From Vision to Reality: SFC's Manufacturing Journey from Concept to Scale

In 2023, SFC Environmental Technologies marked a turning point in its growth story by commissioning its first manufacturing facility—starting modestly at 20,000 sq. ft.. What began as a long-standing vision quickly transformed into a high-velocity expansion: today, just two years later, we operate from a 200,000 sq. ft. facility, with vertically integrated capabilities to produce critical components for C-Tech®-based sewage treatment plants and beyond. For years, our products—decanters, diffusers, and control panels—were sourced from partners across Europe and, later, China. But the aspiration to bring this competence home to India never wavered. It simply needed the right moment. "Manufacturing was always part of the conversation—even during the early days,” says Mahendra Ingale, Head of Manufacturing at SFC. "It remained a shared dream, but it truly came to life only in 2023. Since then, we’ve not only grown in size but in confidence, self-reliance, and capability."

Mahendra IngaleHead of Manufacturing

From Sourcing to Self-Reliance

Our journey in procurement began with high-spec components sourced from Europe. As global supply chains evolved, we transitioned to reliable Chinese vendors around 2014. Today, we’re proud to say that critical parts like decanters, diffusers, panel systems, and even full assembly units are manufactured in India, with tight control over design, quality, and lead time. This shift isn’t just about localisation. It’s about empowering our customers with consistent, high-quality products, manufactured in a facility that reflects the values of precision, safety, and sustainability.

More Than a Factory—A Hub of Innovation

What sets our manufacturing apart is not just the expansion in scale—but its strategic purpose. At SFC, manufacturing is not merely about fulfilling orders. It’s about being ready to service future orders before they arrive—through foresight, systems, and a culture of preparedness. Our factory is designed to be a resource-rich, dynamic workspace, where planning and discipline are matched by speed and adaptability. This proactive model has enabled us to reduce turnaround times, accelerate project execution, and build trust among our customers and partners.

Innovation Through Cross-Functional Collaboration

Many of our most impactful cost optimisation ideas and product improvements have originated from the shop floor—where our manufacturing and supply chain teams collaborate daily to refine designs, test new materials, and find better ways to serve customer needs. The factory also plays a key role in fostering sustainability. Our teams conduct rigorous testing of alternative raw materials to support a shift toward greener inputs, lower embodied carbon, and enhanced durability.

Built to Serve, Designed to Scale

From a single-product workshop to a multi-line manufacturing ecosystem, the journey so far has been swift—but grounded in vision. Our goal is to create a production platform that is: • Ready before it’s required • Flexible enough to adapt • Robust enough to deliver consistently As we continue to expand, our manufacturing unit remains central to our mission—to deliver technologies that are smart, simple to operate, and built to last. Because behind every great wastewater treatment plant powered by SFC, there’s a team that’s building—not just products—but the future of environmental infrastructure in India.