Corporate Affairs - Corporate Information

Introduction

Bharat Bijlee Limited is one of the leaders in the electrical engineering industry in India. A multi-product, multi-division organization, the company operates in two business segments, Industrial Products which comprises transformers, motors and drives; and Contracting, i.e Projects. A pioneer in electrical engineering in the private sector, the company has a reputation for quality which characterises every facet of its activities.

History

Bharat Bijlee was established in 1946, and pioneered the manufacture of electric motors at a time when most electrical equipment was imported. With the same entrepreneurial spirit the company began manufacturing transformers in 1954. The total personnel strength was then around 100 and the investment of Rs. 5.7 lakhs (Rs.570,000) in fixed assets generated sales of Rs. 8 lakhs (Rs.800,000).

In 1958, a comprehensive technical collaboration for the manufacture of transformers and motors was finalised with Siemens AG. This was to be a long and fruitful partnership. A major new project located at Kalwe, near Bombay, spread over 1,93,000 sq. meters of land and involving large and sophisticated manufacturing facilities was implemented from 1965, and commissioned in phases to Siemens' exacting standards. A heavy plant for the manufacture of large transformers was started, a semi-mechanised foundry installed, and a modem plant with special purpose machinery set up to manufacture motors.

In 1972, the company diversified into the manufacture and installation of Olympus elevators. Between 1986 and 1996, a wide ranging technical and financial partnership with Schindler, Switzerland gave Bharat Bijlee ongoing access to state of the art technology in vertical transportation. In 2004, the elevator field operations business was divested to a subsidiary of Kone Elevators India Pvt Ltd..

The company's transformers and motors were originally marketed by Siemens India. In 1980 Bharat Bijlee undertook a phased take-over of the marketing of these products. The company's own sales and servicing infrastructure dealt directly with utilities and industrial buyers of transformers while its motors were distributed by Cable Corporation of India. In 1990, the company's sales and service network also took over the direct marketing of motors and pumps, and today has an extensive national presence through a cohesive network of sales, after-sales and field offices.

Synergistic considerations led to the formation of an independent Projects division which designs, installs and commissions High Tension electrical switchyards and distribution systems on turn-key basis.

The Industrial Electronics and Instrumentation division was started to cater to the growing need for specialised industrial drives and control systems. In-house R&D innovation has already led to the successful introduction of several special purpose drive systems.

Corporate Office, Mumbai 

Kalwe Factory

Research & Development Building