge that facilitate the filtering of water flowing through the pump.
Future outlook
Going forward, the pump industry will have to adopt digital solutions to ensure efficiency in operations. The use of IoT technology in compressors, centrifugal pumps and positive displacement pumps is estimated to grow manyfold in the next few years. Companies have started recognising the importance of digitalisation in order to develop smarter pumps.
Modern pumps are now being developed to fulfil the construction needs of the future, wherein output will need to be delivered faster and with optimum competence. Hence, integrating digital technologies into pumps is the need of the hour.