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Profiles of success

OKHLA Industrial Area has seen entrepreneurs grow from hitherto modest beginnings to formidable names in their respective segments. And one such example is definitely the success story of Luxor Writing Instruments. With a 15 per cent share of the Indian pen market, estimated to be about Rs 1,250 crore, Luxor manufactures about one million pens a day.

The Luxor story started out way back in a modest stationary shop in Delhi, out of which Luxor's Managing Director, Mr D.K. Jain's father operated. Growing up in such an environment, Mr Jain helped script the success of the company from its first brand `A rtist' to newer and more hi-tech pens.

The `Pilot' brand of pens, with the needle point technology was launched in 1982 following Mr Jain's visit to Japan. Manufacturing products with needle-point pens was an uphill task for the company. But for a company that ploughed back profits into new t echnologies, the challenge was met and today the Pilot brand does stand tall among others of its ilk. In fact, the Pilot portfolio now comprises Pilot Hi-tecpoint 05 and V5, markers, hilighters and children's colouring products.

Luxor now exports to over 50 countries and manufactures over 220 million pens a year, across its three brands, Luxor, Pilot and Parker.

In 1996, Luxor Writing Instruments Ltd formed a 50:50 joint venture between Luxor and Gillette and subsequently, in November 1996 the Parker brand was launched in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai setting new standards in writing instruments.

The Control Group, with a base here, is a conglomerate of seven companies -- Control and Switchgear Company Ltd; Telemecanique and Controls India Ltd; AVK-SEG and Controls India Ltd; RS Components and Controls India Ltd; Wago and Controls India Ltd; AVK- SEG India Ltd Power Ltd and Raas Controls.

It has 10 manufacturing plants in and around Delhi and the company is among the top four manufacturers of switchgears in the country. Its client list includes : BHEL, NTPC, Telco, Essar and Hindustan Lever Ltd. The company has more than 250 distributors, and employs 2,200 people, of which 400 are qualified engineers. The group's turnover has grown from Rs 99,000 in 1966 to over Rs 200 crore in 1998-99.

An outfit that sports a different flavour from Okhla Industrial Area is SITI@education, part of the Logicstat Group. The institute offers training in customer relationship management (CRM).

Formal training in this segment has been little and hence the institute assumes significance. The curriculum has been drawn up seeing the non-technical traits of successful business executives across the different segments of industry.

The Logicstat Group was founded by Mr Surinder K. Bhal, CMD, Logistat International, in 1971. The Group started with transformers, CVTs, Battery chargers etc and later diversified into Software Solutions, under the aegis of Madhouse Columbus Inc.

Another stationary outfit that has emerged from Okhla Industrial Area is Sona Products. The company has expanded its product portfolio from writing sleek and attractive exercise books to children's publications including books on alphabets, counting, col ouring, nursery rhymes and bedtime stories.

With an impressive clientele, Mechanical Cocks and Valves India, a company founded in 1979 by Mr G.C. Tuteja, has on its list companies such as Usha Shriram India, Sunbeam Auto Ltd and Bajaj Electricals Ltd, among others.

Pic.: The Okhla Industrial Area is one of the largest of its kind in the country.

Picture by Ramesh Sharma