The pulls and pressures

"Over the years even the names of the companies (of our customers) may have changed but they have remained with us,” states Rusi Chowna, senior partner of the 112-year-old Drewet Chowna and Company, appreciating the trust of his loyal customers who for decades have continued to patronize the hydraulic and hydro-pneumatic systems for which the company has been reputed. Be they for five star hotels or multi specialty hospitals, government institutes or residential buildings, corporate houses or industrial units, their custom built products are constantly in demand.

Presently one of the important assignments undertaken by the Bombay based firm is in the construction of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link where their hydraulic cylinders have been pressed into service to make the new roadway ready for the city. They are commissioned by Hindustan Construction Company Limited to provide different hydraulic cylinders needed to operate the "launching truss/erection gantry for pre-cast segmental bridge over the sea,” as notes a press release. The use of hydraulics will once again help in the construction of the proposed underground metro rail service that will link Sewri to Nhava Sheva, we are informed.

"Nowadays construction is heavily dependent on hydraulics (as also) heavy engineering sectors,” the layperson is educated. Drewet Chowna supplies hydraulic cylinders and power packs that are used for segment bridges, lifting and pushing the structures, loading and unloading, and transporting the fabricated products. The low height flat jacks are used for aligning structures and gear boxes of sailing vessels.

As agents of Tangee-OEW for the western region (comprising Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa) they supply hydraulic cylinders and other equipment which were once imported but now made in India. Nearly all the construction companies, be it the prestigious Hindustan Construction, Tatas, Birlas, Gammon India, rank among their clients as do engineering firms like Larsen and Toubro, Crompton Greaves. Superior quality machinery and prompt after sales service, they believe, gives them an edge over their competitors. When requested, they design systems to suit clients or train personnel for smooth operations.

Rusi Chowna (seated) with daughter Navaz Guzder

Their sump pumps are much in demand during the monsoons when waterlogging can cause considerable damage. The basement in the Central Bank of India premises at Fort or the Raymond showroom at Breach Candy invariably need to use these sump pumps to draw out the water, mentions Rusi Chowna’s daughter Navaz Farokh Guzder who takes considerable interest in the expansion of the business as does her cousin Jehangir Jimmy Chowna, the fourth generation to continue the family business.

In the repair of buildings, ships, dry docks too, the pumps have found to be useful. Guzder refers to a building in Andheri which was found to be sinking but was fortunately lifted with the infrastructure supplied by Drewet Chowna and Company.

In several skyscrapers at upmarket Cuffe Parade, Ridge Road, Pedder Road, Worli localities where there are no overhead tanks, the hydro-pneumatic system provided by Drewet Chowna is effective to create the necessary pressure to supply water from the underground tanks to each flat. Their fire fighting pump in high-rise buildings is meant to charge water in the pre-laid pipeline to avert any possible calamity. Big apartments and bungalows where the water flow is down to a trickle in certain taps necessarily need to install pumps to create the necessary pressure, the varied applications of different pumps are explained.

Before specializing in pumps the company was dealing with diesel oil engines, mentions Rusi, recalling how they were the sole agents for all of India. In fact when the firm was founded in 1895 they started by importing hydraulic cotton bailing presses in India from UK. "Mr Drewet was the British partner with my grandfather Pallonji,” states Rusi giving a brief history of the early days. During the middle of the 20th century, Pallonji’s sons Cawasji and Dadabhoy visited England and imported Tangee Diesel oil engines which were extensively used for agriculture by Parsi farmers in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Drewet Chowna and Company also imported Tangee hydraulic jacks, pumps and cylinders. The third generation from the Chowna family, Rusi and Jimmy, joined the firm in about 1950 and expanded the business by importing Perkins diesel engines from UK and Deming deep and shallow well pumps from USA.

With the arrival of the fourth generation, the firm has come to be recognized as specialists in hydraulics and hydro-pneumatic systems.