Is New Zealand the answer to India’s green building solution?

By AT Bureau

Mumbai: As India’s construction industry flourishes, exciting market opportunities continue to arise for Indian business from New Zealand’s innovative new building systems. Renowned for its “100 percent pure” image and proud tradition of sustainable development, New Zealand has a long history of developing innovative building products and services that stand up to earthquakes, fires and adverse weather conditions
New Zealand-developed products on show at building exhibition ACETECH this week included sustainable wood products such as New Zealand Pine. Pine can be manufactured into a high-grade material strong enough to be used solely as fire resistant bridges or beams, or treated to create sustainable furniture and interiors. Also unveiled for use in India were a range of sustainable solutions for the manufacturing, construction and architectural sectors.
“India has long been recognised for its growth potential in the manufacturing and industrial sectors. New Zealand companies aim to provide India with technical expertise and sustainable solutions for the steel, infrastructure and wood industry” says Gavin Young, New Zealand Consul General and Trade Commissioner in Mumbai.
Developers looking for an environmentally friendly choice to fulfil India’s market for wooden flooring and furniture found a sustainable match in New Zealand’s Craigpine Timber Ltd, a company championing sustainable sources of medium-density wood reinforced with a non-toxic chemical, preparing NZ Pine to accept stains and clear finishes evenly before being turned into furniture, flooring or cabinetry.
Jeff Chambers from Craigpine Timber Ltd, who travelled from New Zealand to Mumbai to showcase the product, said “The availability of New Zealand Pine as a sustainable and renewable resource makes it an attractive and acceptable alternative for India. The wood can be used for everything from structural uses to beautiful interiors and designer furniture.”
Christchurch, New Zealand- based Redesign Group continued its recent success at the show. The company has expanded steadily in India on the back of the reputation earned completing the Mumbai International Airport food court. Redesign has gone on to develop more than 24 food and beverage and retail sites at the Indira Gandhi Delhi International Airport, and is tendering for further refurbishment work around India.
Also present were New Zealand companies specialising in niche construction products. Hayes International manufacture machinery for customising flat rolled steel and steel framing with a track record of earthquake resilience. This innovative machinery will allow for unique design requirements in high-end Indian commercial and residential construction projects. Other New Zealand architecture, design and infrastructure companies present at the exhibition were Temperzone, WG-ST Architects and Designers, Cemix, Howick Ltd, Hot Water Heat Pumps, Timber bond, Overclad Cladding System, Framecad and Fisher & Paykel Appliances.