Steam Tech: An expert in incense dryers, producing machines that dry from 32 kilos to 35 tons: Kalpesh Bhai Shah
Steam Tech Innovative Private Limited— a torchbearer in moisture-drying technology, has been offering tailor-made drying solutions for various products for over two decades. Being a pioneer in moisture removal and retention— the company has made significant strides in the incense industry over the past 5-6 years, catering to large, established brands and smaller producers alike. In an exclusive interview with Sugandh India, Kalpesh Bhai Shah, one of the directors of Steam Tech, revealed that the company was founded in 2005 to address a growing concern in cotton production—moisture retention. At the time, managing moisture in cotton was a significant challenge. With the expertise of his elder brother, Rakesh Bhai Shah, an engineer, and the support of their dedicated R&D team, Steam Tech has developed a variety of advanced dryers for efficient control of moisture levels. Today, Steam Tech dryers are widely used in manufacturing, particularly in the incense sector. Eight out of ten factories rely on their dryers. These innovative machines are capable of drying a range of products—from as little as 32 kg to as much as 35 tons—within a remarkable 4-hour time frame, setting a new benchmark in drying efficiency. Steam Tech’s commitment to innovation and quality has positioned it as a key player in the drying technology market, offering solutions that meet the evolving needs of businesses across various industries.
Kalpesh Bhai Shah, Director of Steam Tech Innovative Pvt. Ltd., shared exclusive insights with Sugandh India about the company’s journey in revolutionising moisture control technology. According to Shah, it was his elder brother, Rakesh Bhai Shah, an engineer with a passion for R&D, who spearheaded the development of the groundbreaking ‘Ud Fire’ dryer. This innovative technology allows their advanced dryers to both generate and remove moisture from various products. For the past 20 years, Steam Tech has established itself as a specialist in solving complex moisture-related issues. Initially focused on cotton and seeds, the company has expanded its product range to cater to industries requiring the drying of speciality items, such as incense, matchsticks, and tulsi leaves. In addition to these, Steam Tech also customises dryers to meet the specific needs of manufacturers in various sectors. Rakesh Bhai Shah’s deep involvement in R&D led to the creation of the ‘Ud Fire’ dryer, the first of its kind in the market. Over the years, the company’s R&D team has continued to innovate, producing state-of-the-art dryers using cutting-edge technology. Steam Tech’s first major success was developing a machine that could add moisture to cotton, preserving its quality during processing. This was followed by the development of the highly successful Wood Fire dryer, designed to dry cotton without burning it, a crucial advancement in the industry. Despite the complexity of these operations, Steam Tech has enjoyed a strong track record, with no complaints regarding the performance of its products, reinforcing the company’s commitment to quality and reliability.
In an exclusive interview with *Sugandh India*, Kalpesh Bhai Shah, Director of Steam Tech Innovative Pvt. Ltd., revealed how the company adapted to a critical shift in the Indian incense industry. In 2018, Steam Tech entered the incense sector following a significant disruption—Vietnam’s cessation of incense exports to India. This created a crisis, as many Indian manufacturers relied on imports. In response, the Indian government aimed to promote local production through the ‘Make in India’ initiative. One of the major challenges faced by Indian incense manufacturers was the drying process, as incense is produced in bulk. To tackle this, Steam Tech began developing specialised incense dryers. Over time, the company’s Research and Development team improved their technology, reducing the drying time from 6-7 hours (using the machines from Vietnam) to just 3-4 hours with their equipment. For larger factories, the company provided bigger drying chambers, but for smaller facilities with limited space, Steam Tech designed more compact dryers. These dryers not only reduced space requirements but also delivered higher efficiency. The company upgraded the capacity of its dryers, moving from 2 HP (as used in Vietnamese models) to 3 and 5 HP options, enhancing the machines’ performance. Additionally, Steam Tech improved the heat-generating chambers, making them more compact while increasing their output capacity. The result was a significant cost reduction, both in terms of machine size and price. This innovation allowed incense manufacturers to expand their production capacity, enabling them to produce more goods in just 24 hours, rather than having to dry them over 4 hours. Steam Tech has become a key player in the Indian incense industry by offering solutions that improve local production and increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness for manufacturers.
In a recent conversation with Sugandh India, Kalpesh Bhai Shah, Director of Steam Tech Innovative Pvt. Ltd., provided insights into the company’s wide range of drying machines designed to meet the diverse needs of the incense industry. Steam Tech offers various types of dryers suited for different weather conditions, specifically for both winter and summer. Shah explained that dryers previously imported from Vietnam were large, took up considerable space, and had lower capacity. To address this, Steam Tech introduced dryers with larger fans for clearer weather, enabling more efficient airflow and faster drying. The company also developed a variety of heat chambers that run on multiple energy sources, including wood, electricity, gas, and diesel, providing flexibility for different types of production environments. Addressing the needs of both large and small manufacturers, Shah highlighted that top incense brands across India now rely on Steam Tech’s Wood Fire dryers. For smaller factories or those with space constraints, Steam Tech offers compact electronic dryers. In addition, the company has created heat chambers capable of drying up to 32 kg of incense, catering to small-scale producers, including those operating from home. Shah also noted that while dryers designed for open weather perform well in winter and summer, they are less effective during the monsoon due to the high humidity. In such conditions, only the heat chambers are used, as they can effectively dry products despite the weather challenges. Steam Tech’s dryers are uniquely designed to combine both fan and heat functions within the same chamber, allowing products to be dried using warm air during the monsoon, while the fan alone suffices in normal weather conditions. This versatility in design and technology has made Steam Tech a leading player in the incense drying market, offering solutions that cater to a wide range of production scales and seasonal challenges.
In a recent interview with Sugandh India, Kalpesh Bhai Shah, Director of Steam Tech Innovative Pvt. Ltd., revealed that the company’s client portfolio includes some of the biggest names in the incense industry, such as Cycle Pure, Zed Black, and Moksha. Steam Tech’s products are now used by 8 out of the top 10 incense manufacturers in India, a testament to the company’s strong foothold in the market. Shah shared that the company’s first dryer, produced years ago, was purchased by the Abhinav Incense Company in Rajkot, marking the beginning of Steam Tech’s journey in the sector. He also highlighted a major achievement: for the past five years, companies using Steam Tech’s dryers have experienced zero maintenance costs, underscoring the reliability and durability of the equipment. In addition to offering high-quality products, Steam Tech prides itself on customer service, with a dedicated team of 125 professionals who quickly address complaints and provide training to help clients optimise the performance of their dryers. Looking ahead, Shah revealed that Steam Tech is focused on research to develop more energy-efficient dryers that consume less wood and power, aiming to offer even more advanced solutions to the industry. This aligns with the company’s commitment to continuous innovation and sustainability. On the international front, Shah confirmed that Steam Tech’s products are already being exported to neighbouring countries like Nepal and Bhutan. Furthermore, the company’s dealers are expanding its reach to additional international markets, marking a step towards global growth. With its combination of reliability, innovation, and customer-focused service, Steam Tech continues to strengthen its position as a leader in the moisture-drying industry.
Kalpesh Bhai Shah, a leading expert in the incense business highlighted a critical issue of fragrance loss during the drying process by some incense stick manufacturers. He remarked, “A lot of manufacturers avoid adding fragrance to raw incense sticks or dipping them, as the scent tends to dissipate during drying. Instead, they dry their products using natural methods, such as exposure to direct sunlight or open-air conditions.” Continuing with his remark, he informed Sugandh India: However, during drying in convectional heat chambers (or dryers)— the quality of fragrance diminishes. The traditional drying process is a deterrent against expensive fragrance materials used, resulting in losses for the company. To address this, Shah’s company has developed advanced drying technology that effectively eliminates fragrance loss, achieving near-zero levels of scent deterioration during the process. The new dryers also allow manufacturers to incorporate fragrance directly into the raw materials, offering greater flexibility and control over the final product. Shah reported that these new dryers have proven successful for the past three years with positive industry feedback. His company is committed to continuously innovating and developing new dryer models to meet the evolving needs of the incense manufacturing sector.
Kalpesh Bhai Shah, Director of Steam Tech Innovative Pvt. Ltd., recently shared exciting developments in the company’s future growth plans. In response to a question, he revealed that Steam Tech is in the process of constructing a large plant, designed to accommodate significant space for Research and Development (R&D). This new facility will also enable the company to ramp up its production capacity, further strengthening its position in the market. Shah outlined the price range of Steam Tech’s dryers, with fan dryers starting at ₹50,000, while their 32 kg dryers are priced at ₹98,000. The company’s offerings cater to both small and large-scale producers, with large companies using dryers capable of processing up to 35 tons of product at once. These high-capacity dryers enable manufacturers to produce up to 150 tons of goods per day, boosting efficiency and output. When asked about the company’s strategic direction, Shah emphasized that the global industry is moving towards greater specialisation, and Steam Tech is firmly aligned with this trend. For the past 20 years, the company has focused exclusively on developing advanced dryers, and Shah confirmed that this will continue to be the company’s primary focus moving forward. The aim is to refine and enhance dryer technology to meet the evolving needs of industries and provide even more advanced, efficient solutions in the future. Steam Tech’s commitment to innovation, coupled with the expansion of its R&D and production capabilities, positions the company to continue leading the moisture-drying industry with cutting-edge technology.
