ashok mahindru Emergence of The group (History and biblography)

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Advance Group is the largest manufacturer and supplier of surfactants for all home and personal care applications in Asia and is having a vision of becoming No. 1 Global Surfactant Company by 2012. It is a diversified group with operations ranging from manufacturing industrial bulk chemicals to fine specialty chemicals and providing consultancy in mining and engineering projects to undertake study and assessment of environmental impact of projects for many reputed organizations.

Advance has rich detergents manufacturing experience in multiple roles as contract manufacturer, brand owner, distributor and advisor. Under the leadership of Mr. Ashok Mahindru and with a strong team of competent and dedicated professionals the group has registered a turnover of more than 1000 crores in financial year 2008 - 2009 by successfully servicing diverse range of customers across the globe through production facilities at Silvassa, Pithampur, Pondicherry and Mangalore.

Advance group is proud of serving 300 companies including Fortune 500 companies across the world and enjoying their business partnership. The group distinguishes itself by consistently innovating & maintaining its edge through R&D for manufacturing of surfactants from petroleum as also bio sources and the detergents for large number of applications.

Emergence of The group (History)

The foundation of this group was laid down by Shri Y.P. Mahindru in 1939 at Lahore when he set up the first laundry soap manufacturing plant. Undeterred by the uncertainties and pangs of partition the family migrated and finally settled in Gurgaon, where he resumed his operations of manufacturing laundry soaps in 1950.

Mr. Ashok Mahindru joined business and because of his scientific temper and deep insights in molecular chemistry laid emphasis on R&D in soap and surfactant manufacturing. Through these efforts the group was the first in India to produce LABSA with 90% active matter through the indigenous technology in 1983 and still maintains an edge in that area. Mr. Ashok Mahindru provided the leadership needed to commission manufacturing facilities at Silvassa, Pithampur, Mangalore, Pondicherry, Kolkatta and Roorkee on one hand and registered numerous patents under his hold on the other.

Pondicherry unit commissioned in 1995 with 40,000 TPA Capacity was the largest single unit in India at that time. It was followed by Pithampur Unit in 1997 and Silvassa unit in 1999 with production capacity of 66000 MT/PA with distinction of employing "Gas Sulphonation" route using 95% concentrated SO3. This was followed by Kolkatta & Roorkee Plants set up in year 2009 and 2010 respectively.

Major Achievements

• The first company in the country to replace Olium as Sulphonating agent and did successful Sulphonation with 90% concentrated Sulphuric acid.
• Improving active matter content of sulphonated LAB from 88% to 90% on Sulphuric acid route.
• Drastic reduction in colour of LABSA (ultra low, 35 Klett), meaning thereby reduction in cost of colour required for the end product
• Achieved 97% active LABSA as against the existing norm of 96% active LABSA for the first time in the world.
• Achieved manufacturing of the variants ranging from 88% active to 97.5% active, meant for different uses through gas route Sulphonation for the first time.

Operational Excellence

• ISO 9001:2008 certified manufacturing system
• Sharp focus on customer service and service level agreements.
• Specialised equipments like HPLC and GC for detailed analysis of raw material and finished.
• Sharp focus on safety, health and environment.
• Consistent track record of harmonious industrial relations.
• PL and SQC tools used for quality control.
• Implementing CP, CPK studies for ensuring adequate process capabilities for all manufacturing systems.
• PC and SQC tools used for quality control.
• International standards like IS, BIS, DIN followed for testing.