“As we move forward, we understand that branding plays an especially important role in today’s business world and we believe that KEMTREE will certainly become a strong brand in the coming times.”
Wire & Cable India interviewed Mr. R. P. Shah, Managing Director, Kemtree Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., wherein he presents us a rundown on the recent rebranding of the business as Kemtree, their product portfolio, the market reach of the Company, the approach towards sustaining efficiency, and their future plans going ahead.
Wire & Cable India: Could you please tell us about the recent rebranding of the company? Also, please chart out some significant accomplishments of the company in its 25 years of the business journey.
R P Shah: At the outset, I had started a trading company in 1995-96 known as Ronak Industry, where we began working with Traxit International GmbH (known as August Neuhoff at that time). Slowly over a period of time, we collaborated with several companies from Europe and the USA to get the best products available globally for the Indian wire industry. As more hands from the family joined the business, we had the confidence and aspiration to do something bigger for the Indian Steel Industry. This is how we started KEMTREE – where we manufacture industrial lubricants for a range of applications. Even with our manufactured products, we try to offer speciality solutions to our existing customers as well as new ones.
As we move forward, we understand that branding plays an especially important role in today’s business world and we believe that KEMTREE will certainly become a strong brand in the coming times. And as we celebrate the 25th year of our service to the steel industry and the wire industry specifically, we believe this is the right time to re-brand all our businesses as KEMTREE.
WCI: As you represent some of the world class technology solutions providers, please give us a glimpse of your product offering for various applications. Is there any plan to diversify your current portfolio in the future?
RPS: Our focus is to work with companies whose vision aligns with ours. Every company that we work with is a specialist in their areas and has products and services of the highest quality. We offer wire drawing lubricants, pressure die systems, wire drawing machines, wire plating and cleaning lines, spares for the wire drawing machines, wire straightening units, lubricant applicators, descaling brushes and many other products that are used particularly for steel and stainless steel wire production. In addition, we provide wire rope lubricants which can be used for the primary as well as secondary applications. Also, we have started manufacturing a range of cleaners for stainless wires and tubes, some single pass drawing oils for thick sizes and general lubricating oils and grease for the steel industry.
We sell high-quality cold rolling mills for making shaped wires and strips. The response for the same has been phenomenal and the demand for such lines is growing every year. Now, our focus is positioned on the steel (hot) rolling segment where we are in early talks with some eminent companies from Europe who can undertake complete turnkey projects.
“Now, our focus is positioned on the steel (hot) rolling segment where we are in early talks with some eminent companies from Europe who can undertake complete turnkey projects.”
WCI: What is the long-term corporate vision?
RPS: Our long-term vision is to be a complete solutions’ provider to the steel industry in India and across the globe. Again, this will be achieved only by providing products and services that are of the highest quality at a reasonable pricing. It will be our constant endeavour to establish KEMTREE as a brand that can achieve this vision.
WCI: Kindly shed some light on the market footprint of the company – both domestically and internationally. Are there any plans to further expand your reach to unexplored markets?
RPS: In India, our major focus from the beginning has been to serve the high carbon and stainless steel wire markets. We also see that our business is picking up in the low carbon wire segments. With every customer focusing on productivity, it is important that the machines operate at higher speeds and still maintain optimum tool life, better surface finish and physical properties. This is the challenge that we like to undertake and help our customers achieve their goals.
At present, we’ve been exporting some small quantities and our goal is to also export the products that we have recently started manufacturing in India. Right now, we are taking it one step at a time. We have always focused on our existing customers and always try to offer them more products and services. Our next step will be to explore customers within India as well as in other countries with products which are manufactured in India.
WCI: What kind of steps does your company undertake to help clients to achieve quality and efficiencies in their operations?
RPS: All our principal companies are experts in their respective field, and they are accessible to all our customers. We strive to educate our customers technically which helps them to make the right decisions. Once the project or a trial is complete, we stay with the customers for all after-sales support.
We also try and keep our customers abreast with the latest developments around the globe, which helps them to implement new processes in their production cycles.
“At present, we’ve been exporting some small quantities and our goal is to also export the products that we have recently started manufacturing in India.”
WCI: What are your thoughts on the current market scenario and the opportunities ahead?
RPS: We believe that the good times for business in India have recently begun and will continue for a long time. The government is spending a huge amount on Infrastructure development every year, which will always keep the demand for steel high. We are a nation of more than 1.3 billion people, making our nation a self-consuming economy. The future for Indian businesses looks very bright and we believe we have a long way to go.
