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Completed graduation from Loyala college, chennai in B.Sc(chemistry). Started Lebracs rubber lining in 1989 at Pondicherry. Currently the CEO and Managing director of the company.
The Global rubber industry is experiencing growth, especially in the Asia Pacific region. The global market for industrial rubber is expected to reach USD 33.82 billion by 2022 in terms of value, according to the Industrial Rubber Market by Application (Automotive, Building & Construction, Industrial Manufacturing, Polymer Modification, Wire & Cable, Electrical & Electronics, Bitumen Modification), Type, Product, and Region - Global Forecast to 2022.
The report also says that India is one of the countries that is expected to see significant growth. The main reasons for this is due to the expanding applications for rubber, as well as the technological advancements in this field.
LeBracs Rubber Linings Private limited, based in Pondicherry, is an example of a rubber company that is riding the wave of growth seen in this sector. Since its inception in the Indian market, in 1985, the company has been able to meet the client companies’ demand of durability and good quality.
According to the company CEO and Jt. Managing Director, M. Nandakumar”, quality is critical. Our Rubber products have to with stand a lot of pressure, corrosion and high stress. This is why we have over the years, developed in-house, various grades of rubber blends, which ensure that the equipments lined with our rubber sheets are durable.”
The product range of the company effectively caters to the demand for two major applications, that of withstanding corrosion and abrasion in operations. The manufacturing facilities in their factory are integrated for the fabrication and rubber lining of various equipments. This ensures that the quality of the products undergo stringent quality checks at all stages of manufacturing.
Technology Implementation
LeBracs Rubber has been able to stand out in
the market through its high quality production capability. The second factor that has made it stand out is the technology used by the company to manufacture their products. Continuous investment in equipments and R&D in the products have been the key for the company to gain an edge in both the national and international markets. The company’s collaboration with a company in Germany allows them to remain updated on the technology front. Apart from its Indian customers, the company has customers in Middle east, Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, among others.
According to the CEO, as most of the equipments supplied by them are Capital Equipment, the customers in this market always look for durability and technical advancement in the products. Continuous investment in machineries and R&D has enabled Lebracs Rubber to have bulk production without compromising on quality and ensuring a competitive price.
Therefore, the company has been able to develop a good hold in the market. Nandakumar adds, “In terms of customer expectation I would say, durability, quality, technology and price are the major requirements which we cater to.”
Product diversification has been the greatest opportunity that LeBracs Rubber has been able to capitalize on over its years of operations. “Over the 3 decades we have significantly expanded. We have brought in fabrication of the equipment as a manufacturing capability and have diversified into other rubber products like hoses, pinch valve components, etc.”, said the CEO.
In terms of customer expectation lebracs would say, durability, quality, technology and price are the major requirements which they cater to
The newest sector LeBracs has entered is the rubber lining of equipments in the Flu Gas Desulpharisation systems in coal based power plants. The company is working with the various EPC companies in this field.
The company has secured a strong position in this marketplace over the last 5-6 years giving it a steady revenue and series of new projects. However, the Nandakumar says, “We have grown only to 60-70 percent of our capacity. So, we still have that much room for growth.”
The Journey so Far and Future Prospects
As the company CEO states, “We started 36 years ago with a very small range of products, because at that time we were doing only rubber sheet manufacturing.” Since then the company has evolved and added projects and products under their portfolio. Nandakumar says, “At the top of these segments we have our special customers in Chlor- alkali manufacturing plants, Fertilizer manufacturing companies, desalination and water treatment plants and, of course the rubber linings in the FGD systems. I am very proud that we have presence in all the segments in rubber lining in India as well as the Middle East.”
Nandakumar adds that going forward, he sees business in Saudi Arabia will rapidly expand. “So I also feel that we will see a high rate of growth in the next few years in terms of increase in turnover and market share,” he said.
By taking advantage of the versatility of rubber and the technological advancements, LeBracs Rubber is a prime example of the potential that lies in the industrial rubber space.
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