The Indian Rubber Industry is dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises, which contribute significantly to the country's employment and revenue. However, the Indian rubber industry faces several challenges, including a lack of access to modern technology, low productivity levels, and increasing competition from synthetic rubber.
The industry has taken steps to address these challenges by increasing investments in research and development, modernizing production processes, and promoting innovation. With these efforts, the Indian rubber industry has the potential to become a global leader in the production and supply of rubber products used in industries that demand high-performance rubber products. One such company taking steps to create import replacements and high-performing Rubber products in India is Ema Rubber Industries.
Ema Rubber Industries, founded by Shabbir Shakeer, has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a manufacturer of rubber compression moulded parts for Fiat cars. Under the leadership of Shabbir, the firm has evolved into a leading supplier of high-quality rubber products to a diverse range of industries. As a manufacturer of Rubber Parts, Ema Rubber is centrally located in Mumbai allowing for easy and efficient distribution throughout India via its network of transporters.
“When our company, Ema Rubber Industries started in 1965, I was just 10 years old. After finishing school I went on to do my Bachelor of Arts and then pursued my LLB. During this period I also was involved in a successful modelling career. I then temporarily shifted to USA but later moved back to India to join the family business”, says Shabbir. He further adds, “Our company hadhumble beginnings as a manufacturer of Rubber compression moulded parts which were sold as Fiat car spares in Opera House, Mumbai. Soon our brand ‘Ema’ got well recognized in the market for it’s quality.
We then started supplying OEM parts to Premier Automobiles directly, and this started our OEM journey. However in 1996. due to the company’s sudden closure, Ema suffered a significant setback. This was our most trying time. Being an OEM supplier made us develop capabilities that previously did not exist at the start of the company. Quality systems were put in place as well as we had our own testing laboratory. When PAL suddenly closed down, it was the strength of our consistent quality that helped the company get back on its feet”.
Focus on Customer Needs & Growth
Shabbir Shakeer is committed to maintaining strong relationships with its customers, ensuring that the products of Ema Rubber meet or exceed specifications and performance requirements. “We developed products for our customers that achieved long equipment life, had better performing machines and trucks, and solved issues like early failure of seals. Ema became a specialist in problem-solving, with technical support in seal design and technical know-how to produce performance compounds. These capabilities allowed us to enter the difficult Indian Defence (Airforce, Naval, and Cavalry) which has now become one of our primary customer segments”, says Shabbir.
Shabbir Shakeer is committed to maintaining strong relationships with its customers, ensuring that the products of Ema Rubber meet or exceed specifications & performance requirements
Today, the firm is proud to specialize in gasket and other sealing solutions for (as mentioned before) Defence, Transport, Steel, Trucking, Automotive, and Engineering Industries. “We are also blessed to have customers who are leaders in their own market segments and growing. Being diversified over many industries insulates us to some degree from market shocks or adverse unforeseen events like Covid”, adds Shabbir.
Success & Growth Strategy
Today, Ema Rubber serves a diverse range of industries, including automotive, transport, steel, and engineering. Its current focus is to begin to offer some of its capabilities in manufacturing high-precision performance items for overseas customers. It witnesses India growing with competitive advantages, while overseas customers are more open-minded to shifting their sourcing to India. It continues to grow its development team and plans to further expand its existing capabilities of in-house tooling and product design to take advantage of new products required by customers.
“To lead a business through tough times, it is important to have the support of the customers and in return support them back. In order to fulfill your customer’s needs, it’s important to understand fully what they are. It may be that your Rubber part is highly critical to them but of very little value compared to the entire assembly, therefore focus on giving them the best performing part possible. Also, make sure you build quality into every step of the production process”, concludes Shabbir.
Shabbir Shakeer, Founder
As a young child, Shabbir Shakeer was introduced to the family business, Ema Rubber Industries, which was founded in 1965. After completing his schooling, Shabbir pursued a Bachelor of Arts and then an LLB but later joined the growing family business.
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