Aquapharm Chemical Limited is a global specialty chemicals manufacturer operating in nearly 60 countries, with manufacturing plants in India, the USA, and Saudi Arabia. For over 40 years, it has supplied phosphonates, polymers, oilfield chemicals, and biodegradable chelating agents worldwide. Recognised as one of the top three phosphonate producers globally and India’s largest, Aquapharm is committed to global standards and sustainable growth.
Suresh Kalra, CEO, Aquapharm Chemical Limited, shares his leadership philosophy, views on specialty chemicals, and commitment to continuous improvement. He highlights Aquapharm's growth ambitions, focus on sustainability, integration across geographies, and the crucial role of people and innovation in shaping future success.
In a Snapshot
Presence in over 60 countries
Diverse portfolio of 275+ products
11 strategically located warehouses across key regions
Serving 270+ global customers
Customer Base: Global leaders in FMCG, Water Treatment and Oil & Gas companies
650+ employees (India: 550, USA: 70, Saudi Arabia: 30)
Facilities Overview
Aquapharm operates 4 manufacturing plants in Mahad and Pirangut (India), Texas (USA), and Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), complemented by an Innovation Centre in Pune (India) and R&D Facility in Texas (USA).
11 warehousing facilities and multiple distribution centres, spread across the world.
This global network enables:
Expanded market access and customer connectivity
Swift response times and reduced lead times
Strong customer relationships
Enhanced sourcing flexibility
Product Portfolio
Aquapharm has a wide range of specialty chemicals, including:
Phosphonates
Examples: HEDP, DETPMP, PAPEMP, ATMP, PBTC etc.
Used for:
Detergent formulations for household and institutional cleaners
Treating water to control scale and corrosion for both water treatment and O&G industry
Paper, pulp, and textile processing
Green Chelates
Examples: GLDA, MGDA, IDS, PESA etc.
Used for:
Softening hard water in washing machines and dishwashers
Cleaning surfaces and boilers
Removing dirt and mineral deposits from clothes, dishes, and industrial equipment
It's bio-degradable, eco-friendly and safe for the environment
Polymers
Examples: Acrylic and Maleic-based polymers.
Used for:
Water treatment in desalination plants (converting seawater into drinking water)
Enhancing detergent performance by preventing re-deposition of dirt
Reducing scale build-up in water treatment systems
Antiscalants, disinfectants/biocides, and cleaners (RO systems)
Aquapharm’s products are used in a wide range of industries, including:
Water Treatment
Detergent
Industrial Cleaning
Oil and Gas
Textiles
Pharmaceutical
Pulp and Paper
Wood Preservation
Annual Production Volumes and Future Outlook
Aquapharm Chemical Limited currently has a production capacity of 150,000 MT per annum, expected to reach 219,000 MT per annum by 2026.
APChem, USA currently has a production capacity of approximately 45,000 MT per annum, with plans to increase it to 54,000 MT in the next 2 - 3 years.
USCI, Saudi Arabia current production capacity is 30,000 MT.
Research & Development
Aquapharm has a ~50,000 sq. ft state-of-the-art Innovation Centre in Pune, India, focusing on developing environmentally friendly and biodegradable products.
Innovation Lab, Pune (India)
The Innovation Centre in Pune has a large team of scientists with diverse technical expertise.
It has multifunctional capabilities including analytical science, regulatory affairs, new product and application development.
R&D facility at Texas, USA
APChem®, a part of Aquapharm, has a 7000 sq. ft application laboratory at Woodlands, Texas (USA).
How Are Specialty Chemicals Manufactured?
Chemical manufacturing explained through an example of a simple flow-diagram of Phosphonate production
The Journey From R&D to Customers
A simple process flow explaining the lifecycle of a product from the R&D to customer support
Quality Certifications and Safety Standards
Aquapharm is committed to quality and compliance, holding several certificatons:
Corporate Social Responsibility
Key CSR focus areas include:
Education: School infrastructure and science labs
Healthcare: Medical outreach programs and health education campaigns
Senior Citizen Care: Community centres and wellness programs
Rural Development: Infrastructure projects like sanitation and water supply
Disaster Response: Humanitarian aid during natural calamities
Environmental Initiatives
Aquapharm drives sustainability through:
Development of biodegradable, eco-friendly products
Tree plantation drives & local community support
Water conservation projects
Steps Towards Sustainability & Energy Efficiency
Energy Efficiency
VFDs on boilers for power optimisation
Energy audits for savings
LED lighting across plants & offices
Compressed air leak reduction
OEE-based process optimisation
Renewable Energy
Rooftop solar panels at the headquarters
Wind energy generation
Water Conservation
Rainwater harvesting for cooling towers
Effluent recycling for non-potable uses
Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) initiatives
Waste Reduction
Lean Six Sigma to cut off-spec material
Monitoring & Awareness
KPI dashboards for energy, water, waste
Cross-functional Kaizen improvement teams
Proud Achievements
Aquapharm’s accolades include:
20% CAGR revenue growth (2018–2023), leading to the opening of a new greenfield plant at Mahad, Maharashtra, India, in 2025 for bio-friendly chelates, phosphonates, and polymers.
National Safety Council Maharashtra Awards (2018–2023)
Chemexcil Gold, Platinum, Trishul, and Award of Excellence
Zee Business Award
Maharashtra Best Employer Brand 2022
Supply Chain Management Award 2021
LEED Certifications (2019 & 2023)
Our Leaders
Alice Johnson
Senior Marketing Manager
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Years on board
8 Years
Driven by a passion for marketing innovation, challenges, and team growth, Alice finds motivation in making a substantial impact.
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Our Leaders
Ganesh Vishwanathan
CFO
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Responsible for
Accounts and finance
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Years on board
6 Years
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What motivates me
Tackling intellectually challenging problems, succeeding as a team, and navigating complex scenarios.
Our Leaders
Shailesh Deshmukh
VP - HR & Admin
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Responsible for
HR functions
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Years on board
4 Years
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What motivates me
A belief in steady progress, building trust across cultures, and turning everyday challenges into opportunities to learn, adapt, and improve.
Our Leaders
Vijay Joshi
COO
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Responsible for
Operational efficiency and production management
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Years on board
1 Year
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What motivates me
I am motivated by working with determination and passion, making a difference through collaboration with clear objectives, and leading with empathy.
Our Leaders
Abhijit Kulkarni
Sr. VP – International Sales & Marketing
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Responsible for
International sales
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Years on board
10 Years
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What motivates me
Building strong customer relationships and excelling in our commitment to customer delivery.
Our Leaders
Jitendra Mishra
VP - Domestic Sales
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Responsible for
India sales
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Years on board
21 Years
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What motivates me
New possibilities, travelling, a motivated team, and smiling faces keep me energised.
Our Leaders
Abhijit Dixit
VP - Integrated Supply Chain
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Responsible for
Procurement, supply chain, logistics, compliance and customer services
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Years on board
2 Years
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What motivates me
Undertaking and executing challenging tasks.
Our Leaders
Avinash Khaire
VP - Tech Transfer
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Responsible for
Process scale-up, process safety, process design, process modification, pilot and plant trials.
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Years on board
21 Years
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What motivates me
Working on innovative and out-of-the-box ideas, having the freedom to operate, respectful leadership, and finding breakthrough solutions to challenges keep me motivated.
Our Leaders
Dr Sharad S Potghan
VP - Operation/Works
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Responsible for
Location Head – Mahad Operations
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Years on board
3 Years
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What motivates me
Making a difference: Knowing that my work positively impacts the organisation.
Success and confidence: Achieving goals and fulfilling my role to meet organisational requirements.
Our Leaders
Umesh Dnyansagar
Plant Head
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Responsible for
Pirangut plant operations management
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Years on board
37 Years
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What motivates me
A sense of belonging and feeling of progress. Knowing that my work is making a positive impact.
Our Leaders
Sanjay Jhadav
VP - QC and Planning
work
Responsible for
Manage QC/QA for 3 plants, ensure certifications, and handle production planning, inventory, and capacity management.
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Years on board
37 yrs
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What motivates me
Collaborating with cross-functional teams to achieve common goals, overcoming technical challenges, and improving processes while meeting customer needs and building effective systems.
Our Leaders
Ravindra Shelke
General Manager
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Responsible for
Operations management at Unique Solutions for Chemical Industries Co. (USCI).
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Years on board
1 Year
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What motivates me
Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
Our Leaders
Brian Hallett
SVP - Technology & Key Accounts
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Responsible for
Company technology, key account sales, performance, growth, and leadership.
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Years on board
6.5 Years
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What motivates me
I am driven by opportunities that foster collaboration and relationships built over decades, while also creating new ones for the future. I’m never satisfied in my pursuit of continuous growth, in work, life, as a leader, a role model, and a human being.
Our Leaders
Christopher Hunt
SVP – Strategic Partnerships
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Responsible for
Commercial leadership
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Years on board
3.5 Years
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What motivates me
I’m driven by the challenge of transforming small businesses into high-performing organisations. Aligning talent, refining operations, and positioning products well helps us exceed market expectations. True success lies in building a clear vision and executing it with purpose.
Our Leaders
Christopher Healy
EVP - Operations
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Responsible for
Manufacturing, EHS, quality, supply chain, capital projects, and process engineering.
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Years on board
2.5 Years
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What motivates me
As an operations executive, I'm driven by opportunities to lead impactful change, take on greater responsibility, and deliver measurable results. I’m motivated by the challenge of improving performance while growing in roles that value accountability and strategic leadership.
Our Leaders
Jayesh Gopal Damle
Company Secretary & Compliance Officer
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Responsible for
Company Secretarial & Legal
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Years on board
1 year 10 months
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What motivates me
Learning new insights about the work and always striving to complete tasks in a systematic, timely, and well-scheduled manner.
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