Kochi Trade, Technology, Engineering & Industry

[Malayaali]

Genomics, the new beckoning for Calsoft founder

The founder of California Software, Mr Sam Santosh, has quit the company and is ready for a stint in genomics R&D. He resigned as CEO and Managing Director of California Software on February 13.

Last year, Mr Santosh, along with a few NRI friends, invested $3 million to incubate a company called SciGenom, which specialises in DNA sequencing to predict and treat diseases.

Mr Santosh is the CEO and promoter of SciGenom. He has a controlling stake in the company.

LAB IN KOCHI

SciGenom has a 10,000 sq.ft lab in a special economic zone in Kochi, Mr Santosh's hometown. For the last one year, the lab has been working with hospitals in Kochi, Bangalore and Chennai validating various tests on the Indian population across oncology, prenatal and cardio diseases.

Saliva, blood and tumour samples are tested to get their DNA code, which is then used to predict diseases and one's predisposition to diseases. The data also helps doctors prescribe the appropriate drugs to patients.

The genome company employs 40 people, including 25 scientists — some of them have returned home from the US. The company has commercialised 30 tests (priced between Rs 1,000 and Rs 10,000) and is ready for a national roll-out in a few months.

The tests will be promoted under the brand MedGenome. There are plans to set up labs in major cities, besides tying up with diagnostic chains to set up collection centres across the country.

‘NEXT REVOLUTION'

On why he chose genomics to put his money in, Mr Santosh says: “Twenty years ago, I invested in software and IT. After IT, the next revolution is going to be in genomics. There have been big breakthroughs in sequencing technologies.”

For the past 20 years, Mr Santosh was the Managing Director & CEO of Chennai-based California Software Company, which he founded in 1992. He scaled up Calsoft to become a global IT player with over 1,200 employees and offices in eight countries. The company went public in India in 1996.

Calsoft later became a subsidiary of Chemoil, which was acquired by Glencore, Switzerland. Calsoft subsequently sold most of its units; today it has a small presence in India with 250 people in Chennai and Bangalore.

Mr Santosh moved out as promoter of Calsoft in 2010. He holds an engineering degree and an MBA from IIM Kolkata. He lives in Pleasanton, California.

[Malayaali]

Ford launches new showroom in Cochin

Ford India has inaugurated 45 new sales and service outlets spread across 35 cities in India today. Of the new inaugurals, 20 outlets will offer 3S - showroom, sales and service - facilities, while 14 will be service workshops and 11 will be standalone sales showrooms. The aggressive expansion of sales and service network follows the overwhelming success of the company's small car, Ford Figo and the soft launch of the SUV, Ford EcoSport at the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi.

With today's inaugurals, Ford India has expanded its dealership network to 230 sales and service outlets spread across 123 cities in India. Exactly two years back on 16 February, Ford India had launched 26 dealerships on a single day. With the company's aggressive expansion of sales and service network, Ford aims at increasing its worldwide sales by nearly 50 per cent by mid-decade.

New outlets have been opened in New Delhi, Noida, Rohtak, Sonepat, Panipat, Kanpur, Lucknow, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Alwar, Bikaner in the North; Rourkela, Agartala, Kolkata in the East; Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Gulbarga, Hyderabad, Belgaum, Thanjavur, Tirupur in the South; and Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Goa, Jabalpur, Indore, Sagar, Solapur, Bhillai, Jamnagar in the Western region.

[vjkrishn]

Kochi Refinery mulls sulphur link to FACT

Kochi Refinery, operated by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), is understood to be planning to build a pipeline to transport molten sulphur from its refinery in Ambalamugal to Fertiliser and Chemicals Travancore Ltd (FACT), as part of the phase I of its Rs 12,000-crore expansion plan to boost refining capacity, a source close to the project said.

The refinery is yet to announce a detailed proposal for the pipeline project, which could include a sulphur handling terminal, though the source said that discussions have been initiated with FACT. "It is a very good possibility at the moment.

Setting up a sulphur link makes strategic sense for us and will also serve FACT's raw material requirements," the source said. Kochi Refinery is presently scouting for a joint venture partner for a new sulphur recovery unit which is part of its Phase I expansion plans to improve refining capacity from 9.5 MMTPA (Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum) to 15.5 MMTPA by 2016.

The new sulphur recovery unit which is part of the six new units coming up under the integrated expansion plan, will raise the refinery's sulphur production capacity to 260 TMT (Thousand Metric Tonnes) annually from 48 TMT at present.

"FACT's sulphur requirements are estimated in the region of 200 TMT (Thousand Metric Tonnes) or more annually and the new facilities will be equipped to handle thatOnce Phase I of the expansion is in final stages of completion we will look to work on the pipeline to meet FACT's supply requirements

," the source said. Besides the sulphur recovery unit, BPCL, which acquired Kochi refinery in 2006, will award engineering, procurement and construction contracts for a crude distillation unit, vacuum gas oil hydro treating unit, diesel desulphurisation unit, petro-fluidised catalytic cracking unit and a naphtha hydro treatment unit.

Vimta Labs has conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment study and has given the go-ahead to the Refinery's expansion plan. A feasibility report is expected to be placed before the BPCL board next month.

[vjkrishn]

Originally Posted by Malayaali

Ford launches new showroom in Cochin

Ford India opened a new showroom ‘Malayalam Ford’ in Kochi on Thursday. This was part of an initiative by the company where 45 new sales and service outlets in 35 locations across the country were launched on a single day. With the new outlets, Ford India has strengthened its pan-India network to 230 sales and service outlets with presence in over 123 cities, said Tom Chackalackal, executive director, Ford India, while inaugurating the new showroom in Kochi.

“The new showroom will further extend Ford’s grasp on world-class products and services in one of the world’s fast growing auto market. From sales and service expansion to localisation to affordable spares and child part strategy, Ford India has truly redefined what consumers want and desire,” said Chackalackal.

[Malayaali]

Originally Posted by vjkrishn

Ford India opened a new showroom ‘Malayalam Ford’ in Kochi on Thursday.

They also have atleast 4 service points in the city.

[DileepKS]

They called me at least five times, claimed it is an intro call, and casually asked for my address, car number etc. I politely declined, telling that they do not need it.

[Malayaali]

Infact, i can say that Ford is one of the best service providers in Kochi, with my experience.

[Malayaali]

Kochi firm develops party invite tool

For those who party often and find it difficult to send out invitations, Leap Software Solutions Private Limited. has begun providing a free online invitation tool called Yoovite.com.

Yoovite.com, developed by Kochi-based Leap Software Solutions with its US subsidiary, has been designed to create and manage online invitations for parties and events such as weddings, birthdays and other occasions.

Incidentally, this mode of invitation is quite popular in the western world, and is now coming to India for the first time.

Leap Software's Chief Operating Officer and Technology head Boby Thomas said, "This is one of the major internet tools they have developed for Indian customers."

"This tool has features such as login with your Facebook account, send SMS messages to guests, import contacts from your email account such as Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Hotmail or Rediff mail. It also offers features to manage RSVPs of all your guests," said Thomas.

Once registered in Yoovite.com, you can choose from hundreds of available designs or templates. There is a robust event management section where the user can manage their past and future events, manage their contacts, create groups and much more.

Yoovite Mobile App for both iPhone and the Android market are currently under development and will be available soon to download.

[Malayaali]

Proposals to setup plants to produce tissue paper

Major industrial units such as an oil refinery, an LPG bottling plant, and machine tools, fertilizer, and chemical manufacturing units have helped Kochi maintain its superior position in industry. The new mega projects such as an international container transhipment terminal and an LNG terminal are taking the achievements forward.

As massive commercial activities attract the masses to the city, one serious consequence has been the strain on infrastructure. A question that crops up at development-oriented discussions is whether mega projects are suitable for a city which is bursting at the seams. This has given scope for smaller yet significant projects that go well with the times.

Several new projects which require small areas of land are to be taken up in Kochi and suburbs. One among them is a project to make tissue paper. The Rs.15-crore project, proposed by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, will require only one acre (0.4 hectare) of land. It can be set up with private participation in two years and will have a capacity to make 15 tonnes of tissue paper a day.

The plant will have a pulp-making unit, a refiner system, a paper-maker, a starching system, a vacuum system, an air-compression system, and a warehouse. The machinery will have to be imported and the plant can be set up on a turnkey basis. Paper pulp, the raw material, can be sourced from fresh or recycled pulp. The unit, which will be able to employ 60 people, will require 500 kilolitres of water a day. The power requirement will be 600 kVA.

The tissue paper market is at a nascent stage in India, but the increased income levels of the middle class provide immense scope for marketing the product, a study conducted by the industry promoters said. Preliminary studies have estimated the current Indian market for tissue paper at 30,000 tonnes a year, while that of China is 3 million tones, industry sources say. Apart from meeting the increased local demand, the industry has good potential for export. The product can be exported to North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Asian region, says the industry facilitator's study. The corporation is also proposing a unit to produce facial tissue paper, with an investment of Rs.3.5 crore. The project, with a capacity of 96,000 pieces an hour, can be set up on 50 cents of land. The project can be completed within a year after deciding on the private partner. A project to manufacture rubber floor mats is another plan mooted by the corporation. It can be set up at the Rubber Park at Irapuram, near Perumbavoor.

[Malayaali]

FACT registers Rs 14.79 crore profit

For the quarter Oct-Dec 2011. The company suffered Rs 30.34 crore loss during the same period last year.



Source: Mathrubhumi

[mohammedirshad06]

Another UAE Retailer to enter into Kochi with Villa and Gold Center project.

One of GCC's most reputed Gold retailer, the SKY JEWELLERS, is going to launch a Gold Jewellery Showroom and 36 Villa project in Kochi.

This is part of mega expansion project worth AED 97 Million. Apart from Kochi, the group is planning to start a Mall in Kottayam and a convention center in Thiruvalla.

Read from here for details

[Malayaali]

IBM Deploys 16th Corporate Service Corps Team for Kochi projects

Tuesday, February 21, 2012: As a part of the Corporate Service Corps (CSC) program, IBM today announced four projects for Kochi. The projects will be implemented in partnership with India@75, Local Economic Development Society (LEDS), Kara Ventures and Navabharath Foundation. A team comprising of 12 IBMers from nine different countries (France, Canada, Sweden, Brazil, USA, Australia, Slovakia, Germany and Spain) will work on these projects over a six month period with one month being spent on location.

The team will focus on developing sustainable solutions for the rapidly growing city, which is currently among the fastest growing urban centres in India. Specifically, the teams will work with NGOs on four key projects; Including conceptualizing a solid waste management system and formulating new strategies for the handloom sector. As part of the deployment, the IBM team will also focus on developing innovative youth empowerment programs and will work to promote the budding micro-enterprise sector.

“The 16th deployment of a CSC team to India demonstrates IBM's commitment to India and to the growth markets. Through the Corporate Service Corps program, we leverage some of IBM’s best talent and expertise to drive social innovation. The projects at Cochin highlight our commitment to accelerate and enhance the operations of NGO’s and public agencies. Working closely with the community is also a great learning experience for the individual and provides a canvas for many innovations.�, said Mamtha Sharma, Manager - Corporate Citizenship & Community Affairs, IBM India/South Asia.

Kochi is an important city for IBM. It has experienced rapid economic growth in recent years due to the development of tourism, manufacturing, shipbuilding, seafood and spices exports, and IT industries. IBM has a branch office in Kochi and has been working with clients in the region to provide advanced software solutions, technologies and services to aid their business growth.

In recent years the state has witnessed heavy investment by companies keen to tap into its vibrant economy, brining about new challenges for the emerging industrial hub.

[Malayaali]

Rashi To Strengthen Its Services

Rashi Peripherals aims to extend its less than 24 hours TAT to more products distributed under its umbrella in FY2012-13. It has already increased its number of service centres, invested on resources including people and their training as well as on testing equipment.

“Rashi aims to become a one-stop-shop for all distribution needs including services. Currently, we have a TAT of less than 24 hours for 90 percent of our products. We want to extend it to 95 percent by end of this year. We want to open service centres in cities where we do not have our offices. In addition, in some cities, especially metros, we plan to have multiple service centers,” informed Rajesh Goenka, VP, Sales and Marketing, Rashi Peripherals.

Rashi has maintained its product replacement within three days while TAT for high end models/ EOL products are within 7-15 working days. The distributor recently added two more centers in Thane and Amravati. To improve upon the TAT, it has introduced token system and an express service facility for big SIs (who want to be attended to immediately).

Besides, Rashi has also increased the size of service centres. The average size of each service centre in tier-2 cities is 500 sq ft while those in the metros are as large as 2000 sq ft.

The distributor has also invested in state-of-the-art testing and repairing equipments like six BGA machines for motherboards’ chip repairing, costing Rs 15 lakh each. Earlier, the equipment was only available at the RMA center, but now with the increase in volume of branches it is available in centers at Cochin, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Ludhiana.

Rashi would also strengthen its present service staff strength of 200 employees by at least 20 percent in 2012. It would also continue with its mission to organize free service camps in 20 cities this year as well as provide free services to out of warranty products for its regular customers, charging only for the components.

[Malayaali]

Avant products launched in Kerala

Avant, a leading manufacturer of construction and interior products, has announced the launch of Avant Signature Flooring and Koolroof in the Kerala market. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Antonio Varghese, Chairman and CEO, said the company is looking at a 5 per cent market share from the State in flooring, as the wooden flooring market in South India is estimated at Rs 1,100 core in the organised sector. Likewise, the company is looking at a 7-8 per cent share in the roof tiles segment, where the market is estimated at Rs 5,600 crore nationally. He said the products have been well received around the world and are manufactured using German technology. The products are built to survive harsh climates and offer long lasting durability, which is perfectly suited to the Kerala market, he added. The Kochi based A 2 Z Group is the exclusive dealer of Avant products in Kerala.— Our Bureau

[Malayaali]

Travancore Rayons to be redeveloped

KSIDC to take over and run the age old firm

Discussions to take place after Piravom Election

റയോണ്സ് പുനരുദ്ധാരണം; ചര്ച്ച ഉപതെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പിനുശേഷം

പെരുമ്പാവൂര്: ട്രാവന്കൂര് റയോണ്സ് പുനരുദ്ധാരണഭാഗമായി തിരുവനന്തപുരത്ത് ചൊവ്വാഴ്ച നടത്താനിരുന്ന ഉന്നതതല യോഗം മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി ഉമ്മന് ചാണ്ടിയുടെ അസാന്നിധ്യത്തില് നടത്താനായില്ല. പിറവം ഉപതെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പിനുശേഷമെ യോഗം ചേരാനാകൂ.
തൊഴിലാളികള്ക്ക് ആനുകൂല്യങ്ങള് വിതരണം ചെയ്യുന്നത് സംബന്ധിച്ച് വ്യവസായ മന്ത്രി പി.കെ.കുഞ്ഞാലിക്കുട്ടി, തൊഴില് മന്ത്രി ഷിബു ബേബിജോണ്, തൊഴിലാളി യൂനിയന് പ്രതിനിധികള്, ധനകാര്യ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളിലെ പ്രതിനിധികള് തുടങ്ങിയവരുമായാണ് ചര്ച്ച നിശ്ചയിച്ചിരുന്നത്. ഉപതെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ് പെരുമാറ്റച്ചട്ടം നിലവില് വരുംമുമ്പ് യോഗം തീരുമാനിച്ചിരുന്നതാണ്. എന്നാല്, കഞ്ചിക്കോട് കോച്ച് ഫാക്ടറി ഉദ്ഘാടനച്ചടങ്ങില് മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിക്ക് പങ്കെടുക്കേണ്ടതിനാല് യോഗം ചേരാനായില്ല.

കെ.എസ്.ഐ.ഡി.സി കമ്പനി ഏറ്റെടുത്ത് നടത്താന് ധാരണയായിട്ടുണ്ട്. ഇതിന്റെ അടിസ്ഥാനത്തില് തൊഴിലാളികള്ക്ക് ആനുകൂല്യങ്ങള് നല്കുന്നത് സംബന്ധിച്ച് യൂനിയനുകളുടെ നിര്ദേശം നേരത്തേ സര്ക്കാറിന് സമര്പ്പിച്ചിരുന്നു.
ഇപ്രകാരം കമ്പനിയുടെ ആസ്തി 30 കോടിയും തൊഴിലാളികള്ക്ക് നല്കാനുള്ള ആനുകൂല്യം 50 കോടിയുമെന്ന് ഏകദേശ കണക്ക് തിട്ടപ്പെടുത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ട്.
ഇതേതുടര്ന്നുള്ള അവസാനഘട്ട ചര്ച്ചയാണ് ചൊവ്വാഴ്ച മാറ്റിവെച്ചത്. ഉപതെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പിനുശേഷം യോഗം ചേര്ന്ന് തുടര്നടപടി പൂര്*ത്തിയാക്കുമെന്ന് പി.ആര്.ഒ പി.വി.സുകുമാരന്* അറിയിച്ചു.

[e_arunsid]

It seems to be revival time for lot of industries based in Kochi..We saw how proper leadership ,guidance and support brought FACT back on track. lets hope Travancore Rayons can repeat this

[mohammedirshad06]

Good to see several HEAVY INDUSTRIES being revived..... Infact, it will help not just the companies alone, but also inject a huge confidence for other similar ventures to consider and invest back.

FACT's revival itself is a case study.... They have huge scope and surely can rock the sector well....

[Malayaali]

Bharti AXA eyes it big in Kochi

Bharti AXA General Insurance Company Ltd is aiming to double its business in South India by the end of the calendar year 2012. The company clocked Rs 180 crore in 2011 with the sale of 2.79 lakh policies and settling 40,739 claims in the region.

Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, Mr N. Sampath Kumar, Chief Financial Officer, said the company has chalked out its plans to penetrate deeper into smaller cities/towns and semi-urban markets through strategic tie up with micro financial institutions. It is also looking at business from the growing SME segment, he said.

Kochi, he said, is a key market for the company in the southern region, which contributes 5 per cent of the overall south zone revenue. The city has generated Rs 8.65 crore business in 2011, where 68 per cent of the business comes from the motor vertical, followed by the health and commercial lines, at 19 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively. The company sold over 11,741 policies and settled 2,311 claims in Kochi.

Bharti AXA General Insurance, with a market share of 3.69 per cent last year among private insurers, is looking at a 40 per cent growth nationally in 2012. The total business in India last year was Rs 776 crore, against Rs 528 crore achieved in 2010.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Manoj Nair, Zonal Vice-President, South, Bharti AXA General Insurance, said the company aims to double Kochi's contribution in the coming year by increasing the sales in the vertical of micro finance institutions, health and commercial lines. The company is also looking at two more branches in the State by the end of this year, taking the total number of branches in the State to three. It has also tied up with 17 hospitals in the city to facilitate cashless hospitalisation and 32 garages to offer cashless facilities for its motor customers, he added

[Malayaali]

Australia turns focus to South, keen on more bilateral trade

Mr David Holly, Consul-General to South India, Australian Consulate General, Chennai, at an interactive session on India-Australia Partnership in Trade and Investment, in Madurai.

The signing of strategic partnership with India in 2009 has enabled Australia to raise its diplomatic strength and engage in the promotion of more bilateral trade and investment in the region and establish contact with cities such as Madurai, said Mr David Holly, Consul General to South India, Australian Consulate General, Chennai, here recently.

Addressing an interactive session on ‘India- Australia Partnership: Trade and Investment' organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), he said that the increase in diplomatic strength has facilitated devotion of more resources to South India in particular with the establishment of offices in Bangalore and Kochi.

[Malayaali]

Joyalukkas to diversify business

Sluggish jewellery sales seems to be worrying Joyalukkas; the gold retailer is now diversifying its business. The company plans to launch air charter service, strengthen money exchange business, and re-brand and expand textile retail.

Joyalukkas Money Exchange was launched in 2006, but has remained dormant during the past few years due to licence issues in Dubai. Now the company has become active with five centres in the UAE and 10 centres coming up in other parts of the Gulf — Qatar, Muscat, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The company is also launching its first Indian money exchange centre at Kochi next month.

“The jewellery market has become saturated and the consumption too has been sluggish last year. This made us focus on other businesses. We are strengthening the money exchange business and have set a target to have 100 centres in three years. The centers will come up in markets where the Joyalukkas brand is strong. In each country, the centers will provide money exchange related services that are legally permissible,” Joy Alukkas, chairman of Joyalukkas told Financial Chronicle.

Apart from money exchange, the centers will also retail gold coins, purchase old gold jewellery and provide travel related services. “The key business of Joyalukkas will remain jewellery retail and the centers will augment the business,” he said.

Further, Joyalukkas also is in the process of providing air charter service. The company has bought an Embraer Phenom 100 business jet and plans to add a long-range business jet and helicopter soon. The service will mainly target corporate clients. The company will invest Rs 100 crore in the charter service branded Joy Jet.

The wedding centers, hypermarkets that house both jewellery and textiles, would be re-branded as Jolly Silks and the focus of the stores will be more on textile retail.