Vithal Patil and Rohit Patil are silent mavericks. Their company Ivory Ace Structures, Belagavi completed the massive Goldplus Float Glass factory at Kanagala in a record span of one year. That too during incessant rains, with workers from across India and adhering to the technical specifications of partners from all over the world. The company’s name is a coming together of the toughness of Ivory and being an Ace at whatever they do and the logo leaves you pondering about its perfect relevance. Within minutes of meeting Rohit and Vithal, you sense a quiet determination, a hint of something extraordinary brewing beneath the surface. Their skill sets complement each other to create something transformative.
Rohit is a graduate of Civil Engineering from GIT Belagavi and comes from a family with a legacy of over four decades in the construction business. He delved deeply into industrial construction to contribute to India’s growth story. After his education, Vithal joined his father’s construction business. 4 years down the line, he moved to Italy to study Branding and Design at InstitutoMarangoni- known for its training in design, branding, and architecture. Rohit and Vithal knew each other from childhood and both had ample exposure to construction. The two started this company in the midst of the Covid lockdown to create something unique with a shared vision. The camaraderie between them is evident in the way they work, listen, and agree in unison.
Good design is human-centric
“Imagine factories that inspire, not just produce,” Rohit enthuses, adding “We don’t just build structures, we craft experiences. We bridge the gap between what industrialists dream of and what they think is achievable,” Rohit smiles confidently. They blend stunning design with budget-consciousness, leaving even auditors speechless with the beauty and efficiency of their creations.
Starting small
They started small- sugar factory expansions and modest industrial sheds. Their philosophy was simple: elevate the working space. So once someone saw their renderings and what was possible, they would never un-see it nor be happy with the conventional. That mantra has served them right. This approach also resonated with a surprising niche: industrialists. Ivory Ace Structures saw factories not just as places of business, but as living, breathing homes for anyone who worked there.
Then came the turning point. The three-year-old company stunned everyone by bagging the coveted Goldplus Float Glass factory project at Kanagala, beating out a whopping 70 competitors. Goldplus is the second-largest float glass manufacturer in India with a 22% share of manufacturing capacity for float glass (1250 tonnes per day) . The Project has come up on a massive land of approx. 225 acres in Kanagala Industrial Area, Belagavi. They operate with three fungible production lines, capable of producing both clear glass and value-added glass, with an aggregate capacity of 2,050 tonnes per day from two locations i.e at Roorkee, Uttarakhand and the other one is at Kanagala, near Belgaum. The new Greenfield project, which is one of the world’s biggest glass plants, consists of 2 float lines of 800 tonnes per day capacity each and a solar glass line of 300 tonnes per day capacity. This entire project was something that the world had rarely seen, was challenging indeed, but a passion project nonetheless. Gold Plus recently won the Platinum Green Factory Award for its Kanagala Factory from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). This Platinum Rating, the highest one, is a testimony to the environment-friendly approach chosen by the promoters and translated into construction by Ivory Ace Structures.
The secret sauce
Ivory Ace Structures brought a complete in-house package to the table – from earth-moving muscle to furnace expertise and seamlessly integrated with the global tech partners’ know-how. This was possible because the sister firms were already established players in the market with decades of credibility and expertise. But their secret weapon wasn’t just technical prowess. It was their approach.
Deep discussions with the management and vendors ensured a holistic understanding of the project’s needs. Working hand-in-hand with international technology partners created a transparent and efficient workflow. But above all, Vithal emphasizes, it was about shared vision. “We ensure we are on the same page” he adds. They saw the client’s commitment to superior quality, on-time delivery, and absolute transparency, values that mirrored their own. The client, in turn, saw their fresh approach, high technical expertise and honesty in intentions at every level that won them over.
The challenge was monumental. Building a massive factory in just one year, during a monsoon season of 2021 that threatened to derail everything. Days lost meant hours clawed back. “We started planning and executing on an hourly basis” Rohit reminisces. Festivals and family gatherings were forgotten. Dedication became their watchword. The result? As Vithal describes- A project delivered on time, on budget, and by achieving all the standard compliances. Clients, vendors, engineers, staff, and workers – everyone walked away satisfied. The company management was all praise because Ivory Ace made this a Fast Track project – completing it well ahead of schedule, thereby significantly increasing the production of the company and boosting their profits.
Being the first or the last option
A crystal clear purpose defines the shared approach. They envision Ivory Ace Structures as a client’s first go-to name for industrial construction. Ideally, they’d be the first and only name that pops into mind when a client wishes to construct any kind of structures. For those with unconventional dreams or projects deemed impossible by others, Ivory Ace Structures becomes a beacon of hope. So alternatively, “if no one else can do something, clients are sure Ivory Ace Structures can do it”.
Going forward
Rohit and Vithal have big dreams for how they want to take their company ahead. Vithal speaks passionately about being fortunate to be a part of India’s growth story. ‘’We are at the right place at the right time” he says, with a caveat that if India has to grow like China did, it needs to focus on manufacturing. In the days to come, the company will function through three different sub-companies or verticals- Ivory Mega Projects for handling mega projects, Ivory Elite Estates to construct exclusive bespoke commercial buildings and luxury homes for select clients and Ivory Infra for institutional projects like colleges, schools and industries. That way, each arm of the parent company is well entrenched into its core expertise. Going ahead, they could even seek funding to scale up their company, a move that will is sure to pitch them in a higher orbit. Already, the company has been getting numerous inquiries for projects across India and overseas mainly due to referrals from satisfied clients and their associates.
A strong sense of purpose
While you keep wondering how these young men have so much depth of thought and clarity of purpose, you can’t resist the urge to ask them that. Well, turns out both credit it to their parents’ upbringing and spirituality. “Our parents earned their goodwill all their life through honest work”, says Rohit. He believes that a strong rootedness in spirituality gives one a sense of purpose while being seeped in values. It is evident in his calm demeanor and commitment to ethical business practices. “All we can do is add to it, not do anything that tarnishes their reputation”, he adds. Vithal delves deep into his family’s emphasis on values and focus on Indian culture. Their upbringing instilled a strong work ethic, evident in their dedication to exceeding expectations on every project, even during the monsoon madness. Together, Rohit and Vithal are a force to be reckoned with in the construction industry, their unwavering integrity and dedication paving the way for a legacy of excellence.