APL Apollo launches colour coated pipes for the first time in India

A big boon for prevention of rusting of pipes in transit and at sites

Bengaluru 16th April 2015  : APL Apollo Tubes Limited, is the largest manufacturer of ERW steel pipes in India. It produces over 7 lac tonnes of pipes every year. The company has launched colour coated pipes in India. This is the first time that colour coated will be produced in the country.

The company has set up a state of the art painting facility at its state of the art facility at Murbad, near Mumbai. Commercial production of colour coated pipes has been started with help from technology imported from Turkey.

The pipes are painted with the chosen colour at the manufacturing location. The pipes are given a heat treatment to ensure that the colour lasts for years.

Mr Sanjay Gupta, Executive Chairman of the company said, “The colour coated pipes have been available abroad for some time. APL Apollo has taken the initiative to bring this technology to India now. We have received an extremely good response from the architects, structural consultants, fire fighting consultants.

Steel pipes are generally available bare, in steel neutral colour. These are then painted at site for aesthetics and rust prevention. This creates air and land pollution apart from being expensive.

APL Apollo is solving this problem by painting the pipes in controlled condition in the factory. This is not only economical but also minimizes the impact on the environment. Painting in automatic lines also ensures better quality and longer life.

Pipes after manufacturing take time during transit and are exposed to varying environmental conditions. They can get superficial surface corrosion during transit particularly in humid weather. The colour coating of pipes before despatch will tackle this problem of rusting of pipes in transit and also when the pipes are lying at the sites for weeks or months before being utilized.

Moreover painting such rusted pipes not only involves greater effort to remove the rusting, but it also impacts the cost upwardly. The painting itself is not as good as it should be. This may affect its life as well.

Currently the colour coated pipes are available in two colours, Aqua Blue and Brick Red. Other colour options will also be available. All kinds of Black round and hollow sections, galvanized and pre galvanized pipes can be colour coated.

Ashok Gupta, Managing Director of the company said,†The pre-painted pipes will help maintain the sanctity of the specifications of the pipes at usage. The user has the option to put any colour coating on the top. The result is better final finish & aesthetic appeal. Whats more, the pre-painting process is environment friendly!

APL Apollo colour coated pipes are particularly suitable for use in Architectural and Structural applications, Roofing, Airports, warehouses, Expo centres, Fire fighting etc.

The company will continue to develop new products to compliment its wide basket of over 350 different pipes and sections.