Kirloskar Brothers Limited (KBL) marked a historic milestone by inaugurating a new factory building at its Kaniyur Manufacturing Facility in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
The event was doubly significant, falling exactly 100 years after KBL manufactured and installed India’s very first centrifugal pump in January 1926.
A Legacy of Firsts: Centenary & Inclusion
The Kaniyur facility holds a unique position in global manufacturing as the world’s only 100% women-operated pump manufacturing plant.
- Historical Context: In 1926, KBL revolutionized Indian industry by installing the first domestic centrifugal pump.
- Current Achievement: The Kaniyur plant has previously set records for the shortest pump assembly time (approximately 17.25 seconds) and maintains a massive production capacity of roughly 1.6 lakh pumps per month.
Green Manufacturing & Financial Gains
The new expansion serves as a blueprint for KBL’s “Sustainable Excellence” framework, achieving massive reductions in its carbon footprint:
| Metric | Achievement / Impact |
| Renewable Energy Use | Meets ~80% of total electricity requirements. |
| Emissions Reduction | Cuts Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 89%. |
| Carbon Savings | Reduces carbon emissions by 122.5 tCO₂e. |
| Direct Savings | Expected annual savings of ₹21.64 lakh in power costs. |
Strategic Market Expansion: Retail Petroleum
Coinciding with this expansion, KBL is aggressively pivoting toward the high-stakes retail petroleum sector, challenging long-standing international monopolies.
- Major Order: KBL recently secured a contract from Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) to supply 14,000 pump sets for its retail outlets.
- Technological Edge: The company has introduced ATEX-certified (Atmospheres Explosibles) submersible turbine pumps. These certifications are critical for safe operation in explosive environments, allowing KBL to compete directly with American and European giants in the oil and gas segment.