• PAGE ONE
• INDEX
• HOME

Honeywell in pact with Raj Lubricants

Our Bureau

CHENNAI, Dec. 14

HONEYWELL International and Raj Lubricants (Madras) Ltd have entered into an MoU for the manufacture and marketing of products related to telecommunication and personal care sectors.

According to Mr Amit Nanavati, Director (Marketing and Business Development), Raj Lubricants, the MoU provides for the manufacture of gels used in optical fibre cables and petroleum jelly, and marketing in India and the Asia-Pacific region. The arrangeme nt is likely to be extended to other products also, he said.

The MoU will synergise Raj Lubricants' expertise in oil manufacture and marketing and Honeywell's technology and international presence. The company is a market leader in transformer oils, white oils, process oils, solvents, petroleum jellies, cable jell ies and speciality lubricants, he said.

The trend in cosmetic industry is shifting from captive manufacture of petroleum jellies to outsourcing. The demand is estimated at 6,000-7,000 tonnes per year and is growing at the rate of 15-20 per cent, according to Mr Nanavati.

The fibre optic jelly for use in telecommunications industry is a major growth area. The demand in 2001 is estimated at 1,200 tonnes, and is likely to grow at 50-60 per cent annually. Exports of these products will be through Honeywell International, he said.

Raj Lubricants is looking at the manufacture of specialised lubricants, corrosion preventives and industrial oils, for which it is in discussions with leading US-based manufacturers, he said. Specialised metal working fluids are a key area of growth iden tified by the company.

Mr Rakesh Makhija, Managing Director, Honeywell International (I) Pvt Ltd, said that Honeywell was looking at expanding operations in India. It has major projects on the anvil, including a manufacturing facility to meet amorphous metal demand and automob ile components. The company is considering joint ventures for manufacturing truck brakes, spark plugs and filters, he said.