Vishwa Industrial Co Ltd (VICL), the flagship of the Kolkata-based Vishwa Group, had a humble start in the early 1960s as a modest manufacturing unit and during last 5 decades has gradually expanded its activities in the areas of design, manufacturing, installation and commissioning of bulk material handling systems. All this has been achieved through continuous in-house research and development effort, and by dint of control on quality and reliability of the manufactured products. The company is ISO 9001: 2008 certified. There are two other companies in the group.

Vishwa Microprocessors Pvt Ltd (VMPL) specialises in safety critical solutions for underground coalmines in India, which includes system engineering, layout design, supply, erection and commissioning of mine environmental monitoring system in association with M/s Trolex Ltd. VMPL also provides the latest technology for on line coal ash and moisture analysis in collaboration with M/s Realtime Instruments Pty Ltd, Australia, a leading manufacturer of wide range of on line ash, moisture and elemental analysers for coal, power, steel, cement and other industries.

Trolex India Pvt Ltd (TIPL), an ISO 9001-2008 certified company, is a market leader in the manufacture and supply of a comprehensive range of quality sensors, cubicles and consoles. The Trolex Rail Division specialises in the design, manufacture and installation of locomotive consoles, cubicles, auxiliary equipment and on-board condition monitoring for both diesel and electric locomotives.

Mr Nand Lal Pasari, Chairman of Vishwa Group, responded to the IPF Questionnaire. Excerpts.

How did this entrepreneurial journey begin?

We began our journey in early 1960s with a single lathe machine in our Hazra works with a motive to manufacture a limited range of belt conveyor spares. Overcoming the initial hardship, we have gradually expanded our activities over the years keeping pace with time and through our relentless in-house research and developmental efforts. Today we have established our valued presence and brand name in most core sectors of Indian industry like coal, mining, power, steel, etc., with our expertise in the areas of design, engineering, manufacturing and turn-key solutions for bulk material handling system. Presently, we have two well equipped factories set up at Belur, Howrah and Hazra Road, Kolkata, with modern machine shops and test house facilities, in-house design and quality control departments operating quality assurance program under stringent guidelines of international standards with the objective to meet highest quality standards for our products and ensure premium customer satisfaction.

What are the products manufactured?

We now offer a comprehensive range of products and also provide solutions for complete material handling equipment and systems. Our product range includes belt, chain and screw conveyors; haulages - tugger, endless and direct; bucket elevators; gearboxes; belt conveyor pulleys; idler rollers; chutes; hoppers, etc.

What was the rationale of adding electronics and automation products to the portfolio?

Initially our main activities were centered around the mining industry - specifically coal - and in early 1980s, we realised the growing concern on safety and quality in these sectors with concrete planning to introduce automation and advanced technology to cater the above field. This led us to plan our product diversification in the field of electronics and automation and formed a new company as Vishwa Microprocessors Pvt Ltd to provide safety critical solutions and online instrumentation for monitoring product quality for mining, coal and other process industries.

Trolex India Pvt Ltd (TIPL), initially a JV with Trolex Holdings Ltd - UK, was formed to meet the requirement of various sensors and transducers for Indian locomotives. TIPL gradually expanded its activities and started working independently for the Indian Railways to provide a comprehensive range of quality sensors, and cubicles and consoles for diesel and electric locomotives. TIPL is now in the process of introducing recently developed new products including load converters (developed in collaboration with M/s EVPU, Slovakia) to the Indian Railways.

What are the industry segments catered to? What about the customer support?

We have a very strong and enriched customer base and certainly enjoy a significant presence in coal, power and steel sector and the Indian Railways, besides our various customers and business associates in other sectors. Therefore, in order to cater to the needs of our customers across the country, we have built a very strong and robust network of service teams to provide after sales service support for our esteemed customers, spread across the country.

What are the future plans?

We have acquired a much bigger mass of land at Hooghly, West Bengal, to set up another unit in the near future with all modern machines and facilities. We are also in dialogue with several overseas companies to set JVs in India and promote technologically advanced mining equipments, with an eye of high efficiency and safety, and of course the environment.

Vishwa Group, Kolkata. Tel: 033-24759901/9902. Fax: 91-33-24752788, 24748810. Email: vishwa@cal.vsnl.net.in