Carborundum Universal (CUMI) partners with South African firm Cerdak to penetrate the bio ceramics vertical
South African cricket sensation Jonty Rhodes chosen as brand ambassador;
Cerdak wound care treatment devices made available to the Indian market

Chennai, November 24, 2005: Carborundum Universal Ltd (CUMI), a leader in the abrasives and ceramics market, part of the Rs. 6,250 crore ($ 1.5 billion) Murugappa Group, today announced a partnership with South African firm Cerdak, a pioneer in wound treatment devices to market their products in India thereby making forays into the bio-ceramics vertical. Initially, Cerdak products will be marketed by CUMI India and eventually will be manufactured in CUMI's high alumina ceramic facilities. Cerdak wound treatment devices are patented worldwide, are CE certified and made with FDA approved materials. Ace South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes is the brand ambassador of Cerdak products worldwide.

Commented Mr. M M Murugappan, Chairman, CUMI, "Our vision is to place CUMI on the global map as an Indian company poised to redefine the scope and applications of material science. Being market leaders, we have to constantly innovate, especially in ceramics sciences. There is a huge potential in the post surgical market and the bio ceramics vertical offers a good opportunity to expand our product portfolio. Identifying this new avenue, we are partnering with Cerdak, a first of its kind revolutionary wound treatment device, to combat the worldwide rise in chronic wounds and increased resistance of micro-organisms in the wound environment."

Mr. Cobus Kotze, Director, Cerdak said "We at Cerdak aim to revolutionise the concept of wound healing across the globe. We are already present in South Africa, Australia and Europe and have tie-ups in the USA and Netherlands. We are extremely delighted to partner with CUMI, an established leader in engineered ceramic products and a home-grown company that understands the local market. CUMI's entry into this space with Cerdak is the first step towards making these products available in India in the right design and at the right price. Our common aim is to locally manufacture the products in India to make it affordable and available to all."

Customer benefits of using Cerdak in wound healing includes:

	Allows early discharge from the hospital thereby reduces the hospital-acquired infection (nosocomial)
	'Cost reduction' for both the hospital and patients
	Reduces the concomitant usage of antibiotics/ wound cleansers/ moisturising agents/wound debridement.
	Minimises the incidence of scar formation.
	Offers comfort and convenience both for the patient and doctors.

The Cerdak wound treatment device consists of a fabric sachet filled with micro-porous ceramic granules, and differs radically from other wound care devices in its appearance, application, action and effect on wounds. Cerdak promotes the natural process of healing in an effective way. Wounds produce moisture during the healing process. This moisture gets rid of micro-organisms and foreign objects in the wound and provides growth factors, proteins and cellular elements, which promote healing. However, these elements break down when they stagnate. This is where Cerdak removes old wound moisture from the wound environment without depriving the wound of the necessary fresh exudates.

The treatment is unique as it allows treatment in the most unhygienic and poverty-affected conditions, making it ideal for home care. Even patients who have little education can be taught in less than three minutes how to use the treatment. Under normal circumstances, wounds do not need cleaning during treatment and the product can be disposed off in ordinary garbage, be buried in the ground or burnt in a cooking fire.

Cerdak wound treatment devices have been tested in a clinical setting under the most difficult and non-hygienic circumstances, and are eminently suitable in both First and Third World environments. Clinical tests have shown astonishing results on chronic wounds, which had previously resisted treatment using conventional methods. Cerdak devices will not only enhance the quality of life of patients suffering from chronic wounds, but also promise to have an impact on the public health sector by reducing hospital days. In spite of concerted competition from world leaders in wound care technology; Cerdak is the one product that can optimise natural healing by optimising conditions in the wound bed.

About Cerdak
Cerdak is a revolutionary wound treatment device from South Africa manufactured by Cerdak (Pty) Ltd. Its production plant is situated in Mtunzini on the Kwazulu/Natal North Coast. The product is packaged and distributed from Mtunzini, South Africa. All raw materials are obtained from Southern Africa, as Cerdak strongly supports local investment and development. Cerdak is registered as a Medical Device because of its specific composition and action. Permission was granted by the South African Medicines Control Council to manufacture, market and sell Cerdak Wound Treatment Devices. Cerdak Wound Treatment Devices is patented worldwide.

About CUMI
CUMI is one of the flagship companies of the Rs. 6250 crore ($ 1.5 billion) Murugappa Group. The company has pioneered the manufacture of Coated and Bonded Abrasives in India and has made forays into other material science areas such as Ceramics (Industrial Ceramics, Ceramic Fibres and Bonded Refractories) and Electrominerals. CUMI is the largest company in the Abrasives business in India. To be increasingly recognized as a technology and innovation-driven organisation in India and internationally, CUMI has placed greater emphasis on in-house research and development, product design and Application Engineering.