Specialised & Better Quality Lamps by IndiaN Firm
Mr.
Agarwal was Managing Director of Sylvania & Laxman Ltd., Delhi. The firm manufactured
fluorescent tubes, lamps and various lamp components and accessories.
Sylvania
& Laxman was an Indian-American joint venture. Its American collaborator was
Sylvania Electric Products, located in New York City, a subsidiary of General
Telephones and Electronics International Inc. One of the world’s largest
manufacturers of lamps and specialized lighting products, Sylvania Electric employs
some 40,000 people and had 50 plants and 30 laboratories in 13 states. Its annual
sales was : $800 million (Rs.582.4 crores) that time.
“The
Delhi plant has inherited Sylvania’s tradition of streamlined efficiency and
highly advanced technical know-how,” Mt. Agarwal said, adding: “The Sylvania
& Laxman engineers gave their customers the full benefit of their intensive
training with the parent company in the United States. Almost a dozen had
visited America for specialized training.
“As
a result of their rigorous training they stand for no compromises when it comes
to quality control in methods, raw materials or the final processing”.
The
Indian-American joint venture received a loan of Rs.50 lakhs from the U.S. Agency
for International Development (USAID). And to help meet its foreign exchange
needs, the Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India provided an
initial loan of $ 4,18,420 that time.
The
loans have helped the plant to greatly increase production for India’s needs
and for export. Sales during the last four years had more than tripled from
Rs.86 lakhs to Rs.2.92 crores that time.
Pointing
out that its products meet International Standards, Mr. Agarwal noted that “
the company belongs to a selected list of firms who export their products. Sylvania
& Laxman was able to export about 10 percent of its products, thereby
earing valuable foreign exchange for the country.”
An
important accomplishment of the firm during the four years had been in import
substitution program. For example, the company had no longer depends on
imported basic chemicals required for fluorescent powder; it manufactures them
itself.
Another
achievement of the firm, according to Mr. Agarwal, was the establishment of a research
and development section. It makes sure that every lamp manufactured at the plant
undergoes rigid in process tests and final inspection and re-inspection for
quality before packing.
The
demand for lamps and fluorescent tubes in India would continue to grow, Mr.
Agarwal said. The tubes were especially popular because they consume less current
and reduce the glare. “Meeting the growing demand poses a great challenge to
the electric lamp industry,’ he added.
Sylvania
& Laxman had recently received permission from the Government of India to
produce specialized lamps, glass shells, and oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen
gases.
“The
expansion would helped Sylvania & Laxman met the growing demand and
challenge for more and better quality electric lamps”, Mr. Agarwal said.
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