Profile
Carborundum Universal Ltd (CUMI) pioneered the manufacture of coated and bonded abrasives in India, besides super refractories, electrominerals, industrial ceramics and ceramic fibres. After half a century and more of undisputed market leadership in each of its businesses, CUMI is getting ready for its role as a global corporation. The company is planning a major expansion of its territorial base, with dynamic acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships.

CUMI, a flagship company of the USD 3.14 billion (Rs15,907 crore) Murugappa Group, has total revenues of Rs 456 crore. The company was founded in 1954 as a tripartite collaboration between the Murugappa Group, Carborundum Inc, USA, and the Universal Grinding Wheel Co Ltd, UK.

In sync with the global vision, CUMI is expanding its product spread. The company makes over 20,000 different varieties of abrasives, refractory products and electrominerals, manufactured at 14 locations. CUMI has the distinction of having all its manufacturing units ISO 9001: 2000 certified.

State-of-the-art facilities and strategic alliances with global partners have earned CUMI a reputation for quality and innovation. It is one of the few manufacturers of abrasives and ceramics in the world with fully integrated operations that include mining, fusioning, power generation and manufacturing, besides marketing and distribution.

CUMI's in-house R&D and collaborative research with foreign institutions have ensured market leadership in India and abroad. To increase productivity, it has introduced the concept of 'lean manufacturing' and implemented Six Sigma work practices.

CUMI's global expansion has enlarged its customer base. CUMI today has a presence in 43 countries and also has 200,000 retail outlets.

Areas of Business
Carborundum Universal Ltd. (CUMI) is an industrial ceramic material-based products and service provider, with operations spread across three business segments.

	Abrasives (bonded abrasives, coated abrasives and allied products) constitute the company's largest business segment, contributing 72 per cent of revenue in 2005-06.
	Ceramics (industrial ceramics, super refractories and bio ceramics) contributed 18 per cent of revenue in 2005-06.
	Electrominerals (brown fused alumina grains, white fused alumina grains and silicon carbide grains) supplies a significant portion (nearly 44 per cent during 2005-06) of its production to the abrasives and ceramics business segments. External sales contributed 10 per cent of total revenues in 2005-06.

Major user industries for abrasives are automobiles, woodworking, machinery, floor restoration, construction and bearings. Ceramic user industries are mainly cement, steel, fabrication, petroleum, etc.