Hindustan COLAS: Pioneering Runway Solutions for India and Beyond

• Anoop Mishra & Subhendu Kundu discuss Runway Innovations and Sustainability

By Sangeeta Saxena

New Delhi. 09 December 2024. In a dynamic interview at an aviation expo, Anoop Mishra, General Business Head, and Subhendu Kundu, Head of Marketing and Branding, from Hindustan COLAS (HINCOL), share insights into their company’s innovative products and contributions to the aviation sector. As a 50-50 joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and COLAS SA of France, HINCOL has been revolutionizing infrastructure solutions for over 29 years. The duo sheds light on their expertise in creating sustainable and durable runways and how their quality-driven approach supports both civil and military aviation sectors.

ADU. Can you explain the name HINCOL?

Subhendu Kundu. Hindustan COLAS (HINCOL) operates as a board-managed company, drawing resources and expertise from both its parent entities, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and COLAS SA of France. Senior personnel from HPCL are deputed to manage HINCOL, ensuring that the company benefits from their extensive experience and strategic insights. The collaboration also includes representation from COLAS on the company’s board, reinforcing the partnership’s international dimension. Notably, the chairmanship alternates every two years between HPCL and COLAS, reflecting the balanced and cooperative nature of the joint venture. As a 50-50 joint venture, HINCOL exemplifies a unique and successful partnership model. Despite the challenges of operating in a competitive market, the company continues to thrive, establishing itself as a significant player in India’s infrastructure sector.

ADU. What brings HINCOL to this aviation expo, and what products are you showcasing?

Anoop Mishra. Let me start with a brief about HINCOL. We are a 50-50 joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), a leading Indian oil marketing company, and COLAS SA, a French multinational operating in over 80 countries. COLAS specializes in providing solutions across mobility sectors—aviation, rail, and road. At this expo, we are showcasing our solutions for sustainable and durable runways, aligning with the Indian government’s push to invest in aviation infrastructure.

ADU. Does your work extend to both military and civil aviation?

Anoop Mishra. Absolutely. Over the past 7-8 years, we’ve supplied products to more than 80% of defence runways, including solutions like VG-40, performance-grade polymer-modified bitumen, and customized products tailored to specific designs. We also provide consultancy on binder selection.

ADU. Can you give details on R&D set ups you have?

Subhendu Kundu. In fact, Colas has got a very valuable R&D centre in Paris that is well known for its work on innovative technologies and innovative products. We have got our R&D centre at Bombay. We are in the process of opening another R&D centre at Bangalore. At HINCOL, we prioritise our clients’ needs when doing research and development. Every project is different, and our R&D centre is committed to comprehending the particular requirements and difficulties of our clients. We adhere to a customer-centric methodology in which we collaborate closely with our clients to provide unique solutions that satisfy their project specifications. In order to meet the changing demands of the industry, our R&D centre is always working to create new bituminous products.

We work hard to develop cutting-edge products that provide exceptional performance, robustness, and sustainability through in-depth study, testing, and analysis. In order to guarantee the optimal performance of our goods in the field, we work with our clients to create optimized mix designs that satisfy project parameters. Our cutting-edge facilities and technical know-how enable us to carry out a thorough combination of design testing, analysis, and optimization to assist our clients throughout the project’s execution. To guarantee successful project execution, our team of professionals offers technical advice, troubleshooting, and support. We collaborate closely with our clients, learning about their particular needs and difficulties in order to provide solutions that enhance their road building projects.

ADU. Tell us about your manufacturing facilities in India.

Anoop Mishra. We have 10 strategically located manufacturing plants across India, enabling us to meet requirements efficiently. These plants are backed by advanced R&D facilities, ensuring that our products meet global standards. For instance, our plants supply binders to both civil projects like Navi Mumbai Airport and defence runways like those for the Indian Air Force.

ADU. What role does sustainability play in your operations?

Subhendu Kundu. Sustainability is at the heart of what we do. Since bitumen is an imported product, building durable and long-lasting runways helps conserve foreign exchange. Our focus is on providing high-performance solutions that reduce wastage and enhance longevity. Runways like those at Navi Mumbai, Delhi, and Guwahati airports use our products, ensuring sustainable infrastructure development.

ADU. Are you also catering to markets outside India?

Anoop Mishra. Yes, apart from India, we export to Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. COLAS operates globally, and HINCOL focuses on markets in close proximity to India. This regional reach helps us expand our footprint while maintaining quality and service excellence.

ADU. How do you ensure the quality of your products?

Subhendu Kundu. Quality is our top priority. We follow a stringent Quality Assurance Process (QAP) and use advanced R&D equipment sourced from abroad. Our facilities are equipped with the most sophisticated instruments, ensuring that our products meet international benchmarks. We at HINCOL establish industry norms. We are leading the charge to promote innovation and create new industry standards as active members of the Bureau of Indian Standards’ (BIS) Committee on Bitumen, Tar, and Their Products. Our products are guaranteed to satisfy the highest international standards thanks to our advanced manufacturing facilities, strict quality control procedures, and knowledgeable staff.

ADU. Could you elaborate on your joint venture model with COLAS?

Anoop Mishra. It’s a unique 50-50 joint venture. The board is managed by representatives from both HPCL and COLAS, with the chairmanship rotating every two years. This model allows us to leverage expertise from both partners, ensuring innovation, quality, and trust in every product we deliver.

ADU. Any notable projects you’d like to highlight?

Anoop Mishra. Certainly. For example, we were the sole supplier for the Purvanchal and Bundelkhand Expressway projects, which include runway patches capable of handling aircraft landings. These projects showcase the durability and quality of our products, supporting both transportation and defense needs.

ADU. What is your vision for the future?

Subhendu Kundu. Our vision is to grow alongside India’s expanding infrastructure needs, especially in the aviation sector. We aim to deliver high-quality products and partner with our customers to build infrastructure that lasts. Whether it’s a highway or a runway, we treat every project as if it’s our own.

ADU. Can you give an insight onto your quality control measures?

Subhendu Kundu. Let me reiterate on our quality controls also, we have got a QAP process and the kind of equipment which we are using in our R&D lab, they are the most advanced equipment available in India and not many people have those kind of instruments or equipment. They are coming from abroad and we have the best equipment.

ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 are international standards that must be met by all of our HINCOL plants in order to design, develop, manufacture, and supply bitumen emulsions, modified bitumen, and other bituminous products and services with added value.

The National Accreditation Board for Testing & Calibration Laboratories (NABL) has additionally certified our R&D technical center and quality control labs at all of our sites. These certificates guarantee that our goods and services adhere to strict quality control procedures and the highest industry standards.

In order to continuously provide our clients with a superior and unique product, HINCOL has put in place a Quality Excellence Index (QEx) that incorporates every aspect of our quality system. This strategy guarantees that our goods and services are always of the greatest calibre, dependable, and meet or beyond the expectations of our clients. In order to give our clients state-of-the-art solutions that yield the best outcomes, we are dedicated to ongoing innovation and improvement.

ADU. Anything else you’d like to add?

Anoop Mishra. Just to reiterate, HINCOL is committed to creating durable, sustainable infrastructure. With our advanced facilities, quality focus, and dedicated team, we’re here to contribute significantly to India’s growth story.

Anoop Mishra and Subhendu Kundu of Hindustan COLAS highlight the company’s commitment to delivering high-quality infrastructure solutions for the aviation sector. By leveraging their expertise and global collaboration with COLAS, HINCOL is paving the way for durable and sustainable infrastructure in India and neighbouring regions. It’s vision for quality and service excellence positions it as a key player in India’s growth story.

As told to Sangeeta Saxena