Kirloskar Brothers Limited is pumping life into a new era of industrial inclusivity. It is not a CSR project, but a systemic transformation, with women at the helm.
Kirloskar Brothers Limited (KBL), one of India’s oldest engineering firms, began its journey in 1888. Headquartered in Pune, the company is known for its fluid management solutions, including designing and manufacturing pumps and valves for a variety of sectors, such as water supply, power generation, irrigation, oil and gas, and marine industries.
In 2011, KBL took a big step towards women’s empowerment by establishing a new women-led plant in Kaniyur, near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Known as the “Pump City of Asia,” Coimbatore was the ideal location for this manufacturing unit. The plant was launched under KBL’s “Mahila Mission 20” initiative with the thought that if women were the primary users of domestic pumps, why not have them lead in the manufacturing and assembly line?
What started as a question became a game-changer for women in manufacturing. Today, KBL’s Kaniyur facility is the world’s first pump manufacturing plant, which is run entirely by women.
Kirloskar Brothers Limited: An all-women manufacturing marvel
Spread across 4.14 acres, the Kaniyur plant employs over 200 women. In 2019, 84 of them were skilled in key factory operations, 105 were semi-skilled, and 12 worked in support roles. Most of these women are between 25 and 30 years old and come from economically challenged backgrounds. Many had dropped out of school and had no prior work experience before joining KBL. However, they were given necessary skill development training.
Most workers live within a 10 km radius of the factory, while some travel from up to 20 km away. A small group of women even commute daily from Kerala, spending close to four hours on travel time. KBL provides transport to ensure their safe and timely arrival.
The women at this facility manufacture 14 to 17 types of small pumps used in homes across India. Together, they produce around 8–9 lakh pumps annually, or 70,000 to 80,000 per month. These units account for approximately ₹132 crore in revenue, about 6% of the company’s total output.
Efficiency, reimagined by women
One key goal of Mahila Mission 20 was to reduce pump assembly time from 60 seconds to 20 seconds. The women at the Kaniyur plant not only met this target but went beyond it. They set a record by assembling a pump in just 17.25 seconds, a feat that earned a place in the Limca Book of Records.
This achievement reflects the team’s skill, training, and dedication. It also highlights the efficiency women can bring to core manufacturing operations when provided the right support and environment.
Crèche facility to support working mothers
The Kaniyur plant also provides a fully functional crèche facility. It allows women to leave their children in a safe and caring environment during work hours. Children receive a nutritious diet and are taught discipline and basic life skills by caretakers.
The facility currently regularly supports 16–18 children, especially during school holidays. It operates in shifts to accommodate different work schedules. Though the proposed age range is six months to six years, KBL offers flexibility. For instance, single mothers are allowed to enrol older daughters without restrictions.
By supporting working mothers with quality childcare, the company ensures that employees can focus on their jobs while knowing their children are well cared for.
Won ‘Platinum’ at NHRD Safety Excellence Awards
On June 13, 2025, the Kaniyur unit received the highest honour in the Safety Excellence Awards by the National Human Resource Development (NHRD) Network. The unit was awarded in the ‘Platinum’ category, which is the top-tier recognition for safety standards.
The award was presented by I. Vinoth Kumar, Joint Director at the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH), Government of Tamil Nadu. The event was attended by several industry safety leaders and professionals from across sectors.
Kirloskar Brothers Limited redefines industrial safety
At KBL, safety is part of everyday work. Trained cross-plant officers regularly conduct internal safety audits, while external safety audits by certified professionals are carried out every two years. Workers are encouraged to speak up through a “Safety Yellow Tag” system, enabling them to report concerns directly. The introduction of a safety incident tracking system, which includes safety opportunities reporting, ensures that every incident, big or small, is documented and addressed.
Safety as a culture, not a checklist
KBL also runs the “Suraksha Mitra” program, where designated safety stewards act as on-ground safety advocates. Hazards are identified not only through routine checks but also through monthly inspections conducted by senior management. To proactively prevent risk, a change control system is in place, ensuring that any change in process, facility, or machinery is reviewed from an environmental, health, and safety (EHS) standpoint before implementation.
“This achievement is a strong reflection of KBL’s deeply ingrained culture of safety. It reaffirms our long-standing belief that a secure, compliant, and empowering work environment is not just a priority but a cornerstone for sustained excellence, employee well-being, and long-term organisational growth,” said Rama Kirloskar, Joint Managing Director, Kirloskar Brothers Limited.
Promoting regional representation, accessibility, and work-life balance
KBL is expanding its commitment to women’s empowerment beyond Tamil Nadu. The company recently hired 11 women MBA graduates from the Northeast states of India, including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and West Bengal. These graduates have been placed in front-end sales roles at SPB Retail across various locations. There is 30% women’s representation on the company’s Board and 35% women’s workforce at the Sanand Plant.
KBL also follows the guidelines set under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and ensures that all its facilities are accessible. The company provides equal opportunities without discrimination based on gender, caste, religion, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, or age.
Employee health and well-being are a key focus at KBL. The company has introduced “KBL Well-being,” a platform dedicated to the physical and mental health of employees and their families. KBL encourages work-life balance by following a five-day workweek at most sites. At manufacturing plants, employees get alternate Saturdays off. Women employees also have access to a sabbatical leave policy, allowing up to six months of extended maternity leave if needed.
Kirloskar Brothers Limited shows what real inclusion looks like on the shop floor
KBL’s focus on safety, childcare, work-life balance, and representation is a model of what inclusive industrial spaces can look like. The company has proven that with the proper training, support systems, and infrastructure, women can lead even in sectors where they’ve historically been left out.
The recognition KBL continues to receive, including national awards for safety and record-setting performance, proves that inclusive workplaces are also high-performing ones. Other companies in India’s industrial sector now have an example worth following.
Inclusion cannot remain a concept buried in company brochures. Kirloskar Brothers Limited has taken it to the assembly line, proving that safety, diversity, and efficiency are not opposing goals; they are inseparable.
Also Read: Night shifts for women at Hindustan Zinc: The company establishes new standards.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the writer’s insights, supported by data and resources available both online and offline, as applicable. Changeincontent.com is committed to promoting inclusivity across all forms of content. We broadly define inclusivity as media, policies, law, and history, encompassing all elements that influence the lives of women and marginalised individuals. Our goal is to promote understanding and advocate for comprehensive inclusivity.
