by Sudeep Kolte, Vice President Sales and Marketing at Saint-Gobain India - Gyproc
The word "warehouse" conjured up pictures of dusty godowns on the outskirts of town, with stuff stacked recklessly from floor to ceiling only a few years ago. Fast forward to the current time, modern warehouses are organized and automated with IoT capabilities, making them a vital part of India's logistics business. Apart from the advancement that was in the works for years, the heavy dependence on digital technology induced by the pandemic also pushed brands to develop better storage spaces rather than investing in physical stores across the country. As a result, the infrastructural development that has occurred over the last few years is aptly displayed through the changing capabilities of our storage units.
Furthermore, the changing dynamics of our daily lives with work-from-home and social distancing policies have also fueled e-commerce demand which results in the rise of the Indian logistics and warehousing sector. The rapid expansion of urban storage will be fueled by the rising popularity of fast commerce and e-commerce enterprises that focus on increasing delivery speed and customer experience. According to Savills India, industrial and warehousing space absorption stood at 44 mn sq ft in 2021, which includes 35.1 mn sq. ft from Tier I cities and 8.6 mn sq. ft from Tier II and Tier III cities. Despite Covid-19 curbs impacting construction activities, India witnessed a fresh supply of 45 mn sq ft in 2021 where 36 mn sq ft was from Tier I cities and 8.9 mn sq ft from Tier II and Tier III cities. These only projects the changing dynamic of the sector and the need for efficient planning and development of warehouses across the country. Apart from solid macroeconomic fundamentals, government measures favoring infrastructure expansion in transportation, water, power, and communications, as well as assistance for emerging industries, are expected to stimulate manufacturing and warehousing demand in India in 2022.
However, as we look at the scope and expansion of the sector it is also imperative to analyze the quality and efficiency that can take forward the high expectations set in place from growing e-commerce platforms.
The prime criteria
In order to keep up with the growing warehousing infrastructure requirement, the time in hand to establish these projects become of prime importance. However, traditional brick and mortar methods end up taking a lot more time than anticipated. In such a situation, alternate building materials become a vital option for consideration in building quality efficient warehouses. For instance, drywall, take less time, are easier to install and require significantly less labour as compared to any other conventional methodologies such as brick/block. The drywall is a high-performance lightweight wall system consisting of a GI steel frame, encased in gypsum plasterboards on either side attached with self-drilling drywall screws. The joints are then taped and finished with gypsum jointing compounds.
While this becomes a primary advantage in building spaces, we also need to account for the effect of heavy expansion on the environment. Taking these into consideration, drywalls are known as one of the most environmentally friendly solutions, with characteristics like minimal water consumption saving nearly 99 per cent of water. The solution, which is made of recycled materials, also contributes to LEED, IGBC, and GRIHA rating points. Because of their low carbon footprint and ubiquitous availability, gypsum drywalls are assisting builders and architects in meeting green construction targets relating to transportation, manufacture, recycling, and disposal of building materials. As a result, it has become a preferred choice for environmentally friendly structures in general. Going beyond, drywalls provide excellent sound insulation and superior fire-resistant properties. Enabling safer spaces for shelved products.
A recent success of drywall construction in the warehousing sector was observed in the Amazon Uluberia Facility, Kolkata supported by Saint-Gobain Gyproc. With Gypros’s expertise in offering innovative and critical drywall solutions for warehousing sector, such as installation of walls of up to 17m height, fire tunnels, etc, it has supported many such efficient warehousing structures across the country. In addition, with the growing adoption of fire insurance for warehousing facilities among clients, Gyproc supports fire safe structures though Passive Fire protection solutions in form of fire-rated wall and ceilings, beam and column encasements etc. across all the segments adhering to the local code and standards.
To recapitulate, when considering the future of industrial infrastructure, quick, safe, and quality infrastructure is critical to the growth of the sector. The solution, on the other hand, does not lie in improvised setups or hasty infrastructure. The focus on attaining green code requirements will signal the rise of these places as India attempts to convert more micro hubs to smart cities. As an industry that is constantly developing for long-term solutions, ensuring the appropriate application, reach, and availability will be critical. Thus, alternate building materials such as drywalls will play an imperative role in further strengthening the sector in the country. As we continue on our path to recovery and building a future for warehousing, this will be the tipping moment for the long-awaited transition in the industry to suit the nation's needs.
