Satisfaction Guaranteed at CertainTeed
"Saint Gobain CertainTeed is a leading manufacturer of roofing shingles and exterior building products in the USA. It has a legacy of over 100 years and is one of the most respected brands in the US, noted for its quality and customer satisfaction. CertainTeed entered into India in 2004 and is a market leader by far, holding the lion's share in the roofing shingles market," avers Mr. Harish Holalu, Senior Manager-Building Products & Solutions, Saint Gobain, Grindwell Norton Ltd., in an interview with S D Khan.

Please brief us about the Saint Gobain Group, the various verticals it offers and its modus operandi in India.
Established in 1665 in France, the Saint-Gobain group has around 2 lac employees in 64 countries and a sales turnover of 32 million Euros. It is one of the top 100 industrial corporations in the world and the global leader in habitat and construction markets, providing innovative and sustainable solutions. The group has four main sectors namely, Construction Products, Innovative Materials, Building Distribution and Packaging and is a global and European leader in each of its businesses.

Satisfaction Guaranteed at CertainTeed

Saint-Gobain in India has 8 companies which includes Glass & Grindwell Norton in Innovative Materials sector and Gypsum & Weber in Construction Products sector. The group places great emphasis on developing its businesses and strengthening its presence in the Indian market. There have been continued investments in India to fuel growth and provide state-of-the- art products to our customers.

How mature is the market for shingles in India and what role has Saint Gobain played in creating this market?
Satisfaction Guaranteed at CertainTeed
Saint-Gobain, through CeratinTeed, its group company from USA, is the pioneer in shingles and has been champion for these products in the Indian market. Shingles is a composite material, made up of fiberglass reinforced, high grade, mineral-stabilised asphalt based mats which are overlaid with high strength ceramic coated granules. It is about 4mm thick and is applied on sloping roofs of concrete slabs or wooden decks. We have been promoting the products through a nationwide awareness drive, interacting with architects, builders, and other influencers.

A word about CertainTeed brand and its history in India.
Saint Gobain CertainTeed is a leading manufacturer of roofing shingles and exterior building products in the USA. It has a legacy of over 100 years and is one of the most respected brands in the US, noted for its quality and customer satisfaction.
Satisfaction Guaranteed at CertainTeed

CertainTeed entered into India in 2004 and is a market leader by far, holding the lion's share in the roofing shingles market. Recognised for its advantages and stunning aesthetic appeal, it is fast becoming one of the most preferred options for sloped roofs with over 6 million sqft roofing applications spanning all building segments, particularly resorts, gated communities, government buildings and individual bungalows to name a few. Recently with the introduction of ‘vinyl wall cladding system,' CertainTeed is set to reach new heights in the coming years in the Indian construction arena.
Satisfaction Guaranteed at CertainTeed

What is CertainTeed's USP?
Superior aesthetic appeal with international feel was the initial USP, but now the market is realising the benefits of using shingles which are waterproof, unbreakable, flexible and come with warranties ranging from 20 to 50 years. ‘Value for money' is now the new approach. The name CertainTeed by itself is derived from our motto - "Quality made Certain - Satisfaction Guaranteed."

Is CertainTeed meant for institutional sales or the retail channel?
Satisfaction Guaranteed at CertainTeed
At present, CertainTeed caters to project requirements through institutional selling. This is more due to the fact that a certain level of expertise is required for application of CertainTeed products. We have a well-trained dealer-cum applicators network across India to cater to the market.

Are you impacted by the recessionary trends in the construction sector?
Satisfaction Guaranteed at CertainTeed
There is a sense of caution in the construction sector and builders as well end-users are holding back on investing aggressively. But then, housing is a basic need and a core aspiration of everyone, and we are offering ‘value for money' products which are innovative and sustainable. There has not been much impact on our growth in India due to the slowdown.

Satisfaction Guaranteed at CertainTeed
How do you train the applicators?
Training has always been one of our top most priorities. A dedicated Products Manager and a team of Application Engineers provide refresher training to our dealers-cum-applicators across India. We have designed a training-calendar which has a combination of classroom and onsite training programs, done on a regular basis to ensure that the applicators are constantly updated and our customers get the actual benefit of this exercise.
EXCON 2023: Showcasing Construction Industry’s Resilience and Vibrancy
I am sure that a lot of excitement and enthusiasm is building up for the coming week when EXCON 2023, one of the largest construction equipment and technology trade fairs in the world, will open its door to welcome all the

Read more ...

Shri Gadkari discusses on road construction policies, technologies, challenges
In a prelude to EXCON 2023, Hon’ble Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, discusses with S. A. Faridi,Group Managing Editor, various aspects of road construction including policies

Read more ...

ICEMA: equipment industry growth prospect, challenges, training etc
V. Vivekanand, President - ICEMA and Managing Director - Caterpillar India, shares his views on the growth prospects of India’s construction equipment industry and the need for it to embrace higher technology standards to solidify its position

Read more ...

BAI working on construction technologies, sustainability, standardization
According to S. Narsimha Reddy, President, Builders’ Association of India, modern construction technologies, use of sustainable building materials and standardisation are important for achieving project completion timelines

Read more ...

COAOI creating favorable environment for crane rental companies
COAOI engages with the government and relevant stakeholders to promote a more conducive business environment so that crane rental companies can operate efficiently and contribute to the nation’s infrastructure development while maintaining safety

Read more ...

CERA: rental co. instrumental in construction equipment industry growth
Rentals are paving the way forward for the construction equipment industry, and to ensure long-term resilience and growth, we are championing initiatives like unity, standardization, and commitment to fair practices

Read more ...

JCB India: Hi-tech Excavators, Telehandlers, Backhoe Loaders & AWP
JCB is a leading construction equipment manufacturer with a comprehensive range of products that include mini excavators, skid steer loaders, telehandlers backhoe loaders, access platforms, compactors, excavators

Read more ...

Volvo CE: Time-Tested Excavators, Compactors & Asphalt Pavers
Volvo CE started its India operations in 1998 to manufacture crawler excavators, soil compactors, and asphalt pavers. In 2022, it introduced time-tested quality machines like the EC300DL BH, custom-built for quarries, and Volvo EC480D

Read more ...

Wirtgen: Advanced Road Construction, Crushing & Screeing Equipment
With its various product brands WIRTGEN, VÖGELE, HAMM, KLEEMANN and BENNINGHOVEN, the WIRTGEN GROUP covers the entire road construction process chain from processing, mixing, paving, compacting, and road rehabilitation to

Read more ...

Schwing Stetter: Top Quality Concrete & Road Construction Equipment
Schwing Stetter India is a leading provider of a wide range of top-quality products for use in concreting, road building, earthmoving, power projects, high-speed rails, metro rails, and other mega projects. The company invests in developing

Read more ...

Puzzolana: High-Capacity & Hybrid Crawler Crushers, Screens & sanders
Puzzolana is adopting the latest technologies and bringing sustainability in its construction equipment. The company has optimized its production processes by incorporating robotics in painting and assembly, with the aim of achieving

Read more ...

Tata Hitachi: Hydraulic Excavators, Backhoe Loaders & Wheel Loaders
The product lineup of Tata Hitachi India includes a wide range of excavators, ranging from 2-ton mini excavators (including construction and mining variants) to models as hefty as 800 tons, which incorporate the excavator range

Read more ...

ACE High performance Mobile, Truck, Tower Cranes & Backhoe loaders
ACE is gearing up for Excon 23 to showcase its latest innovations, engage with industry leaders, and reinforce its position as a trailblazer in the field. Renowned for its Mobile and Tower Cranes, the company prioritizes sustainability

Read more ...

L&T's fuel efficient Excavators, Compactors, Wheel Loaders
Komatsu and L&T Construction & Mining Machinery are delivering top-notch products using the latest technologies and based on an understanding of customer needs. Its advanced models include electric Hydraulic Excavators and

Read more ...

Ammann's High Recycling Tech Asphalt Plant, Tandem Roller & Paver
Ammann India is a 100% subsidiary of construction equipment major Ammann Switzerland - a 150-year-old company and a world-leading supplier of mixing plants, machines and services to the construction industry with core expertise in road

Read more ...

SANY offers Machinery for Earthmoving, Lifting, Mining, Concrete & Road
SANY India, a leading heavy construction equipment company operating in India and South Asia, offers a wide range of machinery for various applications such as Earthmoving, Lifting, Foundation, Mining, Ports, Concrete

Read more ...

Kobelco: Offers Tech-rich & Environment- Friendly Excavators & Cranes
Kobelco Construction Equipment, a subsidiary of Kobelco Construction Machinery, Japan, offers earthmovers and cranes that are tech-rich, environment-friendly, and customized for different jobsite conditions. The products are being made

Read more ...

Caterpillar India: Versatile Excavators, Backhoe, & Wheel Loaders
Caterpillar is a technology leader in the industry with 100+ years in product innovation and development. The company’s technology strategy is determined by its assessment of how and where its machines will be working over the

Read more ...

Liebherr India: Offers High-Capacity Premium Mobile & tower Cranes
German crane manufacturing behemoth Liebherr is continuing to position its cranes as ‘high premium’ in the rapidly evolving Indian mobile and crawler crane market. The company has a strong footprint in heavy lift, industrial and

Read more ...

Terex India: Advanced Crushing & Screening and Pick N Carry Cranes
Terex entered the Indian market in 2000 with a primary focus on serving the mining industry. The initial emphasis was on crushing and screening products, where we garnered a significant market share, particularly in track-mounted

Read more ...