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In 1888, more than 130 years ago, Laxmanrao Kirloskar left his job to get into the business of selling bicycles and windmills with his brothers Rammohanrao and Vasudevrao in Belgaum.
As someone who was passionate about machines, Laxmanrao wanted to build his own company.
As someone who was passionate about machines, Laxmanrao wanted to build his own company.
In 1901, he introduced his first product, the chaff cutter.
The company, Kirloskar Brothers, which was the genesis of the $ 2.1 billion Kirloskar Group, brought out its second product, the iron plough, in 1903.
It was a revolutionary product of its time.
The company, Kirloskar Brothers, which was the genesis of the $ 2.1 billion Kirloskar Group, brought out its second product, the iron plough, in 1903.
It was a revolutionary product of its time.
The prevalent belief then was that using an iron plough would poison the soil in the fields.
Laxmanrao, nonetheless, persisted & found supporters to sell his plough.
And as they say, there was no looking back. It went on to become a tough competitor to the #British ploughs.
Laxmanrao, nonetheless, persisted & found supporters to sell his plough.
And as they say, there was no looking back. It went on to become a tough competitor to the #British ploughs.
On January 15, 1920, Kirloskar Brothers was officially registered as a legal entity, @KBLPumps.
At a grand function on March 10 in Pune to celebrate this milestone, Sanjay Kirloskar had especially invited the descendants of the Ginde family to facilitate them.
At a grand function on March 10 in Pune to celebrate this milestone, Sanjay Kirloskar had especially invited the descendants of the Ginde family to facilitate them.
During an age when even the term angel investor did not exist, it was Rambhau Ginde that supported Laxmanrao in his ventures.
Being an Indian MNC, Sanjay feels it is important that the company has a uniform code of values & ethics across all its offices everywhere in the world.
Being an Indian MNC, Sanjay feels it is important that the company has a uniform code of values & ethics across all its offices everywhere in the world.
In fact, most of the promotions and incentives are given on the basis of how high an employee scores in the Code of Ethics online test.
@KBLPumps, the flagship of the $ 2.1 billion Kirloskar Group, is today one of the most admired engineering firms both in India and the world.
@KBLPumps, the flagship of the $ 2.1 billion Kirloskar Group, is today one of the most admired engineering firms both in India and the world.
Synonymous with pumps, @KBLPumps is a global leader in pumping technology.
It has 18 manufacturing facilities supplying to more than 165 countries across more than eight sectors, including power, oil & gas, building & construction, irrigation, marine & defence, & retail pumps.
It has 18 manufacturing facilities supplying to more than 165 countries across more than eight sectors, including power, oil & gas, building & construction, irrigation, marine & defence, & retail pumps.
It has an 80 % market share in UK’s water companies, and is also Britain’s largest pump manufacturer through its subsidiary, @spppumps.
Global iconic buildings like the Sydney Opera House, the @BurjKhalifa, and many others in London and Egypt use @KBLPumps pumps!
Global iconic buildings like the Sydney Opera House, the @BurjKhalifa, and many others in London and Egypt use @KBLPumps pumps!
Besides executing the largest pumping scheme at the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam in Gujarat, providing drinking water to more than 30 million Indians, @KBLPumps pumps are also used in India’s nuclear fusion program.
These pumps are used for cooling the prototype reactor.
These pumps are used for cooling the prototype reactor.
Shantanurao Kirloskar came back from studying at MIT in 1926.
Just before World War II, the British asked @KBLPumps to manufacture ammunition to support its war efforts.
Shantanurao Kirloskar felt it was a short-sighted move!
Just before World War II, the British asked @KBLPumps to manufacture ammunition to support its war efforts.
Shantanurao Kirloskar felt it was a short-sighted move!
He instead opted to manufacture machine tools since that could be used during the war as well as after the war.
This helped the company a great deal as the business grew.
This helped the company a great deal as the business grew.
@KBLPumps diversified in the 1940s into various allied businesses, many of which became big enough to be converted into companies with the same Kirloskar logo.
In 1947, Shantanurao Kirloskar took responsibility for a faulty product and recalled the entire sugarcane crushers.
In 1947, Shantanurao Kirloskar took responsibility for a faulty product and recalled the entire sugarcane crushers.
The company has not failed in paying dividends since 1938.
In fact, the company skipped dividends only five times in the last 100 years, that too during the times of the great depression.
In fact, the company skipped dividends only five times in the last 100 years, that too during the times of the great depression.
When Sanjay Kirloskar, the current MD took over the reins from his father in 1983, #India was yet to be free from the Licence Raj.
At that time, the challenge was more in terms of ease of doing business and lack of transparent economic policies.
Today, the challenge is to see which way is technology moving. @KBLPumps operates the largest 3D printers in mainstream manufacturing of pumps.
Today, the challenge is to see which way is technology moving. @KBLPumps operates the largest 3D printers in mainstream manufacturing of pumps.
They have also introduced Artificial Intelligence, and self-learning systems that work with sales teams and end-users to select, customise, & perform all application engineering around existing products.
According to Sanjay Kirloskar, the reason @KBLPumps has stayed relevant through the years is because of its sharp focus.
Over the years, Sanjay has faced different challenges, including a public spat with his brothers involving a legal battle over property and business disputes.
Over the years, Sanjay has faced different challenges, including a public spat with his brothers involving a legal battle over property and business disputes.
@KBLPumps continues to grow and expand globally under the able leadership of Sanjay Kirloskar with the next generation soon to move in.
For more such bite sized, unknown stories of well known entrepreneurs follow me at @_BizBites
