The Hindu Business Line : Canada’s Cubex keen to make India hub for maintenance operations

Plans ahead
Hiring engineers for strengthening operations.
Plans pursuing offshore drilling business in India from next year.
Plans leasing an airport for maintenance of jets, small aircraft.

M. Somasekhar

Hyderabad, Oct. 2 Cubex, Canada, which has interests in mining and aviation, wants to make India a hub for its maintenance operations for Africa and Asia. It is also planning a Fixed Base Operations (FBO) targeting corporate jets.Cubex, the second largest manufacturer of underground mining equipment and having a presence in 29 countries, will use its India base to offer annual maintenance contract (AMC) services to mining companies in these two emerging markets. The Canadian company is strengthening its operations for this purpose by hiring professional engineers in the country to be located in Mumbai.

The focus would be on drilling and production equipment.

Cubex India, its wholly owned subsidiary, is talking to engineering colleges in Kolkata and Rajasthan for getting engineers, according to Mr Hemant M. Shah, its Managing Director.

The company, which is into offshore drilling in international locations, plans to pursue this business in India from next year.

Cubex India also has a small presence in Udaipur, as it has long-term partnership with mining majors like Hindustan Copper there, Mr Shah told Business Line.

In the civil aviation sector, the company is exploring the possibility of leasing an airport in 2008, to offer its FBO for maintenance of jets, small aircraft, especially owned by the large corporates in the country, Mr Shah said.

Canada has expertise in FBO (small maintenance base), especially with Winnipeg Aviation, which Cubex Aviation would leverage to offer better service in the Indian context, Mr Shah said.

Mr Shah, who is also the Managing Director of Winnipeg Aviation for India and Asia, said plans for a flight training academy with an investment of Rs 7-8 crore, has been firmed up by Winnipeg.

Talks are on with private companies in Maharashtra and Rajasthan, which have shown interest.

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