Cleanrooms are often overlooked, yet they play a crucial role in various industries, especially in pharmaceutical manufacturing, electronics, and research labs. These spaces ensure that the products we rely on are safe, sterile, and free from contaminants. In India, one name stands out when it comes to pioneering cleanroom technology: Keyur Desai, the Founder of LAB SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS PVT LTD. Over his 27-year career in designing cleanroom solutions, Keyur established new standards for how businesses create sterile environments.
The escalating speed of technological progress in modern times has increased the essential role of cleanroom solutions for product quality consistency. The pharmaceutical and tissue culture sectors lead an international standard transformation, with Lab Services as the leading organization developing such environments. Throughout his professional journey, Keyur encountered various obstacles, yet so far he has prevailed. He launched his business in an industry which had limited exposure to Clean Room Products.
The growth story at Lab Services extends beyond numerical expansion to create educational opportunities and market development initiatives. The company maintains leadership through its commitment to innovative solutions that meet specific customer requirements and deliver exceptional satisfaction, resulting in tailored cleanroom environments.
Let’s explore how Lab Services is transforming industries with innovative cleanroom solutions designed to ensure safety and sterility!
The Visionary Founder of Lab Services
The story of Keyur and Lab Services begins in 1997 when the company was founded with the vision of providing cleanroom solutions for products that required sterile environments. Cleanroom technology was relatively new to India at the time, and establishing a market for these solutions was a challenge. But Keyur, driven by his passion for quality and innovation, worked relentlessly to create a business that would not only serve the country but also have a global impact.
Keyur’s journey in the cleanroom industry began with the manufacturing of laminar flow units. These units, which were vital for maintaining indoor air quality, were crucial for industries like pharmaceuticals, electronics, and tissue culture labs. Despite being a new concept in India, these products became the cornerstone of the company’s success.
Milestones and Growth of Lab Services
In the early years, Lab Services faced numerous obstacles. The cleanroom solutions they offered were a novel concept in India, and there was little understanding of their importance. But his perseverance and vision paid off. The company started by providing laminar flow units, which had been in use globally for decades but were not widely known or accepted in India. To overcome this lack of awareness, Keyur and his team took a unique approach.
“For the first three years, we provided these products to universities at no profit, only covering manufacturing costs. Once institutions and researchers became familiar with the technology, the demand gradually increased.” This proactive approach not only helped the company gain recognition but also educated an entire generation of professionals on the importance of cleanroom technology.
Key Offerings
When you hear the term “cleanroom,” it might sound simple, but in practice, it’s far from it. Cleanrooms are sophisticated environments that require precision and adherence to strict standards. Keyur elaborates on what goes into a cleanroom design: “While ‘cleanroom’ might sound like a simple term, in real applications, it involves creating sterile conditions. For example, in tissue culture production, maintaining an extremely clean environment is essential to prevent contamination.”
The process of designing a cleanroom is highly complex. According to him, “A cleanroom is designed according to international standards, specifically ISO 14644. It requires recirculating and filtering air multiple times through different levels of filtration, such as 10 microns, 5 microns, and 0.3 microns, to achieve the desired sterility. The air may be recirculated 20, 100, or even 150 times, depending on the requirement.” This level of precision ensures that the cleanroom environment is suitable for industries like pharmaceuticals, electronics, and more.
Maintaining High Standards and Compliance
The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most regulated sectors when it comes to cleanroom solutions. For companies like Lab Services, ensuring compliance with industry standards is crucial. He explains, “We strictly adhere to ISO 14644 standards, which set the guidelines for cleanroom design. At Lab Services, we have in-house design capabilities. We create blueprints based on customer requirements, prepare Bills of Quantities (BoQs), manufacture the products, install them, and then validate and calibrate them using specialized equipment. Once installed, the cleanroom must be validated to ensure it meets ISO standards.”
By maintaining strict adherence to these standards, the organization ensures that every cleanroom they design and install is up to the highest quality and safety standards, giving clients confidence that their products are manufactured in a safe, sterile environment.
Challenges in the Journey
Every business faces challenges, and for Lab Services, the journey has been no different. Initially, when Keyur and his team introduced cleanroom solutions to the Indian market, there was little awareness or demand for such products. He recalls, “The biggest challenge was that the industry lacked awareness of these products. Since there was no demand, selling them was difficult.”
Despite these challenges, it persevered. “To overcome this, we started educating the industry. We approached educational institutions like MSc and PhD programs to spread awareness about cleanroom technology,” he adds. Over time, this effort paid off, and the demand for cleanroom solutions began to grow as industries recognized the importance of maintaining sterile environments.
Innovation and Technological Advancements
In today’s fast-paced world, innovation is key to staying ahead in any industry. For Lab Services, the cleanroom sector is no different. Keyur acknowledges, “Cleanroom technology is still relatively new—only about 20 years old in India. Any product that has been in the market for just 15-20 years has room for improvement.” To stay at the cutting edge, his company focuses on continuous innovation.
“We analyze the specific needs of our clients, then design and build cleanrooms tailored to their applications. That’s how we ensure continuous improvement and innovation,” Keyur explains. By keeping a close eye on industry trends and understanding the unique needs of each client, the company ensures that they are always providing the most advanced and efficient solutions.
Addressing Industry Challenges
One of the biggest challenges facing the cleanroom industry today is cost. Cleanrooms are expensive to install and operate, and there is constant pressure to reduce costs without compromising on quality. Keyur highlights, “One of the biggest challenges we are tackling is cost reduction. We are working on solutions to maintain ISO compliance while reducing costs.”
Another major concern is minimizing environmental impact. Cleanrooms require significant energy to maintain sterile conditions, especially in the form of air conditioning. To address this, Lab Services is developing methods to make cleanrooms more energy-efficient, aiming to reduce both operational costs and the environmental footprint. “We are exploring ways to recover heat and minimize the energy consumption associated with air conditioning,” he adds.
The Role of Sustainability in Cleanroom Solutions
While energy efficiency is important, the company also focuses on ensuring the long-term reliability of its products. Keyur explains, “We are committed to ensuring that our cleanroom solutions are built to last. Our laminar flow units from 1997 are still operational today, and they are expected to last another decade or more. This focus on durability helps reduce waste and ensures that our clients can depend on their cleanrooms for years.”
By prioritizing both energy efficiency and long-lasting products, Lab Services helps clients build sustainable, cost-effective cleanroom environments.
Team Expertise and Dedication
Central to the organization’s success is the dedicated team of professionals who bring Keyur’s vision to life. “Lab Services has a dedicated team of engineers, designers, project managers, and back-office staff. Around 80-85% of our employees have been with us for over 15 years. Some have been with us since 1998-99, and they are the backbone of our company. Their dedication has contributed significantly to our success,” he proudly says.
This loyalty and commitment from the team play a crucial role in ensuring that every project is completed on time and to the highest standards. “With such a dedicated team, we have been able to meet the challenges that come our way and deliver top-notch cleanroom solutions to our clients,” Keyur adds.
Ensuring Timely Delivery
Timely delivery is a key aspect of any project, and Lab Services places a strong emphasis on ensuring that every cleanroom solution is delivered as promised. He explains, “We get involved in projects from the design stage, aligning our schedules with the client’s construction progress. We set a commissioning date first and work backward to create a timeline. Our policy ensures that our products are ready before the civil work is completed.”
By using a detailed timeline and ensuring that all products are ready in advance, the company is able to meet deadlines and exceed client expectations, making them a reliable partner for businesses in need of cleanroom solutions.
Recent Projects
One of the recent projects Lab Services undertook involved designing a cleanroom for a long-time client who introduced a new product involving solvents that posed explosion risks. Keyur recalls, “To ensure safety, we installed multiple sensors and monitoring systems. This allowed them to manufacture high-solvent-exposure products in a controlled cleanroom environment.”
This project demonstrates its ability to adapt and provide tailored solutions for complex challenges, reinforcing their reputation as leaders in the cleanroom industry.
A Personal Touch: The Man Behind the Business
While Keyur is known for his leadership in the cleanroom industry, he remains grounded in his personal values. He shares, “I come from a humble background, and my family has always believed in ethical and collective growth. I believe that success should be shared. If I grow, my team and the people around me should grow too.”
His emphasis on collective growth extends beyond business success; it’s a philosophy that drives his personal and professional life. He believes that success is not just about individual achievement but about uplifting others along the way.
Balancing Work and Life
In today’s high-pressure business environment, work-life balance is more important than ever. Keyur believes in maintaining a healthy balance. “My grandfather worked for Indian Railways before 1947. His British boss once told him, ‘You can work until 6:30, but not until 9. Your family time is important.’ We try to implement this philosophy at Lab Services. With good management and planning, work-life balance is achievable.”
By following this principle, he ensures that his employees are able to maintain a healthy work-life balance while remaining productive and focused on delivering quality solutions.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
As a successful entrepreneur, Keyur has valuable advice for those looking to enter the cleanroom industry. “I encourage young entrepreneurs to enter this industry—it offers great potential. However, they need to stay focused on quality and innovation. Don’t compromise on standards, and always keep learning. Success comes when you remain committed to your vision.”
Lab Services continues to innovate and lead the cleanroom industry, creating environments that contribute to the success of businesses in various sectors. With a strong focus on quality, sustainability, and team collaboration, Keyur and Lab Services are poised for continued success in the years to come.
