Acquisition of Parador was the biggest contributor to our topline growth

01 Sep 2019 Editorial Team

Name one major challenge faced in FY2018-19. How did the company tackle it?

It was to achieve the aggressive growth plan made for the polymer solutions business. Major capacity expansion along with new product introduction happened during the year in this business and the operation process took some time to stabilise. Proper coordination and meticulous planning combined with focused efforts on expansion of distribution network and branding led to our growth.

Name one decision you consider the biggest contributor to the company’s growth in FY2018-19.

The biggest event in FY2018-19 that contributed to the company’s topline growth was the acquisition of vertically integrated premium wooden flooring brand, Parador. The company has two manufacturing plants—one each in Germany and Austria—and its products are sold in 86 countries across the globe. Parador is the No. 1 brand in Germany and has won many accolades year on year for its technology, innovation, design and quality..

What is one single factor you avoided that could have otherwise impacted the company’s topline and bottomline?

Nothing specific was avoided. All possible actions were taken to ensure significant growth both in the topline and bottomline.

What are your plans for the company’s growth in FY2019-20?

We have worked on the cultural and financial integration of Parador in the past year and the integration process was very smooth and successfully completed. We have been continuously working on improving operating efficiencies and Lean-Six Sigma initiatives have been undertaken both at HIL and Parador, which we believe will result in substantial cost reduction going forward. Plans are in place to continue to grow the polymer solutions business aggressively. The new non-asbestos, cement-based corrugated roofing sheet under the brand Charminar Fortune has shown good traction and work has already been initiated to put up additional capacity in the coming year. Capacity expansion is also proposed in the building solutions business as the existing blocks and panels plants are at 95 per cent capacity utilisation.

HIL	Net Sales	EBITDA	Reported PAT
FY19 (Rs Billion)	22.08	2.81	1.01
Growth over FY18 (%)	72.54	65.03	25.56

Your next big infra connection is waiting at RAHSTA 2025 – Asia’s Biggest Roads & Highways Expo, Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. Don’t miss out!

Established in 1946, HIL is a flagship company of the CK Birla Group. It is the world’s largest manufacturer and seller of fibre cement roofing and offers comprehensive building solutions. For the past 70 years, the company has achieved market leadership by developing and marketing advanced, high-quality, innovative, sustainable products for the building materials industry. It has six major brands: Charminar, Birla Aerocon, Charminar Fortune, Hysil, Birla HIL and recently acquired German wooden flooring brand Parador. Dhirup Roy Choudhary, Managing Director, shares more....Name one major challenge faced in FY2018-19. How did the company tackle it?It was to achieve the aggressive growth plan made for the polymer solutions business. Major capacity expansion along with new product introduction happened during the year in this business and the operation process took some time to stabilise. Proper coordination and meticulous planning combined with focused efforts on expansion of distribution network and branding led to our growth.Name one decision you consider the biggest contributor to the company’s growth in FY2018-19.The biggest event in FY2018-19 that contributed to the company’s topline growth was the acquisition of vertically integrated premium wooden flooring brand, Parador. The company has two manufacturing plants—one each in Germany and Austria—and its products are sold in 86 countries across the globe. Parador is the No. 1 brand in Germany and has won many accolades year on year for its technology, innovation, design and quality..What is one single factor you avoided that could have otherwise impacted the company’s topline and bottomline?Nothing specific was avoided. All possible actions were taken to ensure significant growth both in the topline and bottomline.What are your plans for the company’s growth in FY2019-20? We have worked on the cultural and financial integration of Parador in the past year and the integration process was very smooth and successfully completed. We have been continuously working on improving operating efficiencies and Lean-Six Sigma initiatives have been undertaken both at HIL and Parador, which we believe will result in substantial cost reduction going forward. Plans are in place to continue to grow the polymer solutions business aggressively. The new non-asbestos, cement-based corrugated roofing sheet under the brand Charminar Fortune has shown good traction and work has already been initiated to put up additional capacity in the coming year. Capacity expansion is also proposed in the building solutions business as the existing blocks and panels plants are at 95 per cent capacity utilisation. .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;padding:10px 5px;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;overflow:hidden;word-break:normal;border-color:black;} .tg th{font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;padding:10px 5px;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;overflow:hidden;word-break:normal;border-color:black;} .tg .tg-6yhw{font-weight:bold;background-color:#ffcb2f;color:#000000;border-color:#000000;text-align:right;vertical-align:top} .tg .tg-fea7{font-weight:bold;background-color:#ffcb2f;color:#000000;border-color:#000000;text-align:left;vertical-align:top} .tg .tg-5agr{color:#343434;border-color:inherit;text-align:left;vertical-align:top} .tg .tg-39dc{color:#343434;border-color:inherit;text-align:right;vertical-align:top} HIL Net Sales EBITDA Reported PAT FY19 (Rs Billion) 22.08 2.81 1.01 Growth over FY18 (%) 72.54 65.03 25.56

Real Estate

05 Sep 2025

Vitizen Hotels Signs Deal at Manyata Tech Park

Vikram Kamats Hospitality, as part of its ongoing expansion in key metropolitan markets, announced that its material subsidiary, Vitizen Hotels, has signed a long-term lease agreement for a 45-key hotel property at Manyata Tech Park, Bengaluru.Strategically located in the city’s prominent IT hub, the property is well-positioned to serve corporate travelers, business professionals, and long-stay guests. The addition aligns with the company’s asset-light growth model, leveraging long-term leases to expand its footprint in high-demand urban markets.The hotel is expected to strengthen the comp..

Infrastructure Transport

05 Sep 2025

CONCOR Signs MoU with BPIPL to Operate Container Terminal at Bhavnagar Port

Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bhavnagar Port Infrastructure (BPIPL) on September 4, 2025, in New Delhi to operate and maintain the upcoming container terminal at the northside of Bhavnagar Port, Gujarat.BPIPL had earlier entered into an agreement with the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) in September 2024 for the port’s development. Under this arrangement, 235 hectares of land has been leased to BPIPL for 30 years, with provision for expansion by an additional 250 hectares.The new terminal is expected to significantly enhance logistic..

Infrastructure Transport

05 Sep 2025

Concord Launches India’s First Indigenous Zero-Emission Rail Propulsion

Concord Control Systems (CCSL), a leader in embedded electronics and critical rail technologies, has announced the development of India’s first fully indigenous zero-emission propulsion system, marking a significant step toward the country’s railway electrification and net-zero goals for 2030.Powered by Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries and featuring a DC chopper-based drive, the propulsion system eliminates idling losses common in diesel engines, offering higher efficiency, lower costs, and zero emissions.What sets this innovation apart is its completely indigenous design. Except for..