Technocraft Industries (India) Limited ($TIIL)

Earnings Call Transcript · May 29, 2026

NSEI IN Industrials Machinery Earnings Calls 54 min

Highlights from the call

Technocraft Industries (India) Limited reported its Q4 FY '26 earnings, highlighting a strong recovery in its U.S. scaffolding business, which had faced challenges in previous quarters. Revenue was stable with a notable improvement in margins due to a one-time benefit of INR 20 crores from quantity discounts on steel. Management expressed optimism for FY '27, driven by strong demand in the U.S. and stable drum closure sales. However, geopolitical volatility remains a concern. No specific revenue or EPS figures were disclosed, and guidance for the upcoming year remains cautious due to external uncertainties.

Main topics

  • Scaffolding Business Recovery: The U.S. scaffolding business showed strong recovery, driven by investments in AI and tech infrastructure. Management noted, 'business momentum is quite strong in the U.S.' and expects this to continue into the June quarter.
  • One-Time Margin Benefit: Margins improved significantly due to a one-time INR 20 crore benefit from steel quantity discounts. This was a non-recurring item affecting the quarter's profitability.
  • Raw Material Cost Management: Despite a 25% increase in steel prices, Technocraft managed to absorb costs due to backward integration in aluminum production. Management stated, 'we've been able to manage the increase in raw material costs.'
  • AI and Engineering Segment: The engineering segment is leveraging AI for new opportunities, though profitability is impacted by ongoing investments. Management highlighted, 'AI is a great opportunity for us, and we are treating it as an opportunity.'
  • Geopolitical Risks: Management expressed concerns about geopolitical volatility affecting future projections, stating, 'it is difficult to give forward-looking projections at this time.'

Key metrics mentioned

  • Scaffolding Revenue: INR 680 crores (50% of total scaffolding and formwork division revenue)
  • Formwork Revenue: INR 660 crores (50% of total scaffolding and formwork division revenue)
  • One-Time Steel Discount: INR 20 crores (Non-recurring benefit in Q4)
  • Forex Gain: INR 20 crores (Quarterly impact across all divisions)
  • Textile Division EBIT: Breakeven (Despite improved yarn spreads)

Technocraft Industries is positioned for growth in its scaffolding and engineering segments, driven by strong demand and strategic investments in AI. However, geopolitical risks and the underperforming textile division pose challenges. Investors should monitor geopolitical developments and the company's ability to sustain margin improvements as key factors influencing future performance.

Earnings Call Speaker Segments

Operator

Operator
#1

Ladies and gentlemen, good day, and welcome to Technocraft Industry India Limited Q4 and FY '26 Earnings Conference Call hosted by Systematic Institutional Equities. This conference call may contain forward-looking statements about the company, which are based on the beliefs, opinion and expectation of the company as on date of this call. These statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. [Operator Instructions] Please note that this conference is being recorded. I now hand the conference over to Mr. Anshika Patnaik from Systematix Institutional Equities. Thank you, and over to you, ma'am.

Unknown Attendee

Attendees
#2

On behalf of Systematix Institutional Equity, we welcome you all to the Q4 FY '26 Conference Call of Technocraft Industries India Limited. From the management side, we have Mr. Navneet Kumar Saras, Director and CEO; Mr. Ashish Kumar Saraf, Director and CFO; and Mr. Anil Gadodia, Group CFO. I'll now hand over the call to the management for their opening remarks, followed by the Q&A session. Over to you, sir.

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#3

Thank you. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Technocraft's Q4 earnings call. We are happy to see your participation, and we look forward to an engaging session of Q&A to discuss our Q4 performance. I would now like to request the Systematix team to start the conference. Thank you.

Operator

Operator
#4

Shall we begin with the question-and-answer session?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#5

Yes, please.

Operator

Operator
#6

[Operator Instructions] Our first question comes from the Chetan Vora from Abakkus Asset Managers.

Chetan Vora

Analysts
#7

Can you just elaborate how FY '27 looks like across all the segments on closures, scaffolding and engineering going ahead, sir?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#8

Yes. Thank you for your question. It is actually quite difficult to give forward-looking projections at this time. As I had even said earlier, we are living in very volatile times, geopolitical conditions worldwide are extremely volatile. And in fact, not even a year, it's also difficult nowadays to predict quarters going ahead. Having said that, I think looking at the most recent completed quarter, what we are seeing is that the business momentum is quite strong in the U.S., our scaffolding business in the U.S., which faced 2 slow quarters last year, particularly the September quarter has recovered quite nicely and rapidly in the March quarter. We are seeing a strong momentum even going forward into the June quarter across -- and this is mainly driven by investments in AI and tech ecosystem-driven infrastructure, which is leading to increased demand uptake of scaffolding. So we are seeing good momentum in the June quarter. We are also seeing stable demand for drum closures. There doesn't seem to be new challenges associated with tariffs, whatever tariffs are there are now absorbed and consumed in our pricing and customers are paying for it. So barring unforeseen new geopolitical events that can create supply challenges, demand challenges, we expect a better year going ahead. So that's the current status.

Chetan Vora

Analysts
#9

All right, sir. So in terms of the battery, in terms of the West Asia war crisis has subsided. And we understand the things would have started falling in place. So as you say, the demand remains to be strong if nothing unforeseen comes out. So we are looking out to be a better year compared to FY '26. Is that right assessment?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#10

Yes.

Chetan Vora

Analysts
#11

Okay. Sir, coming to the scaffolding front on the fourth quarter, though the revenue was flattish, there was a sharp uptick on the margin front. Can you elaborate for that, sir? What was the reason for it?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#12

There were some onetime benefits pertaining to quantity discounts that we obtained in this quarter for steel, this amounted to almost INR 20 crores, which does not represent only the quarter. So this was pertaining to previous quarters. So I think there is a INR 20 crore additional income in this quarter, which is a onetime effect. So that needs to be taken into consideration when reviewing the profitable results -- profit results.

Chetan Vora

Analysts
#13

So if you adjust for that, the margin comes to 16%. So is that right assessment? The margin going forward is 16%, 17%, right?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#14

Yes. That is correct.

Chetan Vora

Analysts
#15

And then, sir, on the scaffolding again, we have seen a sharp uptick on the metal prices. So how do we see this vertical to be performing because this is the growing vertical and the growth engine for us, so how do we see the scaffolding unfolding for us, sir?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#16

Yes. The raw material prices have been very volatile, but we've been able to absorb this. Steel prices have increased by almost 25% over the last 3 months, but we've been able to them on. So there is no real pressure on margins. Same applies with aluminum. We are fortunately very nicely backward integrated. So we produce our own aluminum extrusions. And we've been able to, therefore, take advantage of that. So we are able to manage the increase in raw material costs.

Chetan Vora

Analysts
#17

All right, sir. So in terms of the drum closure, although they are -- it's growing quite strongly for us and in terms of the profitability also. So how do you see the drum closure to be going right for us?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#18

It is quite stable. There has been, as you saw some increase in the quantity of drum closures your sales as well this financial year compared to the last. And the pricing has also been stable. There has been some -- so we are on track with single-digit revenue growth. China continues to grow strongly. And the rest of the countries, we are growing at about 4%, 5% in terms of quantity and price growth. So that's where we are. And we expect to continue that.

Chetan Vora

Analysts
#19

And then sir, any comment because this can fully the form of capacity what has been coming out -- which has come to 2 years before onstream. Any incremental CapEx on the scaffolding side, sir?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#20

No, nothing significantly major. There are some minor capacity increases that we are doing. Some increases in capacity are happening because of our debottlenecking efforts. So that will happen. So there will be some increase in scaffolding output in '26, '27 as a result of that. But we will embark on the next phase of expansion in our formwork towards the end of this financial year in Aurangabad. So that effect we will see in FY '28 and FY '29.

Chetan Vora

Analysts
#21

Right. So sir, in the Engineering vertical, as you have mentioned in your comments in the presentation that we are seeing a quite impact because of the AI transformation. So how do we see this vertical performing for us? Because for the quarter, the growth rate was very quite strong. But in terms of the profitability, despite the revenue growth of 45% improvement margin was there, but it was not to the extent of the growth in [indiscernible] verticals.

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#22

So AI is a great opportunity for us, and we are treating it as an opportunity. We are actually investing heavily in that. And if we see it as an opportunity and we invest in it, in terms of -- we have to reengineer some of the services that we offer to customers instead of it being purely manpower based, we have to now use a lot of AI and for that, we have to build applications plus we have to also develop some of our own products, which we are working on. So we are embracing AI in Technocraft to create new services, new products. Demand is very strong, which is why we see growth in revenue, but we are also investing. And as a result of our investments, there can be some slower growth in the bottom line. And the bottom line may not grow in the same proportion as the top line. So that's where we are.

Chetan Vora

Analysts
#23

So the going [indiscernible] can we see the engineering vertical as we have invested in [indiscernible] in capability. Should this engineer vertical be like INR 120 crores, INR 130 crores per quarter, sir?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#24

In terms of revenue, you mean?

Chetan Vora

Analysts
#25

Yes.

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#26

Yes. It will not be INR 120 crores, INR 130 crores per quarter. Currently, it is INR 80 crores a quarter. So it cannot jump from there to INR 120 crore in one quarter or so. But the way it is growing, it is growing at about 8% to 10% every quarter. And I think that growth will continue.

Operator

Operator
#27

Ladies and gentlemen, in order to ensure that the management will be able to address all the questions from the participants, we request you to kindly limit your question to 2 questions per participants. If you have a follow-up question, please rejoin the queue. Our next question comes from the line of Shiva with [indiscernible] PMS. Shiva, you may please proceed ahead with the question. As there no response from Shiva we will move forward to the next participant. Next question comes from the line of Rahul Kumar with Vaikarya Investment Management.

Rahul Kumar

Analysts
#28

Sir, just on this mach one segment -- so aluminum mach one segment. So our volumes have been a bit soft for the past 6 months. So can you just understand the challenge in this segment as of now? And what is the outlook over here?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#29

Yes, the volumes have been lower than what we also anticipated. And this segment is really dominated by the progress and offtake of projects in the real estate segment. What we've been seeing in India is that while the demand has been strong in terms of launch of new projects, and as a result, there is strong order inflow. But execution is not following at the same pace. This has a number of approvals from consultants, architects, site readiness, increase in raw material costs and availability of funding immediately. All these things can affect developers' ability. So that's really been the reason. So we've been seeing delays in offtakes from customers. As a result, our inventories have also increased, but -- we are not concerned about this because we are in close touch with the customers. So we know all the projects are on stream, but it is normal to see delays like this. So that's the reason why there has been little bit of softness in the deliveries.

Rahul Kumar

Analysts
#30

Okay. Okay. So in this segment, how was our order book actually, let's say, versus last quarter?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#31

The order book has been higher this quarter. There has been a growth in the order book. And yes, so orders -- in terms of total order book quantity, we are quite comfortably poised. Even today, we are sitting on order books in excess of 4.5 lakh square meters, which is more than 6 months actually of our current production capacity. So we are quite comfortably poised.

Rahul Kumar

Analysts
#32

Okay. Understood. Understood. Second question is on the engineering segment actually. So in this segment, your billing is based headcount basis or outcome basis. And in that context, how are we dealing with this -- any disruption because of AI?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#33

Billing is headcount basis, hourly rate basis for most of our services. There are some services where the billing is also fixed price, et cetera. But largely, it is on a service basis on 9-hour basis, not outcome basis. And as far as AI is concerned, like I said earlier, we are using AI in our services, and we are building various automations, and we are building various platforms, which enable lesser manpower and as a result of that we have some benefits, and we have arrangements with customers to share such benefits because on one hand, the quantum of man hour reduces, but on the other hand, there is also additional technology cost of hardware and software to implement those things and those things are charged. So net-net, there is a saving, which is shared. So those are -- we are in early stages of that.

Operator

Operator
#34

Please, join you for more questions. Please limit question only. [Operator Instructions] Our next question comes from the line of Avnish Tiwari with [indiscernible] Investment Management.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#35

Just to continue on that Middle East question. Can you just articulate what are the projects you are selling right now in the Middle East and what the scale you have, not just this crisis or before that, maybe before this whole Middle East crisis began.

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#36

So Middle East is -- we are selling scaffolding and [indiscernible] there, we have an active distributor. So in all the GCC countries, we are selling scaffolding formwork. We also have a few drum closure customers there. So those are the 2 primary engineering products that we sell there. I don't think we have any textile there -- we don't do any textile. So primarily, we do scaffolding formwork and drum closure.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#37

How much revenue you would have accrued less in fiscal '26 [indiscernible] scaffolding formwork business in the Middle East?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#38

We are going to have to rely on my CFO to tell you that. About 15% of our Scaffolding division revenue in FY '26 would have come from the Middle East.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#39

The second question I have is that in your MachOne Matan business, what are the top clients you have you garnered in India? Let's say, either a formorder revenue base, just help us give us some idea about the top clients?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#40

We are dealing with almost 120 different customers in India and top client profile keeps changing because this is not a business where you are going to service the same customers over and over again because aluminum formwork is a capital item. And once purchased, it's going to be used for a certain amount of time. Having said that, we are dealing with numerous national pan-India developers like Lodha, like Birla states, Godrej properties, Mahindra, Tata, Kalpataru, Sobha, all of these are our customers. And obviously, given their size, their volumes do come in our top 10. So these are some of the top clients, and they keep changing in terms of #1, #2, #3, but if I were to look at the top 10 or 15, I would expect at least 70% to 80% of these names always figuring.

Operator

Operator
#41

Our next question comes from the line of Ruchit Agrawal from Unifi Mutual Fund.

Ruchit Agrawal

Analysts
#42

Congrats on the numbers. My first question is on scaffolding. Since we consolidate a quarter prior for scaffolding, we -- are we expecting some sort of margin impact for especially the March month, given some escalation in freight costs for our U.S. business on the scaffolding side.

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#43

No, we are not expecting -- I mean, March quarter, you said March month, I mean, March quarter, we have already published the results. So March quarter, it is what it is. And if you are meaning the next quarter, which is the June quarter.

Ruchit Agrawal

Analysts
#44

U.S. being consolidated on 3 months [indiscernible] last.

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#45

Okay. I think my CFO has just clarified. I think you may be referring to the U.S. subsidiary Jan to March, which will get consolidated in the April to June. No, we are not expecting any impact in the margins due to freight. Those have been absorbed and they have been passed on.

Ruchit Agrawal

Analysts
#46

Got it. That's helpful. And on the indiscernible] you mentioned last quarter that Saudi is -- that South America is doing well. Any contribution from that side? If you can help us with some numbers and how big of an opportunity do we see. Also, if you can give some sort of volume guidance on the combo and exports base.

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#47

South America has been doing well, but it's a small market. It's not as big in scale as India. Our exports there are mainly to Brazil, Mexico, Colombia. In FY '26, the contribution of that in our formwork business is about 3% of the total formwork volume, which is quite small. But the order inflows are increasing. So I expect those to increase and, but it will never be more than 10%.

Ruchit Agrawal

Analysts
#48

Got it, sir. And sir, if I may just squeeze in one last on the formwork. We had a run rate of about 40,000, and you mentioned that we're seeing some delays. When do we expect the 70,000 to 75,000 monthly run rate on formbook? Any time lines that we're looking at?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#49

No, not really. And as I have said said earlier also, actually, that is not something we worry about. We don't -- we are not obsessed with how quickly we can increase the volumes. On the other hand, we are currently more focused on improving our operational efficiencies because formwork is a very involved business. It involves integration of engineering, manufacturing, site supervision, inventory management. So we are more focused on dealing with good quality customers and getting the margins that we need in the business optimizing our fixed costs and doing what we are doing efficiently. The 70,000, the 80,000 will come naturally as a result of doing this. But we are not chasing it actively.

Ruchit Agrawal

Analysts
#50

Got it, sir. And how much would be -- are utilizing....

Operator

Operator
#51

Sorry, but you may please rejoin the queue for more questions. Our next question comes from the line of Anubhav Mukherjee from Prescient Capital.

Anubhav Mukherjee

Analysts
#52

Hello, Am I audible?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#53

Yes, you are, please.

Anubhav Mukherjee

Analysts
#54

My first question is that I think you have received approval from EU for our scaffolding business like last year. So can you give some color on like how -- like how are you seeing like the scaffolding exports to Europe in the coming years.

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#55

Yes. So we had received approval from Poland, the B certificate, which was required. It has given some effect wherein our sales of scaffolding there used to be 0. To that extent. Last year, it was about 1.5% of total scaffolding revenue, which is again very, very small. The market there has still been very dull. The EU has still not really picked up to the level that it is required to pick up and still reeling from the effect of Russia-Ukraine war. And so we are yet -- so we are patiently awaiting that. But at least we have seen a positive effect of our certification.

Anubhav Mukherjee

Analysts
#56

Yes. And sir, I have a basic question. Currently, what will be the tariff in U.S. on both our product segments, jump closure and scaffolding...

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#57

Yes, scaffolding is 50% because we fall under Section 232 and drum closure has now also been added under Section 232, and it's 25% 27% 27.6% to be precise because there is a -- yes.

Anubhav Mukherjee

Analysts
#58

Okay. So the tariffs continue to be like at a high level. Sir, we were absorbing some of the tariff in our P&L.

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#59

So now we don't need to because this is no longer country specific. This is a tariff on all countries. This is a standard tariff on all countries exporting it. So we are at the same level playing field. And on the other hand, China is an exception which pays additional 25% on top of this. So we are at an advantage over China. So we don't need to absorb anything. We are able to pass this on to the customers and they are paying.

Anubhav Mukherjee

Analysts
#60

So are we -- like already we have witnessed a revival in demand from here. So you expect that to continue given...

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#61

We are keeping our figures crossed.

Anubhav Mukherjee

Analysts
#62

Yes. Sir, one small bookkeeping question. Can you give a split of the revenue of the scaffolding and formwork division between scaffolding and formwork for the year?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#63

Yes, it is roughly -- this year, it was roughly 50-50. So INR 1,342 crores. I think about INR 680 crores or so was scaffolding and about INR 660 crores or so was formwork. So almost 50-50.

Operator

Operator
#64

Our next question comes from the line of Riya Mehta from Aequitas.

Riya Mehta

Analysts
#65

So my first question is in terms of our backward integration aluminum formwork business, what is the kind of utilization we are doing there?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#66

It's 100% now.

Riya Mehta

Analysts
#67

So it is at 100%. And that last year, it would be around FY '26?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#68

FY '26 was 100%. Full FY '26 was 100%, and it continues to be at 100%.

Riya Mehta

Analysts
#69

Got it. Second question is in terms of volumes. We're seeing that even for drum closure, the volumes in the last 2 quarters for the entire year was negative versus last year. Could you elaborate what can be the particular reason for drum closure?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#70

Coming it from March quarter of last year to March quarter of this year is actually not a very good comparison. Yes, compared to that, it is down by, I think, 10 lakh sets. But March quarter last year was a very volatile quarter. Tariffs had just come in and demand was all over the place. So there is no one good reason, to be honest.

Riya Mehta

Analysts
#71

Okay. But there's no impact on demand, right? Because...

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#72

There is no impact. I mean there is no -- we are not seeing closure of drum factories. We are not seeing a sustained scale down in production in drum factories. So those things we are not seeing.

Riya Mehta

Analysts
#73

Got it. And in terms of margin, the margins were also pretty good. So was it a pass-on on the cost impact?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#74

Yes, it was rupee depreciation has also helped.

Riya Mehta

Analysts
#75

Okay. Could you help me how much will be the ForEx impact for this quarter?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#76

Yes. The ForEx for the quarter was INR 20 crores.

Riya Mehta

Analysts
#77

INR 20 crores. -- now coming to our second division, scaffolding division. So what I can see is that our U.S. business has turned around now what was happening because of the tariff, now things are better. So in the current month, like in the terms of March and April, March, April, May, how are things there? Are there -- did we just see a onetime impact of demand resurgence or we are seeing sustained demand resurg?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#78

At the moment, we are seeing a sustained demand resurgence. Like I said, since December '25, there has been an uptick, and it's not slowed down, and it doesn't seem to show an indication of slowing down. So I do feel that through June, we will be continuing to be strong. Having said that, we are heading into the summer season. So it is normal to have some minor slowdown offtake in the month of June, July. But that also, we may be surprised. It may not happen this year. But no, the resurgence is sustained.

Operator

Operator
#79

Our next question comes from the line of Shiva with Ithought PMS.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#80

My first question is regarding our defense products that we're dealing with. So is there any update regarding the same? Have we started to start selling the products here?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#81

No updates to share on that, please.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#82

Right. So I'm asking this question because I came across a recent interview with the management, and we had guided that defense vertical could become like 5% of sales and, say, 10% within 2 years or so. So that was the reason why I wanted to check on this, sir.

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#83

Anil ji, you have something to add?

Anil Gadodia

Executives
#84

Actually, see, we have been telling all the investors, defense takes time. These are all hopes. So we don't want to jump on any figures as of now. But yes, we are working on defense. We are making samples. We are being approved by DRDO and defense Department of the government. But there is nothing that we can share with the investors as of now. These are all efforts going in that direction. Defense is still there as a division, but not something which we can tell now.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#85

Sure, sir. Understood. And my next question is regarding the textiles division. So I've been reading a few other companies. So the cotton spread has improved in latest quarter now. So this is a common commentary across multiple companies. So -- but if you look at our margins, there's a slight dip even on a quarter-on-quarter basis. So why is this the case?

Anil Gadodia

Executives
#86

In yarn, there is no dip. Is there a dip in...

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#87

Yarn, I don't think there's a dip in yarn.

Anil Gadodia

Executives
#88

There is a positive profit, EBIT level from INR 4 crores to positive INR 1.5 crores.

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#89

You may be talking about textile division as a whole...

Unknown Executive

Executives
#90

Which includes garmenting yes, there is -- but there is a negative bottom line, but the negative is lesser in Q4 as compared to the previous quarters. So we are trying -- we are trying to go in the same direction and keep reducing the losses. But in yarn, it is doing okay.

Anil Gadodia

Executives
#91

Basically, the query from the market side that there is an increase in the yarn prices.

Unknown Executive

Executives
#92

There is -- so we have also experienced the same effect. We also have improved margins in yarn in Q4 and current year Q1 -- it will reflect in the accounts in Q1 of current year.

Operator

Operator
#93

Our next question comes from the line of Saket Kapur with Kapur & Company.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#94

Strong set of numbers. Sir, if you could just give me some more color on the factors that have led to the improvement in margins on a Q-on-Q basis when we compare our results with the December quarter with the March numbers in both the major segment of drum closure and scaffolding, there is a significant margin improvement. And going ahead, are these factors in continuity that we would be able to post margins in the same vicinity in that trajectory, if you could just throw some more light.

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#95

Sure. So leaving aside the INR 20 crore onetime benefit that we received on account of quantity discount from our steel supplier, Other than that, the margin improvement is because of increased quantity of sales. In the scaffolding segment, our U.S. business has seen increased quantity of sales in this quarter compared to the December quarter. And that has actually been the main reason for the improvement in the margins because of better utilization of the fixed operating expenses. And same thing applies in the drum closure quarter. There has been an increased quantity of sales of drum closure and as a result of which the absolute profitability is higher. So I think those are the 2 key reasons.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#96

Okay. And sir, do we look forward for these margins in the same vicinity of the one-off to continue? And also on the utilization level, sir, where are we currently? And how should the current year in terms of the utilization level...

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#97

So yes, the immediate quarter under purview, the June quarter, we are seeing this continue. So we are quite confident that this quarter is going along the similar lines. It's difficult to project for the full year at this time. And -- but yes, for the current quarter, it is definitely going on along the similar lines.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#98

Just to add, sir, we must have an understanding of how the order booking is placed. So if you could just give both the segment, I think scaffolding you have mentioned about 4 lakh...

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#99

Ours is not an order book-driven business. We are in B2B business. We are not an EPC company where we take large amount of orders and revenue is a function of execution of those orders. So we don't track order books. But most of our sales are ex stock done from our warehouses and our distribution centers worldwide in scaffolding. Drum closure is a direct B2B business. So our revenue growth is clearly a function of demand from our customers, which continues to be strong. And to that extent, we have kept our inventory levels optimum across our warehouses in the U.S. So we are in good position to service that demand...

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#100

We are at optimum level is what we can...

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#101

Correct -- our utilizations are at optimum levels, absolutely.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#102

And we have plans to increase that going ahead...

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#103

Like I said, we are already doing some minor capacity increases in the scaffolding division this year. We are seeing about 10% increase in scaffolding capacity just due to some debottlenecking at our end. We will do the second phase of expansion of our aluminum formwork and extrusion capacity towards the end of this financial year or early next financial year.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#104

Okay. And the CapEx amount, sir, how much have we envisaged for the same?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#105

That may be about INR 150 crores...

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#106

Conclude, sir, we did INR 110 crores of CapEx as per the cash flow -- so where have we invested that money was not in any capacity augment. That was only for the operational efficiencies that the maintenance CapEx, that INR 110 crores that we have spent last year.

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#107

That was done in FY '26.

Anil Gadodia

Executives
#108

Yes, those were all normal CapEx that happens debottlenecking various factors. There are no specific project related across all the divisions, it was there for improvement.

Operator

Operator
#109

Our next question comes from the line of Avnish Tiwari.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#110

One, how is the competitive intensity or pricing in the new projects you're looking at? I think last time you talked about there were some pockets where it was too intense and you were staying away from there. And then the aluminum prices, then how are they passed on contractually? If you just give us that idea when you get the material and when you supply or build to your customer, is there any lead and that in there?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#111

Yes. So competitive intensity is very high, and the capacities are continuously getting added in India. New players are continuously coming because of the demand -- but we are quite comfortable yet in terms of managing that because the demand is also growing and there is enough growth in demand and enough market available to cater to all these capacities coming in. We are not -- we are a premium player. So we are not dropping our prices. There are strategic competitive advantages that we offer to customers and customers who buy from Technocraft recognize that. There is a premium associated with our brand. So we are very selective with who we deal with and what our price point is. With regards to passing on aluminum costs and aluminum prices, so aluminum being very, very volatile, we typically when we book orders, the prices are variable. We don't keep the prices fixed. And the selling price gets confirmed only after the design is approved and we are ready to buy the raw material. So that's how it is.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#112

Great. In your engineering business, you are saying that AI is helping you become more productive. But does it reduce your addressable opportunity you could have captured because less number of people could be deployed for the same amount of work? Or you are sensing that the amount of work will exponentially increase, hence, you will capture the full opportunity, which you would have done without...

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#113

The type of work that we are chasing has changed as a result of AI. If we were to just chase the same type of work, then the opportunity will reduce. But to really embrace AI, we have pivoted our services and we are still pivoting to chase new opportunities. So AI has created new opportunities for us.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#114

Can you give an example...

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#115

Yes. So for example, if we were earlier doing, let's say, CAD-based services. Now if we were to continue to do CAD-based services, which are requiring engineers and draftsmen, then the opportunity will reduce. But on the other hand, if we chase digital transformation services where we have to build digital twins, for example, or we have to implement some automation for engineering companies, manufacturing companies or we have to develop some platform for remote tracking of assets and build some intelligence into it. These are new opportunities. So you have to pivot and chase those. So we have been doing that.

Operator

Operator
#116

Our next question comes from the line of [indiscernible]

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#117

Yes. I just want to get an understanding, I believe you said the operating [Technical Difficulty]

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#118

Yes, but that's only in the extrusion plant. We are not operating at 100% in our MA fabrication and nor are we operating at 100% in our scaffolding. Scaffolding we would be operating probably at about 90% -- and M1 is variable up and down because our capacity is actually much more, but our actual production and dispatch is lower because it's determined by site conditions.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#119

Got it, sir. So my question was on the growth front, sir, given that we're already operating at about 90% in the scaffolding business and you've had about 8% growth in the scaffolding division this year. I just wanted to get an understanding, sir, of the growth prospects of the division and whether or not we are planning any incremental CapEx in the next 2 or 3 years, which will significantly increase the scaffolding 17-odd percent. So I just want to get an understanding of the demand landscape in both scaffolding and given the decline year-on-year and the quarter-on-quarter decline in scaffolding and -- and are we planning any incremental significant capacities for the next 2, CapEx...

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#120

Yes. So you see in the scaffolding segment, we have already done some minor debottlenecking CapEx as a result of which our capacities have gone up by about 10% to 15%. And the demand has gone up, which is why our utilization is so strong. So we will see growth to that extent in the coming financial year in the scaffolding segment. As far [indiscernible] Mace is concerned, our capacity utilization is quite low. We are operating at about 60% to 70% capacity utilization, mainly because of slow site mobilization. We are expecting that to pick up. It's already improving. We are expecting with better client mining, we think that will improve. So that will automatically create revenue growth. And as far as your question regarding incremental CapEx, nothing significant this financial year.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#121

Given that our volumes in the staffing division have declined year-on-year, we're still not seeing any problems with growth going forward on the demand environment.

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#122

Volumes declined year-on-year because of 2 slow quarter sales in the U.S. last -- which was in the last financial year. If that would not have -- so that's why overall, the capacity utilization during those 2 quarters would have been lower.

Operator

Operator
#123

Next question comes from the line of Sanjay Kumar with PMS.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#124

Just a couple of questions on the text. First on yarn. I think we have restructured the operations like shifting production from Gur to Amati and now yarn spreads have improved. So despite this, we are still barely breaking even at the EBIT level in yarn. But is it fair to assume that we can do like 10% EBITDA margin in FY '27 for the yarn business?

Anil Gadodia

Executives
#125

EBIT level is breakeven because of the high depreciation. There is almost INR 46 crores of depreciation value in yarn. EBITDA, we are doing about 10% on EBITDA level. And I think it will -- in the quarter 1 of this financial year, it will improve by on account of the yarn spread being better.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#126

Got it. Okay. And second on fabric division, I think here also, we are looking at reengineering to reduce costs...

Anil Gadodia

Executives
#127

We are very seriously looking at restructuring the fabric division.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#128

Okay. And in the interview, we have also said that we are prepared to shut down the past house and then get it done from external vendors. So any guidance -- margin guidance for the fabric division in FY '27?

Anil Gadodia

Executives
#129

I'm unable to comment on that. We are evaluating various possibilities of restructuring and some strategies are being worked out.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#130

Got it. And no plans to sell or exit the fabric division or the yarn division going forward in the medium term or long term?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#131

One of the possibilities?

Anil Gadodia

Executives
#132

No, we are still evaluating various options.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#133

Okay. Okay. Because that will increase your returns, profitability ratios significantly. This is kind of pulling down our rest of the other high-quality businesses. So just wanted to get your thoughts on that. And finally, what is the plastic closure capacity? And how much sales did we do in FY '26...

Anil Gadodia

Executives
#134

I'm sorry, what, plastic closures breakup item wise. We have sold plastic drum closure about INR 35 crores in the complete year. Yes. And the margin is, if not better. It is -- actually, it is more than the drum closure margin, frankly speaking.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#135

Okay. And any outlook for this sector? Are we adding capacity?

Anil Gadodia

Executives
#136

See, in plastic drum closures, it all depends upon the acceptance of the product. We are not manufacturing simple distleryun kind of thing. We make very specialized plastics, which are anti-filtering or those kind of things. So we are developing products and giving for sample -- giving on a sample basis. So it will -- as soon as those products are accepted, the sales will increase. But there is no need of adding any capacity as such in plastics.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#137

Remaining 30% is owned by [indiscernible]

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#138

Yes.

Operator

Operator
#139

Our next question comes from the line of Anubhav Mukherjee from Prescient Capital.

Anubhav Mukherjee

Analysts
#140

I just had one small clarification. You mentioned that there was INR 20 crores of volume-led discount benefit in the EBIT of like the scaffolding and Combo division. And you also mentioned that there was INR 20 crores of ForEx benefit. So is it that INR 40 crores of benefit overall onetime in this quarter?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#141

INR 20 crores was only for the scaffolding division and the INR 20 crores ForEx benefit is across all divisions, not just scaffolding.

Anubhav Mukherjee

Analysts
#142

Okay. So -- but for the overall business, this quarter, INR 40 crores of onetime -- is my understanding correct...

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#143

But the ForEx is not onetime. No, ForEx is something that continues every quarter. The INR 20 crores of steel quantity discount, yes, it's onetime.

Anubhav Mukherjee

Analysts
#144

Yes, sir. So just wanted to understand that ForEx only.

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#145

ForEx is something that comes -- ForEx can be negative or positive, and it comes every quarter.

Anubhav Mukherjee

Analysts
#146

There and obviously like INR has depreciated significantly compared to last year. So we will be able to keep the benefit of that going forward as well? Or do we have to pass on some of the benefits to us?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#147

No, no, we'll be able to get the benefit of that.

Anil Gadodia

Executives
#148

See, I'll tell you, there are no imports by Technocraft as such. So whatever depreciation of rupee happens or appreciation of dollar and euro happens, there is a direct benefit and the benefit is not at all required to be shared with the customers.

Anubhav Mukherjee

Analysts
#149

So this ForEx should not be should be -- it's a part of our...

Anil Gadodia

Executives
#150

Yes, it can be seen. But thing is today it's INR 96. So tomorrow, it goes to INR 97, 98, then there will be a benefit as compared to the rate at which we have sold on the spot rate, right?

Anubhav Mukherjee

Analysts
#151

Get that. But sir, compared to last year, so we will be able to have better realization in INR terms because last year, sir, [indiscernible].

Anil Gadodia

Executives
#152

So gentlemen, it's like this. For the March quarter, it was INR 20 crores, but for the whole year, it was INR 46 crores.

Operator

Operator
#153

Our next question comes from the line of Avish Tiwari with -- very Investment Management.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#154

This -- you were talking about the strategic advantage you have in MA 1 over some of your competitors. Can you just elaborate a bit on that?

Navneet Saraf

Executives
#155

We have our own -- we are the only aluminum formwork company in the world that is backward integrated with our own aluminum extrusion plant. As a result of that, we are able to provide very high quality because we make the profiles in-house. So we are able to control the chemical composition, which is critical to providing the right strength and attaining the right number of repetition, which is the key. Most suppliers will say that you can get 100 repetitions, but in actual fact, you don't even get half of that. So that is a key strategic advantage. And as a result of having our own extrusion plant, we are also able to buy back our own formwork from the customers after usage and convert the used formwork to new formwork, which is a huge benefit. It saves working capital to customers and it gives the customer consistent quality. And now with our extrusion plant entering into its second year of operation and a reasonably good size of our own extrusion produced inventory in the market, we are seeing this recycling really taking shape. So this is our main competitive advantage.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#156

Great. Maybe one question to Anil. This unallocated cost, which is high this quarter, are there -- what are the reasons for that? Is it ForEx loss sitting there or something else?

Anil Gadodia

Executives
#157

Mainly because of the reduction in the mark-to-market value of investments.

Unknown Analyst

Analysts
#158

That comes in this unallocated cost part, is it?

Operator

Operator
#159

Yes. Ladies and gentlemen, that was the last question for today. With that, we conclude today's conference call. On behalf of Systematix Institutional Equities and Technocraft Industries India Limited, that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us, and you may now disconnect your lines.

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