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The Maini group has, in just under three decades,
grown to manufacture a wide variety of products and has also positioned
itself as a outsourcing partner for many multinationals. Janaki
Murali writes on its growth, products and its most innovative offering
to the market - the REVA electric car.
ONE of the companies that has chosen to set up
its facilities at the electronic city at Bangalore is the Maini
group which recently introduced India's first electric car in Bangalore.
It was 28 years ago, that Maini Precision Products was started by
S.K. Maini to manufacturer high precision lapping tools for MICO.
The company was soon outsourching for a number of multinational
companies, including General Motors.
Today the Maini group companies offer a spectrum
of products that include automative components, machined castings
and forging, manual/battery operated in plant material handling
equipment and granites, tiles and slabs for domestic and export
markets. With manufacturing facilities in 12 locations in and around
Bangalore, the group employs 1,400 people and has 80 specially trained
suppliers. The group spends seven percent of its turnover on R&D.
The Maini Technology Centre is recongnised by the Council of Science
and Industrial Research for conducting research. Maini Industrial
Consultants, Maini Technology Centre and Maini Info Solutions meet
the technology and R&D requirements of the manufacturing companies
in the group.
Maini Precision Products was started in 1973 in
Bangalore and has grown to four manufacturing locations making a
wide variety of components, machined casting and forgings, machined
aluminium die casting, miscellaneous parts for the automotive, material
handling and general engineering industry. Karnataka Electronics,
an ISO 9000 company, deals in auto assemblies for original equipment
makers including diesel fuel filters, hand primers and filter inserts.
This company, whose major customer is MICO, also
exports special auto spares to Singapore, Italy and Germany. Bangalore
Commercial Corporation is an one-source market place offering services
and represents German companies for the supply of machines and diamond
tools. Maini Materials Movements specialises in in-plant material
handling equipment and offers dock levelers, tow tractors and lift
tables. The company also makes pallet trucks, stackers and platform
trucks. The company also markets its products in Europe, US and
Canada.
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The REVA Electric Car from the stables of the
Maini Group is poised to make in roads into the automobile market.
Some of the other companies under the Maini group
are Maini Granites, Maini Industrial consultants, Maini Industrial
Consultants, Maini Abrasives, Hensel India, Berger-Maini Precision
Products and Maini Info Solutions. Of course in the news is the
groups's REVA Electric Car Company (RECC) which makes the group's
electric car.
The REVA was designed and developed by RECC in
collaboration with the American Electric Vehicle Technologies (AEVT)
California. RECC hopes to entice two wheeler owners graduating to
a four wheeler. REVA also promises a 'no gears, no clutch,' driving
experience at a low running cost of 40 paise per km. RECC which
is promoting itself as an environment conscious company, has initiated
several environment linked events.
Although the first Electric Vehicle was built in
1834, its manufacture was curtailed by the arrival of the internal
combustion (IC) engine. Gasoline driven vehicles were faster and
cheaper and were available in a wider range. Ready availability
of petroleum products resulted in a further drawback, which affected
the growth of Electric Vehicles (EVs).
Although interest in EVs was rekindled in the mid
1970s with petroleum products becoming scarce, the EV industry did
not grow, as it was expensive to be operational.
However, awareness of environmental issues like
ozone depletion, the greenhouse effect and harmful effects of carbon
dioxide emission are reasons will encourage the acceptance of electric
vehicles now.
Advances in research and development in the area
of fuel cells has also made the long-term future for the electric
motor car brighter.
- Janaki Murali
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