Kirloskar Brothers Limited commemorates the nationwide

Centenary celebration of South Zone in Chennai

Chennai, 16th November, 2010: Kirloskar Brothers Limited (KBL), a leading global water management solutions company, recently commenced nationwide Centenary celebration of South Zone in Chennai. On the occasion, Chief Guest, Mr. M. V. Subbiah, Former chairman, Murugappa Group and Chairman, National Skill Development Corporation, joined Mr. Sanjay C. Kirloskar, Chairman and Managing Director, Kirloskar Brothers Limited (KBL) and Mr. Atul Kirloskar, Chairman and Managing Director, Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited (KOEL) for a day long celebration.

Other dignitaries present on the occasion were Mr. Venu Srinivasan, Chairman and Managing Director, TVS Motor and Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Distinguished Scientist and Director (Construction) and Project Director, BHAVINI along with two of KBL’s oldest dealers in South Zone, Mr. Ashok Shah, Basic Engineers and Traders and Mr. S. Sudhakar Moopanar, R. Soundararajan and Company.

The first phase of centenary celebration was kicked off by Union Cabinet Minister Mr. Sharad Pawar on March 10th at Kirloskarvadi, the flagship plant of the Kirloskar - Group and one of India’s first Industrial Townships. The nationwide celebrations were then held in Kolkata in June, with Dr. R.P. Goenka, the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the RPG Group and a multi-sector Indian industrial conglomerate gracing the occasion.

In the southern region KBL has long been associated with BHAVINI, Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited, a forerunner towards the ultimate goal of a long-term nuclear power program. BHAVINI is a wholly owned enterprise of the Government of India, under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). It aims to construct and commission the first 500 MWe Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu and to pursue construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of subsequent Fast Breeder Reactors for generation of electricity. Owing to KBL’s comprehensive abilities and reliability, it has been entrusted with the prestigious order for primary heat transfer pump, secondary heat transfer pump, sea water pump house and fire fighting package for this project.

To commemorate this milestone KBL launched a centenary product iCP (Innovative range of Chemical Process Pumps) for the chemical process industry. The product aims to improve efficiencies and there will be zero leakage in spite of no gland packing and no mechanical seal. They have also launched a Customer Loyalty Program which is a contest to locate two of the Oldest Operational Kirloskar Industrial Pumps. The oldest pump will be bestowed the honor of a royal seat in the Kirloskarvadi heritage museum.

Chief Guest on the occasion, Mr. M. V. Subbiah, said, “The Kirloskar ’s have always believed that wealth and knowledge must always be shared with the community. They have contributed immensely to the nation building process through their township and the activities of the Vikas Charitable Trust. This is also evident in the fact that Kirloskar Brothers was recently recognised by the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax Pune for emerging as one of the top tax payers of Pune Region.”

“My grandfather who went to Burma as clerk at the age of 14 lived by the principles of Arthasashtra-The fundamental principle of economic activity is that no man you transact with will lose then you shall not .Over the years even the Kirloskar’s have nurtured their suppliers and dealers. They have helped many entrepreneurs set up and grow their businesses. They also support them to achieve ISO 18000 so that they grow along with the company. They are treated as part of the larger family of the Kirloskar’s. I am sure there are a quite a few sitting here this evening who have had a relationship with the Kirloskar family for the last two or three generations,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Sanjay C. Kirloskar, Chairman and Managing Director, KBL, said, “The centenary celebrations commenced at the Kirloskarvadi plant, where our great grandfather’s dream of industrialization began to take shape. Ever since, presenting innovative solutions to its clients with its definite approach backed by sustained research, KBL has always been front runner in achieving technological breakthrough, testified by its trend setting products.”

Mr. Atul Kirloskar, Chairman and Managing Director, KOEL, said, “Our multi-unit, multi-product, multi-location conglomerate is built on the plinth of experience, expertise, quality, innovation and values in the business. For us it is not only a business but is always an activity of nation building.”