Grasim Industries Limited or GRASIM

The Grasim Industries is the flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group which was incorporated on August 25, 1947. It also ranks among India's largest private sector companies. And starting as a textile manufacturer in the year 1948, currently, the Grasim's businesses comprise of the viscose staple fiber or VSF, and cement, and chemicals, and textiles. The core businesses are VSF and cement, which contribute to about 90 percent of its revenues and also various operating profits. Also, the Aditya Birla Group is the world's largest producer of VSF by commanding 24% of global market share and the second largest producer of caustic soda (which is used in the production of VSF) in the country. In cement, Grasim via its subsidiary named UltraTech Cement Limited which has a capacity of about 52 million TPA and is also a leading player in India. In July 2004, the company acquired a majority stake and management control in UltraTech. It became one of the largest of its kind in the cement sector, and this acquisition catapulted the Aditya Birla Group and helped it to be on the top of the league in the country. The amalgamation of Samruddhi Cement Limited or SCL with UltraTech as on July 1, 2010, has completed the restructuring of the cement business. Earlier, the Grasim's cement business was demerged with the SCL. Then, the merger also created the largest cement company in India, which provided a platform that will help in pursuing a tremendous growth. The company in 2013 announced to acquire the Gujarat Cement Unit of 4.8mtpa of the Jaypee Cement Corporation Limited in Gujarat by adopting the way of a demerger and comprising of an integrated cement unit at Sewagram as well as the Grinding Unit at Wanakbori. Now, the JCCL is a wholly–owned subsidiary of Jaiprakash Associates Limited (JAL).

Some of the Business Areas:

1. Viscose staple fiber:

It is India's pioneer in viscose staple fiber (VSF) which is a human-made, and biodegradable fiber with the characteristics akin to cotton. It is an extremely versatile and easily blendable fiber, and VSF is now widely used in apparel, and home textiles, and dress material, and knitted wear and the non–woven applications. Its VSF plants located at Nagda in Madhya Pradesh, and Kharach in Gujarat and the Harihar in Karnataka, with an approximate capacity of about 333,975 TPA.

2. Cement:

The company ventured into cement production in the mid-1980s and set up its first cement plant which is located at the Jawad in Madhya Pradesh, and since then it has become one of the leading cement companies in India. Currently, its cement operations span the length and breadth of India, with about 11 composite plants, and eight split grinding units, and four bulk terminals and the 53 ready–mix concrete plants. And all these plants are located close to the sizeable limestone mines and are fully automated to ensure consistent quality. All units use state of the art equipment and technology, which are ISO 9001 certified for quality systems and ISO 14001 certified for the environmental management systems.

3. Chemicals:

The Rayon grade caustic soda is an essential raw material in the VSF production. And to achieve the reliable and the economic supply of this chemical, the company has set up a rayon grade caustic soda unit which is located at Nagda in 1972 with an initial capacity of approximately 33,000 TPA. And since then it has grown to 258,000 TPA and making it the country's second largest caustic soda unit.

4. Textiles:

The company holds a strong presence in both fabrics and synthetic yarns, via its subsidiaries such as Grasim Bhiwani Textiles Limited which is well-known for its branded suitings, and Grasim and Gravier which is mainly in the polyester – cellulosic branded menswear. And all of its textile plants are located at Bhiwani in Haryana and Malanpur in Madhya Pradesh.

Some of the Products and services:

1. Viscose staple fiber (VSF)
2. Grey cement
3. White cement
4. Fertilizers
5. Chemicals
6. Mining
7. Fatty Alcohol/Fatty Acids
8. Insulators
9. Software
10. BPO
11. Finance and Insurance
12. Retail
13. Sponge iron and
14. Textiles.

The Subsidiaries:

• Hindalco Industries Ltd.
• Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd.
• UltraTech Cement Ltd.

The Milestones:

1. 2012 – Acquired assets of Terrace Bay, a paper grade mill, in a JV with Group Company Thai Rayon, in July 2012
2. 2011 – Acquired Domsjo Fabriker AB (Domsjo), Sweden, in a joint venture with Group Companies
3. 2010 – Consolidation of the cement business under UltraTech Cement Limited
4. 2009 –

• The Company hives off its sponge iron business by way of slump sale.
• The company also commissions a Greenfield cement plant at Kotputli in Rajasthan. Whereas Vikram Cement and Aditya Cement win the Federation of Indian Mineral and Industries' 'Social Awareness Award for the year 2008–09'.