- New facilities to create one of the most advanced and integrated electro-mineral complexes worldwide
- Added generation of about 25,000 tons of fused minerals, with potential sales of about $30 million
Chennai, 23 March 2017: Carborundum Universal (CUMI), one of the leading players in the world in the area of Material Sciences and a part of the Murugappa Group, opened three new fusion plants at its Electromineral Complex at Cochin, today.
With the new facilities – a Zirconia Bubble Fusion Plant and two Alumina Fusion Plants – CUMI’s Complex here has become one of the most advanced and integrated electromineral complexes in the world.
The plants were inaugurated by Shri A Vellayan, Executive Chairman, Murugappa Group in the presence of the Chief Guest Dr. AN Safeena, IAS, Development Commissioner, Cochin SEZ.
The direct job creation from this project will be primarily in the technology and application side; it is also expected to create over 300 indirect jobs in the front and backend of the supply chain.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr A Vellayan, Executive Chairman, Murugappa Group, said, “I congratulate the Team at Electro Minerals Division in CUMI who have been in the forefront of technology and innovation, with several patents to their credit. Their commitment and technical strength has been instrumental in setting up this world class facilities and our continued investment in Cochin.”
“The new facilities—estimated at Rs 80 crores investment funded through internal accruals—will add, at full capacity, about 25,000 tons of fused minerals generation, with potential sales of about $30 million,” he added.
Building on the Group’s CSR focus in the three areas of Health, Education and Skill Development, Carborundum has been working on providing skill development for qualified youth from economically backward sections. One of the significant initiatives under this, the CUMI Skill Development Centre has recently won the Golden Peacock Award for Excellence in CSR Activities.
About the new facilities:
The Zirconia Bubble Fusion Plant is a modern tilt furnace that will blow Zirconia bubbles at nearly 3000 degree centigrade. Zirconia is extensively used in ceramics, refractories, pigments and in the nuclear industry. The company is also commissioning two Alumina Fusion Plants – a modern pot furnace and a tilt furnace of large capacity.
The hallmark of all these three furnaces is that they are highly energy-efficient with close loop feed and Scada control to ensure near zero emission. In line with the Electromineral division’s continued focus on Health, Environment and Safety across all its plants and locations (which has won it several awards / recognitions), safety and environmental protection have been given the highest priority in this new project, too.
The Electromineral complex of Carborundum consists of fusion and processing facilities at Edapally, a world-class Microgrit facility at Kakkanad, a Silicon Carbide complex at Volzhsky in Russia (one of the largest of its kind), a smaller unit at Koratty, bauxite mines and a calcining plant at Okha in Gujarat, Quartz mines at Orlof in the Volgorad Oblast in Russia, stabilised Zirconia fusion and processing facilities at Phalaborwa in South Africa, as well as a hydroelectric power plant at Maniyar in Kerala.
These facilities result in the company manufacturing a wide range of Aluminas, Silicon Carbide, Zirconias, Engineered grains like Azure S, mircoporus high temperature insulation- Nebulox, microgrits and treated grains.
The Electromineral division’s products address various applications in diverse industries including Engineering, Energy and Environment. Nearly 75% of the division’s revenue is from exports and overseas operations. The Cochin complex also has a DSIR-approved R&D centre that has been driving innovation, and creating a large number of IPs and has been recognised by CII as one of the Top 25 Innovative companies in India.
About CUMI:
CUMI was founded in 1954 as a tripartite collaboration between the Murugappa Group, The Carborundum Co., USA and the Universal Grinding Wheel Co. Ltd., U.K. The company pioneered the manufacture of Coated Abrasives and Bonded Abrasives in India in addition to the manufacture of Super Refractories, Electro Minerals, Industrial Ceramics and Ceramic Fibres. Today the company’s range of over 20,000 different varieties of abrasives, refractory products and electro-minerals are manufactured in ten locations across various parts of the country.
With state-of-the art facilities and strategic alliances with global partners, CUMI has achieved a reputation for quality and innovation. CUMI is one of the five manufacturers in the world with fully integrated operations that include mining, fusion, hydro and gas based power stations, manufacturing, marketing and distribution.
All CUMI’s manufacturing facilities have received the ISO 9001: 2008 accreditation for quality standards and most are EMS certified. A well-connected marketing and distribution network of offices and warehouses in India and abroad, ensure that service to customers is given prime importance.
CUMI’s constant innovation and product upgradation, through in-house R&D and strategic alliances with global leaders in grinding technology, have not only ensured it market leadership in India and abroad, but also international recognition as a manufacturer of quality abrasives and a provider of total grinding solutions.
CUMI’s products are being exported to 43 countries spread across North America, Europe, Australia, South Africa and Asia.
About the Murugappa Group:
Founded in 1900, the INR 295 Billion Murugappa Group is one of India’s leading business conglomerates. The Group has 28 businesses including nine listed Companies traded in NSE & BSE. Headquartered in Chennai, the major Companies of the Group include Carborundum Universal Ltd., Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Ltd., Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Company Ltd., Coromandel International Ltd., Coromandel Engineering Company Ltd., E.I.D. Parry (India) Ltd., Parry Agro Industries Ltd., Parry Sugar industries Ltd, Shanthi Gears Ltd., Tube Investments of India Ltd., and Wendt (India) Ltd.
Market leaders in served segments including Abrasives, Auto Components, Transmission systems, Cycles, Sugar, Farm Inputs, Fertilisers, Plantations, Bio-products and Nutraceuticals, the Group has forged strong alliances with leading international companies such as Groupe Chimique Tunisien, Foskor, Mitsui Sumitomo, Morgan Advanced Materials, Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM), Yanmar & Co. and Compagnie Des Phosphat De Gafsa (CPG). The Group has a wide geographical presence all over India and spanning 6 continents.
Renowned brands like BSA, Hercules, Montra, Ladybird, Mach City, Ballmaster, Ajax, Parry’s, Chola, Gromor, Shanthi Gears and Paramfos are from the Murugappa stable. The Group fosters an environment of professionalism and has a workforce of over 32,000 employees.
For more details, visit www.murugappa.com