Inside The Manufacturing Unit Of India’s Marble Kingdom In Rajasthan's Kishangarh

On a hot afternoon on July 14, Pawan Kumar (35) was gazing at the humongous machine at Stonex's Kishangarh facility in Rajasthan. As an operator, he handled loading robots, ensuring the smooth functioning of the assigned task.

"It's been about five years since I started working with this company as a helper, and now I am a machine operator," said an enthusiastic Kumar. "My workday commences at 8 AM in the morning, and I dedicate myself until around 8 PM in the night," he added.

Despite the deafening noises emanating from the colossal machines, capable of giving anyone a headache within minutes, Kumar remained unperturbed. Sporting a band-aid on his hand and a few bruises on one arm, his unwavering determination to complete his assigned task remained unaffected. His colleagues shared the same resilient spirit.

Pawan Kumar standing in the area where works daily. Photo credit: Abhishek Sharma/BW Businessworld

Even with a wide smile on his face and a positive attitude towards his work, it is impossible to ignore the injuries on Kumar's hand. "A few days ago, as I was heading home from here, about two kilometers from Stonex, my bike slipped and I took a tumble," he narrated the incident.

Despite the mishap, Kumar only took a single day off, fearing a deduction from his salary. The high inflation in India poses a significant challenge for consumers, particularly for middle-class individuals like Kumar, who supports his wife, two children, and parents. He resides in Salemabad village, situated in Kishangarh tehsil of Ajmer district in Rajasthan, which is approximately 12 kilometers away from Stonex.

Nevertheless, Kumar couldn't help but shower praise on the management. He remarked, "I took one day off, and then I returned to action because I didn't want a salary deduction. My team is fantastic, and the management here is highly cooperative. Whenever we encounter any issues, our bosses handle them effortlessly."

Inside Stonex facility in Kishangarh, Rajasthan. Photo credit: Abhishek Sharma/BW Businessworld

Interestingly, Gaurav Aggarwal, the Managing Director (MD) and Co-founder of Stonex Group, emphasised the company's commitment to providing employees with exceptional benefits, a conducive environment, and necessary resources to enhance their well-being, productivity, and professional growth.

"Our comprehensive medical insurance policy ensures extensive coverage, offering individuals a robust and reliable healthcare support system," Aggarwal added.

Workers engaged in shifting the marble slabs from the truck to the storage area. Photo credit: Abhishek Sharma/BW Businessworld

Now, a few meters away from Kumar, a small group of men were engaged in shifting the marble slabs from the truck to the storage area. Suddenly, the machine above these men lifted one slab, which passed directly over their heads. One wonders what safety measures are in place in case a tragedy occurs during this process.

Inside Stonex’s Kishangarh facility

About a two-hour journey from Jaipur, marble can be found at every corner of Kishangarh city. The Stonex manufacturing unit is surrounded by numerous businesses involved in the marble industry. Observing the scale of competition in the area, it becomes evident that sustaining a business here is a daunting task. However, Aggarwal, the leader of Stonex, exudes unwavering confidence in his company.

"We understand the discerning preferences of our patrons and strive to offer them a superior product proposition. From sourcing raw stone to employing technology in our finished products, meticulous attention to detail is dedicated to every step," Aggarwal emphasised.

The Kishangarh facility, where marble is cut, stored, displayed, and sold, sprawls across 10 acres. Unlike traditional open yards where marble is sold, often leading to dust issues, Stonex's eco-friendly unit, established in 2018, stands out. It is equipped with modern technology and infrastructure, designed to maximise sunlight, minimize heat and recycle water.

Inside Stonex facility in Kishangarh, Rajasthan. Photo credit: Abhishek Sharma/BW Businessworld

Currently, Stonex stands as one of India's largest importers of luxury marble, offering an impressive array of over 700 stone varieties. Aggarwal aims to bring global standards to the Indian market and has consciously shifted to a 20 mm thickness, which aligns with norms in international markets.

Traditionally, natural stone started at a 25 mm thickness, but market pressures led to the adoption of 16 and 18 mm thicknesses in countries like India and China. Aggarwal firmly believes that 20 mm is the ideal thickness for enhanced aesthetics and durability, striving to ensure Indian consumers benefit from global quality benchmarks.

"As an organisation, our goal is to establish global benchmarks in customer experience and enable our patrons to fully appreciate the inherent value of natural stone. With this ambition, we are soon unveiling our newest destination in Delhi, which will redefine the discourse surrounding natural stone," declared Aggarwal confidently.

The statics

According to a report by Mordor Intelligence, the global marble market is estimated to be valued at USD 18,204.74 million in 2023, and it is projected to reach USD 22,806.07 million by 2028. The market is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.61 per cent during the forecast period (2023-2028).

Aggarwal, recognising the immense potential in this rapidly expanding industry, aims to fully capitalise on its opportunities. With a turnover of close to Rs 500 crore in the previous year, Aggarwal and his team have set their sights on achieving a worth of Rs 1,000 crore by 2026-27.

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, as individuals have reevaluated their budgets, there has been an increased demand for marble in their spaces. With the construction sector witnessing significant growth, the interest in stone among people continues to rise.

Currently, a significant portion of Stonex's business, accounting for over 85 per cent, comes from ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNIs) who are homeowners. "While we proudly serve all major luxury hotels and corporate hubs, we understand that each luxury consumer is unique, and we embrace the concept of catering to a segment of one," added the co-founder.

Sustainable or not? 

The sustainability insight, innovation and capital firm, cKinetics in a report said that the 2030 net-zero targets of many companies are not in line with the Paris Agreement, but 2050 is. The Paris Agreement has set clear goals for countries and businesses to reduce their carbon emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. 

"However, only a limited number of companies have aligned their climate commitments with the agreement's goals," said the report titled 'Decoding corporate climate pledges'. As per the Paris Agreement, the world needs to halve its emissions by 2030 and attain net-zero emissions by 2050 to avoid the disastrous impacts of climate change. 

However, only 24 per cent of companies have committed to halving their emissions on or before 2030, indicating a significant deviation from the specified pathway. Even when companies have set science-based targets initiative (SBTi)-validated goals, they still deviate from the standard pathway specified, it stated.

At the Kishangarh factory, Stonex claims to have incorporated decisive and several sustainable measures. To minimise impact on the environment, it has opted for silent diesel generator sets. These generators are designed to operate quietly, minimising noise pollution while still providing the power we need to run our operations. However, when BW Businessworld visited the facility, loud noise was the first thing that caught people's attention. 

Also, the factory has implemented a water treatment and recycling system to conserve water and reduce waste. This system is used for various processes such as Gangsaws, Mono dressing, polish machines, and grinding machines. 

"The system includes a filter press that enables the reclaiming and reuse of 94 per cent of the water from the waste slurry, resulting in 24,000 litres of water being reclaimed and reused every day," the company claimed.