Driving ahead with a passion for quality

(Rubber Asia, Kerala, India) The strides made by Mardec RK Latex Group ever since its humble beginning in the 1940s are a typical example of how passion and commitment to quality can take a business to great heights. The group, which started off with large rubber estates in Kerala, the home of Indian rubber, expanded into creamed and centrifuged latex in the 80s and early 90s to emerge as one of the largest processors of these products in India.

A major milestone in the group’s business was its strategic tie up in with Mardec Berhad, Malaysia, the world’s largest processors of natural rubber in 1999. The name of the company was then changed to Mardec RK Latex. Head quartered in Thrissur, Kerala, it has now 5 processing plants spread in the North, Central and South Kerala, manufacturing centrifuged latex, skim crepe and pale latex crepe, pre-vulcanised latex and compounded latex. Equipped with the latest machinery, the best technical know-how and world-class laboratories, these units are renowned for the quality of their products.

A trusted name

Mardec RK Latex is one of the most trusted names in the rubber industry. Moulded and nurtured by an illustrious planter family, the company has recorded a steady growth over the years thanks to the brilliant leadership and guidance of Mr E. Ranjit Kuruvilla, the group’s Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer. “It’s our passion for quality that enabled us to build up a most satisfied clientele throughout the length and breadth of the country,” says Mr Kuruvilla.

The group, which has specialised in the supply of latex to the condom segment is today the largest supplier to this highly quality-conscious industry, claims Mr Kuruvilla adding “Our centrifuged and creamed latex are well-established and a large number of our customers manufacture mattresses, gloves and carpet underlays wherein our material has been the benchmark in quality as per their parameters”.

R1 International (India)

Yet another major landmark in the progress of the group was the joint venture (JV) it has launched with R1 International, Singapore, the largest traders of NR in the world. The JV christened as R1 International (India) during its first year of operation has achieved a turnover of $25 million. “We look forward to a turnover of US $100 million within the next couple of years,” says a confident Mr Kuruvilla.

If the scale of operations going on at the processing units of the group is any indication, R1 International is well on track to emerge as the largest rubber marketing establishment in India covering latex grades, ribbed smoked sheets, crepes and diverse grades of block rubber, and Indian Standard Natural Rubber (ISNR).

Technological edge

The group has adopted the best and innovative technology available. This includes the ALFA LAVAL 510 and 610 centrifuges for the production of centrifuged latex. It is claimed that Mardec RK latex is the only Indian company to have adopted such advanced techniques for quality production. The units of the group have the best eco-friendly effluent treatment facilities.
Taking into account its production techniques and quality control measures the company has been certified as an ISI and ISO 9001:2000 certified rubber company.

Shaping the future

The group has ambitious plans to foray into production of ISNR of various grades. The idea is to set up multiple technically specified block rubber units, which can produce 100 tonnes a day within the next few years. “Things are going in the right direction and as per schedule and we expect to enter into the field at the earliest,” says Mr Kuruvilla.

At Mardec RK Latex, quality assurance is the key motto, asserts Mr Kuruvilla. Coming up with such high quality standards on par with international excellence is indeed a challenging job, he points out. “We have harnessed the best know-how and expertise in this field to live up to the highest expectations of our clientele,” he added.

The next few years is certain to witness Mardec RK Latex scaling further heights and foray into the newer areas of NR industry.