Hailstone has demonstrated impressive growth, with a 40% increase last year and an anticipated 50% rise this year.

P. L. Muthusekkar, Chief Operating Officer, Hailstone Innovations

How do you describe the current market for your products?

As of now, the market size in the crushing, screening, mining, and washing solutions segment ranges between 9,000 to 10,000 crores, although specific statistical data isn’t readily available. This estimation encompasses both domestic and export businesses, with exports constituting roughly 10% of this market. Deducting this export percentage, we’re looking at an approximate Indian market value of 8,000 to 9,000 crores. Within this sector, there exist around 14 significant players alongside numerous regional entities scattered across different geographical areas. Notably, the industry is experiencing a growth rate of about 9% to 10%, potentially even achieving double-digit growth figures. This momentum can be largely attributed to the government’s emphasis on infrastructure development, which aligns with the overall positive trajectory of India’s economic growth. The interplay between India’s overall development narrative and the focused infrastructure initiatives is contributing significantly to this sector’s expansion.

How do you ensure durability and reliability of your products?

Hailstone’s mobile products, whether on wheels or tracks, boast a proven track record of reliability. Having been stationed in various environments for years, our 30-year-old company has solidified the performance of these products. When it comes to mobile equipment on wheels, meticulous attention is given to ergonomics, design finesse, platform stability, and comprehensive final element analysis. Each component undergoes rigorous testing, ensuring top-notch performance.

What sets Hailstone apart is our unique testing approach. Not only do we conduct individual equipment tests under no load conditions, but we also place the same equipment onto chassis – whether it’s on tracks or wheels – and evaluate its performance. Moreover, we go beyond conventional testing methods by subjecting the machinery to actual operational conditions. Large stones are employed to simulate real crushing scenarios, producing specific outputs as per the customer’s requirements, whether it’s 40 mm, 20 mm, 12 mm, or 6 mm. Screens are customized accordingly, guaranteeing optimal plant performance.

However, this thorough testing process does come with some trade-offs. Delivery timelines may extend by an additional 10 to 12 days. This additional time is necessary as testing with stones requires meticulous cleaning, painting, and other preparatory activities before packing and shipping. This standard procedure is upheld across all our wheel-mounted and mobile equipment at Hailstone.

The environment issues are there and everyone is moving towards alternate fuel. How is your product environment friendly?

In the southern regions of India, particularly in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, many of our plants, even the larger ones processing 400 to 450 tons per hour, are shielded and resemble factories. I extend an open invitation to witness our extensive manufacturing facility in Kerala. Several sites, where we installed crushing plants five to seven years ago, showcase how they’re enclosed and how we’ve implemented conveyor coverings and sprinkler systems to mitigate dust and pollution. This practice aligns with the prevailing norms in various governmental jurisdictions and countries. At Hailstone, we’ve already taken significant strides in reducing pollution. Regarding fuel concerns, we’ve developed hybrid and dual-power machinery. The majority of our mobile equipment can operate either on diesel gensets or via electric powerhouses.

With increase in number of infrastructure projects and construction projects how are you managing your scalability compared to rising demand?

We’ve been actively expanding our production capacity, having brought on board additional vendors. However, beyond merely augmenting our vendor base, our primary focus has been on scaling up our workforce. We’ve strategically increased personnel across various departments within our organization. This concerted effort has been instrumental in empowering Hailstone to not only meet burgeoning demand but also effectively tackle the challenges that come our way.

How do you see industry growth for next 5 years? Where do you see Hailstone in the next 5 years?

If you ask me, the trajectory of industry growth seems promising not just for the next five years, but potentially extending to seven or eight years ahead. The stability in government policies is significantly favorable for both industries and infrastructure. These are all positive indicators pointing toward substantial growth. The development of infrastructure is inevitable as it plays a pivotal role in shaping a robust circular economy and curbing inflation. Let me give you an example: our overburden conversion of sand costs only one-third of what river sand does, which in turn significantly reduces construction expenses. This showcases the ongoing advancements and improvisations in our products.

The future appears exceedingly positive for India over the next five years. Hailstone has demonstrated impressive growth, with a 40% increase last year and an anticipated 50% rise this year. We foresee maintaining a 50% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) in the forthcoming years. This growth trajectory aligns with our vision of reaching a turnover of 1000 crores within the next couple of years, which seems quite promising.

Can you brief us on what are the training and skilling initiatives by Hailstone?

Training and skill development are crucial, extending beyond just our employees. We’ve dedicated significant efforts to training both new hires and existing staff, intensifying our focus and activities in this realm. To bolster our initiatives, we’ve engaged various consultants and teams dedicated to training. Our emphasis extends to providing operator training for our end customers, which significantly enhances machine maintenance, availability, and overall productivity. I firmly believe that machines thrive when properly used, not abused.

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