With a legacy spanning over four decades, DEE Development Engineers Limited has emerged as a leading force in process piping solutions, catering to critical sectors such as oil and gas, power, and the broader process industries. Known for its engineering depth and world-class manufacturing capabilities, DEE has continuously evolved with changing industrial demands, offering everything from critical and modular piping to jacketed piping and LSAW pipes.
DEE Development Engineers Limited (DDEL), established in 1988 by Chairman and Managing Director K L Bansal, is a leading engineering company specializing in process piping solutions for industries such as oil and gas, power, including nuclear, chemicals, and other process sectors. In an exclusive interaction with Machine Maker, K L Bansal, the founder and chairman of DEE, shares the company’s journey from its early days, the challenges it overcame, and the innovation-driven roadmap that continues to define its leadership in the global engineering landscape. Through his insights, Mr Bansal provides a compelling look into building an enduring and future-ready enterprise.
“We aimed to establish a company that prioritized engineering excellence and delivered high-quality products to our clients,” recalls Mr Bansal. From its inception, DEE focused on building core competencies in critical piping, modular piping, and induction pipe bending. The company’s pioneering spirit led it to expand into newer offerings such as jacketed piping and LSAW pipes, aligning with evolving industry demands.
“Our long-term vision is to be known as the engineering, design, and manufacturing leader in complex, supercritical process piping solutions,” says Mr Bansal. This vision continues to guide DEE’s journey as it supports global infrastructure and energy needs.
Adapting Through Innovation: Staying Ahead of the Curve
Founded in 1983 and incorporated in 1988, DEE began with a clear vision: to bridge the quality gap in process-piping solutions. “With our four decades of fabrication experience, we have developed an in-depth understanding of national and international markets, along with a strong understanding of customer demands,” explains K L Bansal.
DEE’s growth has been supported by substantial investment in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and a forward-looking embrace of automation and digitalization. This strategic focus on technology helped the company streamline operations, maintain exceptional quality standards, and meet demanding project schedules.
“We combined our experience with the latest technologies to create innovative solutions for our customers’ piping needs,” says Mr Bansal. The company’s integration of pre-fabrication services—such as cutting, bevelling, welding, and radiography—proved to be a game-changer, significantly reducing on-site construction time and enhancing overall project efficiency.
Milestones of Growth: From Strategic Projects to Global Leadership
The rise of DEE Development Engineers from a startup to a leading force in the process-piping industry has been defined by a series of transformative milestones. “We were able to leverage key successes to accelerate our growth and innovation,” shares Mr Bansal, reflecting on the journey. One of the earliest inflection points came through landmark projects secured with industrial giants such as Reliance Industries and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. These large-scale contracts, involving critical industrial piping systems, served as proof of DEE’s capabilities and elevated its standing in the marketplace.
As demand grew, DEE responded by expanding its manufacturing footprint, a move Mr Bansal calls “crucial in helping us scale production capacity and meet the increasing complexity of customer requirements.” This infrastructure growth allowed the company to enhance delivery timelines and take on more complex, high-value assignments. At the same time, DEE embraced advanced technology, integrating robotic welding and automatic induction bending capabilities that enable the production of piping systems designed to withstand extreme operational conditions, including pressures up to 600 bar and temperatures as high as 1000 degrees Celsius. “We consistently strive to improve both the quality and speed of production,” notes Mr Bansal, underlining the company’s innovation-driven approach.
A defining moment came in 2024 with DEE’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) launch. This strategic financial step provided the capital to invest further in technological upgrades, expand operations, and strengthen financial health. “The IPO was a major milestone. It increased our visibility and opened up new avenues for growth,” Mr Bansal remarks, highlighting how the listing enhanced stakeholder confidence and market credibility.
DEE’s expanding global footprint is anchored by collaborations with several top-tier international and domestic clients, including General Electric, Adani, Honeywell, Larsen & Toubro, Siemens, Indian Oil Corporation, and TATA. Its standout global assignments are the prefabrication of piping spools for the LNG project in British Columbia, Canada, and the Basrah Refinery Upgrading Project in Iraq. Domestically, DEE’s contributions span projects such as HRRL Pachpadra in Rajasthan, the Guru Gobind Singh Polymer Addition Project in Bathinda, and the Obra and Jawaharpur 2×660 MW thermal power installations.
One of the most prestigious among them was the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Polypropylene Plant, where DEE’s expertise in handling complex piping requirements came to the fore. “These projects showcase our team’s dedication and the trust global leaders place in us,” says K L Bansal.
Engineering the Future: Innovation, Automation, and Operational Excellence
A steadfast commitment to innovation and operational efficiency lies at the heart of DEE Development Engineers’ growth story. “Our strength lies in the fusion of deep experience, technical expertise, and state-of-the-art infrastructure,” says Mr Bansal, emphasizing the company’s holistic approach to manufacturing excellence. DEE has continually integrated advanced technologies to enhance scalability and meet the evolving demands of global industries. With over 185 specialized welding stations, the company has built capabilities in manual, semi-automatic, and fully mechanized welding systems—including robotic welding cells, Bug-O mechanized solutions, and automated setups that deliver precision and consistency at scale.
Complementing these are CNC lathe machines and plasma cutting technologies that have redefined the company’s fabrication workflows. An integrated ERP system now serves as the digital nervous system of DEE’s operations, offering real-time visibility and control across the production lifecycle. “These systems have significantly improved our efficiency and decision-making, allowing us to respond faster to market demands,” Mr Bansal explains.
Advanced non-destructive testing techniques ensure that every product meets the highest safety and reliability standards, while digital simulation and design tools help optimize workflows from concept to completion. With a dedicated team of 45 design engineers, DEE handles complex engineering solutions—ranging from high-pressure piping systems and industrial pipe fittings to modular skids and pressure vessels—cementing its position as a technology-driven leader in the process piping industry.
Forging Strong Bonds: The DEE Philosophy on Customer Relationships
For DEE, customer relationships are not transactional—they’re transformative. This philosophy is captured in the company’s simple yet powerful tagline: “Make every customer a repeat customer.” According to Mr Bansal, “Our approach is centered on quality, reliability, and continuous engagement with our clients.” The company strongly emphasises delivering tailored solutions that align with each customer’s specific needs, ensuring proactive communication and seamless coordination throughout the lifecycle of a project.
DEE’s ability to deliver on promises has earned it long-term relationships with marquee clients like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Reliance Industries. “We don’t just manufacture products; we offer peace of mind through consistent performance and responsive after-sales support,” Mr Bansal adds. This client-first approach, backed by deep technical expertise and timely delivery, has helped DEE build trust and loyalty across its expanding global customer base.
Anjar Expansion: Laying the Foundation for the Future
Looking to the future with ambition, DEE Development Engineers is making bold strides to scale its operations significantly. A major part of this vision is developing a new greenfield facility in Lakhapar village in Anjar, Gujarat. Spread across approximately 50 acres, this site represents a strategic investment to meet growing global demand. “With this expansion, we are enhancing our overall capacity in process piping solutions by 27,000 metric tonnes,” says Mr Bansal. Of this, 12,000 metric tonnes have already been commissioned through a ₹250 crore investment.
One of the key highlights of the new facility is the establishment of a seamless high-wall-thickness pipe manufacturing unit—a backward integration initiative designed to support supercritical boiler piping systems for 800 MW thermal power plants. “This facility is a crucial part of our roadmap to triple our revenue to ₹2,400 crore in the next 3 to 5 years,” Mr Bansal shares, reflecting DEE’s long-term commitment to capacity building, innovation, and market leadership.
Defining Moments: Turning Points That Shaped DEE’s Growth
From its humble beginnings to becoming a trusted partner in critical piping solutions worldwide, DEE Development Engineers has been defined by a series of transformative milestones. “We were able to leverage key successes to accelerate our growth and innovation,” reflects Mr Bansal. One of the most significant catalysts in DEE’s journey was securing high-value contracts from industrial powerhouses such as Reliance Industries and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. These early endorsements validated the company’s engineering capabilities and elevated its profile within the process-piping sector.
DEE strategically expanded its manufacturing infrastructure as demand for complex piping systems grew. This enabled the company to scale operations, improve lead times, and handle more sophisticated requirements. In parallel, DEE embraced technological innovation—integrating robotic welding, CNC machines, and automatic induction bending systems. “We consistently strive to improve both the quality and speed of production,” notes Mr Bansal. These systems are designed to withstand extreme conditions, including 600-bar pressure and temperatures up to 1000°C.
The company’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2024 marked another major turning point. “It was a significant milestone that provided us with additional capital to fund our expansion plans, repay debt, and invest in new technologies,” says Mr Bansal. More than just a financial event, the IPO enhanced DEE’s visibility and opened new doors for collaboration, innovation, and market leadership.
Global Projects, Global Impact
DEE’s steady rise is mirrored in its impressive global footprint and prestigious clientele. The company has provided end-to-end engineering, design, and manufacturing services for supercritical process piping solutions to some of the world’s largest organizations, including General Electric, Honeywell, Indian Oil Corporation, Siemens, BHEL, Adani, and TATA.
Among DEE’s signature international projects is the prefabrication of piping spools for the LNG project in British Columbia, Canada, involving materials like carbon steel, stainless steel, and duplex/SSS. In the Middle East, the Basrah Refinery Upgrading Project in Iraq required highly complex fabrication involving duplex and Incoloy. In India, landmark installations include the HRRL Pachpadra plant in Rajasthan and the Guru Gobind Singh Polymer Addition Project in Bathinda, where DEE exclusively handled advanced alloy materials like P91 and P11. The company has also contributed to massive infrastructure projects such as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Obra & Jawaharpur thermal power plants. “These projects reflect our capability to deliver world-class solutions across geographies and sectors,” says Mr Bansal.
IPO Momentum: Fueling Strategic Expansion
For K L Bansal, the successful listing of DEE Development Engineers in 2024 was a financial milestone and a bold statement of intent. “The IPO highlights the trust and confidence of our stakeholders and empowers us to accelerate our strategic ambitions,” says Mr Bansal. With the capital raised, the company is now well-positioned to explore untapped global markets, invest further in automation and digitalization, and deepen its offerings across industries like oil and gas, power, and chemicals.
As a publicly listed entity, DEE has strengthened its commitment to transparency, governance, and value creation for all stakeholders. “We embrace the responsibility to drive sustainable growth and deliver long-term value for shareholders, clients, employees, and the communities we serve,” Mr Bansal affirms. The IPO has become a launchpad for DEE’s next chapter of global leadership.
Navigating Challenges, Embracing Opportunity
As the process-piping industry evolves, DEE remains agile in responding to emerging opportunities and pressing challenges. “We anticipate disruptions in global supply chains, labor shortages, and increased regulatory expectations,” Mr Bansal acknowledges. However, the company views these challenges as stepping stones toward stronger resilience and innovation. DEE is already investing in solutions, including a dedicated welding training school designed to develop and absorb 50 to 100 skilled welders annually, addressing the future workforce gap head-on.
Simultaneously, the rise of modular construction, the digitalization of manufacturing, the growth of the renewable energy sector, and policy boosts like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme present immense opportunities. “We’re positioning ourselves at the forefront of this industrial transformation,” says Mr Bansal.
Looking ahead, DEE Development Engineers is setting its sights on global leadership in the process-piping and heavy manufacturing space. “Our vision is to be recognized for innovation, quality, and sustainability,” Mr Bansal shares. The roadmap includes expanding DEE’s global footprint, investing in breakthrough technologies, and building a highly skilled, future-ready workforce. “We aim to set new benchmarks in efficiency and sustainability, becoming the preferred partner for high-performance piping solutions worldwide,” concludes K L Bansal.
