Over the past 27 years, Pratap Tex-Chem Pvt. Ltd. has transformed itself from a textile-based enterprise into a diversified and technology-driven organisation serving industries through advanced lubrication solutions, speciality chemicals, agricultural products, and fluid management technologies. Guided by a strong foundation of customer trust, technical expertise, and continuous innovation, the company has steadily expanded its footprint while remaining committed to sustainability and operational excellence.
As the industrial landscape undergoes rapid transformation driven by automation, digitalisation, and evolving sustainability requirements, Pratap Tex-Chem continues to position itself at the forefront of change through its flagship brand, Lubeco Green Fluids, and a growing portfolio of specialised solutions.
In this exclusive interview with Gear Technology India (GTI), Sushmita Das, Associate Editor, GTI, interacts with Kunal Marathe, CEO and Director, Pratap Tex-Chem Pvt. Ltd., about the company’s remarkable journey, the milestones that have shaped its growth, and its ambitious vision for the future. Marathe shares valuable insights on innovation, sustainable manufacturing, emerging opportunities in industrial lubrication, and how the company is building a stronger, smarter, and globally respected organisation for the next generation of manufacturing.
1. Pratap Tex-Chem recently celebrated 27 years of excellence and its 28th Foundation Day. Looking back, what have been the defining milestones that have shaped the company’s journey and growth over these years?
Our journey has always been about continuous evolution, technical excellence, and building trust through consistent performance. The foundation of this journey goes back to 1979, when our business was first established in Mumbai as a textile manufacturing company. A significant transformation happened in 1999, when we incorporated Pratap Tex-Chem Pvt. Ltd. in Pune and our entry into industrial lubricants — a move that marked the beginning of our focused journey in the chemical and lubrication industry. Over the years, we strengthened our capabilities through systematic investments in technology, infrastructure, and people. Some important milestones include achieving ISO 9001:2015 certification in 2008, establishing our advanced manufacturing facility at Pirangut in 2011, and setting up our in-house Microbiology Lab in 2014 to enhance product development and quality control capabilities.
The launch of Lubeco Green Fluids in 2015 was another important step, enabling us to create a stronger identity in metalworking fluids and speciality lubrication solutions. Later, we expanded our portfolio with Supergen for automotive lubricants, Krushagra for organic agricultural solutions, and Lubeco Futuristic Greases with nano-technology additives. Today, PTCPL operates with an installed manufacturing capacity of 6,000 KL annually, backed by advanced R&D, tribology expertise, and a team of over 100 professionals across functions.
We continue to grow with the same entrepreneurial spirit. However, the milestone I value most is the confidence our customers have placed in us over the years. That trust has been the foundation of our growth and continues to inspire our next phase of innovation.
2. The company has evolved from its roots in textiles to become a diversified player across lubricants, speciality chemicals, agriculture, hygiene, and fluid management. What has been the guiding philosophy behind this transformation?
Our transformation has been driven by a simple but powerful philosophy: identify changing industry needs and create solutions that deliver measurable value. We focused on areas where our core strengths in chemistry, formulation expertise, and application understanding could create a meaningful impact. The values established by my father and the founder of the company, Mr Pratap Marathe—discipline, consistency, and customer-centric thinking—have guided every stage of this journey. Those values are not just words on a wall; they are reflected in how we select markets, design products, and build teams.
Our expansion across industrial lubricants, speciality chemicals, agriculture solutions, hygiene products, and fluid management has been carefully built around customer requirements and emerging market opportunities. For example, our flagship brand Lubeco Green Fluids has grown into a comprehensive industrial solutions brand with more than 150 products, catering to metalworking fluids, speciality lubricants, cleaning solutions, and corrosion protection applications.
This growth has been supported by strong technical teams across R&D, manufacturing, quality and sales, allowing us to develop products that are not only technically advanced but also practical for real-world applications. Our objective has always been clear: build businesses that create long-term value and remain relevant to customers as industries continue to evolve.
3. As the parent company, how does Pratap Tex-Chem foster innovation and synergy across its diverse portfolio of brands while maintaining a unified corporate vision?
At PTCPL, we believe innovation happens when different functions work together with a common purpose. Although each brand serves a specific market segment, they are connected through one shared vision—developing reliable, high-performance solutions for our customers.
Our R&D, manufacturing, quality, sales, and service teams work closely together to ensure that customer feedback, technical insights, and market requirements are quickly converted into practical solutions. The experience gained from one segment often strengthens another. Formulation expertise developed through Lubeco Green Fluids contributes to our understanding of lubrication performance, which supports innovations in greases, automotive lubricants, and other speciality applications.
We have also strengthened our internal systems through digital platforms such as Lubeco Smart, ERP, CRM, and HRMS, which improve coordination, data visibility, and operational efficiency. These tools help us connect field insights with lab development and ensure that what we design is what the market actually needs.
The biggest advantage we have built over the years is a culture where every team member takes ownership while staying aligned with the larger organisational goal. That combination of technical expertise, collaboration, and execution discipline helps us innovate faster and deliver consistently across all our brands.
4. Lubeco has emerged as the flagship brand of the group. What factors have contributed to its success, and how do you see the brand evolving in the coming years?
Lubeco’s growth has been built on a strong understanding of customer challenges and a commitment to delivering dependable performance. In industrial manufacturing, customers are not only looking for a lubricant supplier—they are looking for a technology partner who understands their processes, improves productivity, reduces downtime, and supports operational efficiency.
Lubeco Green Fluids has grown by addressing these expectations through a broad portfolio covering: Metalworking fluids, soluble & neat cutting oils, synthetic fluids, rust preventives, washing and degreasing solutions, speciality lubricants
Today, with more than 150 product variants, Lubeco represents our capability to combine formulation expertise with application-based solutions. This depth allows us to support industries ranging from automotive and engineering to aerospace and heavy manufacturing.
Going forward, we see significant opportunities in advanced manufacturing, sustainable formulations, and performance-driven lubrication solutions. Our focus will remain on strengthening our technical support, expanding our industry presence, and creating products that help customers achieve higher efficiency and reliability.
Our ambition is to establish Lubeco as one of the most trusted brands in industrial lubrication through continuous innovation, customer-focused solutions and consistent performance on the shop floor.
5. Sustainability is becoming increasingly important across industries. How is Pratap Tex-Chem integrating sustainability into its products, processes, and long-term business strategy?
For us, sustainability is not a separate initiative—it is an essential part of responsible manufacturing and future growth. We approach sustainability through three key areas: product development, manufacturing practices, and long-term business decisions.
At the product level, our focus is on developing solutions that improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance equipment life. This includes: Sustainable metalworking fluids, Water-based solutions, Bio-based formulations, Biodegradable products, Biocide-free and bio-stable coolant technologies, and Advanced lubrication solutions designed to reduce environmental impact. Through brands like Lubeco Green Fluids, Lubeco Futuristic Greases, Supergen, Krushagra, and Fluidmate, we continue to develop solutions that support both industrial productivity and environmental responsibility.
A concrete example is our Lubeco Green Fluids range of water-based industrial washing chemicals, designed to deliver excellent cleaning performance at ambient temperature. By eliminating the need for heated washing processes, these solutions help customers reduce energy consumption significantly.
In one application at a leading automotive component manufacturer, our SUPRACLEAN M 9555 LT was successfully implemented in an intermediate spray and rotary washing system. The customer achieved excellent cleaning results while eliminating nearly 15 hours of heating every day, resulting in power cost savings of approximately ₹5 lakh over six months, along with a substantial reduction in carbon emissions.
Similarly, our advanced water-soluble metalworking fluids, such as LUBECUT 2300 EA and LUBECUT 3510 KM, are engineered for extended sump life, lower coolant consumption, reduced disposal frequency, and lower effluent treatment (ETP) load. By extending coolant life and reducing waste generation, these products help manufacturers conserve water, reduce disposal costs, and improve overall sustainability without compromising machining performance.
Inside our manufacturing operations, we continue to improve safety standards, process efficiency, automation, and resource optimisation. Our investments in R&D, quality systems, and technical infrastructure help us ensure that sustainability is integrated from formulation to final delivery. We believe responsible growth means creating solutions that benefit customers today while protecting opportunities for future generations.
6. The industrial lubrication market is undergoing rapid change, driven by automation, advanced manufacturing, and evolving customer expectations. How is Pratap Tex-Chem preparing to address these emerging trends?
The industrial lubrication industry is moving towards higher performance expectations, smarter manufacturing practices, and more application-specific solutions. Customers today are not only evaluating product performance but also looking at productivity improvement, sustainability, operational efficiency, and technical support.
At PTCPL, we are preparing for this transformation by continuously strengthening our technical capabilities and staying closely connected with customer requirements across industries. Our approach is focused on combining product innovation with application expertise.
Through our R&D capabilities, field experience, and customer interactions, we work towards developing solutions that address real manufacturing challenges—from improving tool life and machining efficiency to reducing maintenance requirements.
Digital transformation is also playing an important role in our growth journey. Platforms such as Lubeco Smart, along with our ERP and CRM systems, help us improve fluid monitoring, internal coordination, and customer responsiveness. Lubeco Smart, in particular, enables data-based coolant monitoring, helping customers track concentration, pH, and contamination levels, which leads to better coolant life and reduced waste.
Going forward, we see significant opportunities in advanced manufacturing, automation-driven industries, and sustainable lubrication technologies. Our objective is to remain agile, technically strong, and capable of supporting customers as their manufacturing needs continue to evolve.
7. Your portfolio today includes brands such as Lubeco Greases, Supergen, Krushagra, and Fluidmate. Could you share the strategic importance of these brands and the growth opportunities you foresee for each segment?
Each brand within the PTCPL portfolio has been developed with a clear purpose and addresses a specific market opportunity.
Together, these brands create a diversified ecosystem where each business contributes to our larger vision—delivering reliable, technology-driven solutions across industrial, automotive, and agricultural sectors.
8. Innovation has been a key pillar of Pratap Tex-Chem’s growth. Could you highlight some recent product or technology developments that are helping the company strengthen its market position?
Innovation at PTCPL has always been closely connected with practical customer needs. Over the years, we have focused on strengthening our formulation expertise, manufacturing systems, quality processes, and technical capabilities to develop solutions that deliver measurable performance improvements.
One important area of focus has been the development of advanced lubrication and fluid management solutions that help customers improve productivity, enhance equipment life, and optimise operating costs. Our digital initiatives, including Lubeco Smart, have also helped us improve data-based fluid monitoring and customer support, making our service approach more proactive.
One of our recent innovations is the development of compostable VCI packaging solutions, designed as an environmentally responsible alternative to conventional plastic packaging. These non-toxic, reusable, and compostable packaging materials protect components against moisture, humidity, condensation, salt exposure, and corrosion during storage and transportation.
After use, the packaging naturally decomposes into soil, carbon dioxide, and biomass within a year, helping reduce plastic waste and carbon footprint while supporting the principles of a circular economy. The solutions are designed to comply with global sustainability standards, including ASTM D6400, ASTM D6868, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines, and evolving single-use plastic regulations.
Internally, initiatives such as 4M, Kaizen, OEE improvement programs, and structured audits have helped us improve operational excellence and consistency. During the recent year, we strengthened our systems further through multiple internal audits and achieved recognition through ACMA.
These improvements may not always be visible to customers directly, but they contribute significantly to product reliability, service quality, and confidence in our solutions.
For us, innovation is not only about creating new products—it is about continuously improving everything we do.
9. During the recent Annual Operations Meet, you outlined an ambitious vision for the next three years. Could you share some of the key priorities and strategic initiatives that will drive this vision?
The next three years will be an important phase of structured growth for PTCPL. Our focus is to expand with discipline—strengthening our capabilities while maintaining the quality and reliability that customers expect from us.
One of our key priorities is increasing our manufacturing capacity through our upcoming modern facility with an annual capacity of 12,000 KL. This expansion will support future growth while enabling greater flexibility, efficiency, and better segregation of product categories.
We also plan to strengthen our presence across domestic and international markets through exhibitions, partnerships, channel development, and deeper customer engagement. Our goal is to deepen relationships with existing customers while systematically entering new markets and segments.
Along with physical expansion, we are investing in automation, process excellence, compliance systems, and organisational development to build a stronger foundation for the future. We are also focusing on specialised product categories, including: Sustainable metalworking fluids, Biocide-free coolant solutions, VCI technologies, Application-driven lubrication systems
Our long-term objective is aligned with our Vision 2030—building a technology-focused, ZED-aligned organisation and achieving sustainable growth while maintaining strong profitability. The goal is not just to become larger, but to become a stronger, smarter, and more respected organisation in the industries we serve.
10. As Pratap Tex-Chem enters its next phase of growth, what message would you like to share with customers, channel partners, employees, and other stakeholders who have been part of this 27-year journey?
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to every customer, channel partner, employee, supplier, and well-wisher who has been a part of the PTCPL journey. Our growth over the last 27 years has been built on the trust of our customers, the support of our partners, and the commitment of our employees.
A company is not built by one individual or one family alone—it is built over time through shared values, collective efforts, and the confidence people place in it. This journey has reinforced our belief that long-term success comes from staying committed to our principles while continuously evolving with industry needs.
As we enter the next phase of growth, our focus remains clear—to deliver reliable solutions, strengthen innovation, and create sustainable value for all our stakeholders. We will continue investing in technology, processes, and people to build a stronger organisation capable of addressing the future needs of our customers and industries.
Equally important is our commitment towards creating an environment where our employees can learn, grow, and contribute meaningfully. We believe that a strong organisation is built by empowering people, encouraging collaboration, and maintaining a culture of excellence, respect, and continuous improvement.
Our vision is to continue being a trusted long-term partner by delivering not just products, but complete solutions supported by technical expertise, consistent quality, and customer-focused service. At the same time, we aim to build PTCPL as a Great Place to
Work organisation—a workplace that promotes equal opportunity, combines experience with new ideas, encourages innovation, and inspires every individual to strive for excellence.
The journey ahead is about growing responsibly, creating value, and strengthening the relationships that have made PTCPL what it is today.
Kunal Marathe
CEO and Director
Pratap Tex-Chem Pvt. Ltd
