Royal Enfield - Biker Since Three Centuries

Royal Enfield was the name under which the Enfield Cycle Company made motorcycles, bicycles, lawnmowers and stationary engines.Use of the brand name Royal Enfield was licensed by The Crown in 1890.

In 1956 Enfield of India started assembling Bullet motorcycles under licence from UK components, and by 1962 was manufacturing complete bikes. Enfield of India bought the rights to use the Royal Enfield name in 1995. Royal Enfield production, based in Tiruvottiyur, Chennai, continues and Royal Enfield is now the oldest motorcycle brand in the world still in production with the Bullet model enjoying the longest motorcycle production run of all time.

Latest Motor Cycles from Royal Enfield

ThunderBird -350

 

Thunderbird 350

ThunderBird – 500

Thunderbird 500

Classic Desert Storm

Classic Desert Storm

Classic Battle Green

 

Classic Military

Classic Chrome

 

Classic Chrome

Classic- 350

Classic – 500

 

Classic 500

Bullet – 500

 

Bullet 500

Bullet Electra EFI

 

Electra EFI

Bullet Electra Deluxe

 

Electra Deluxe

Bullet Electra TwinSpark

 

Electra Twin Spark

First World War (1911–1921)

In 1911, prior to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Enfield added the word "Royal" to its name. They supplied large numbers of motorcycles to the British War Department and also won a motorcycle contract for the Imperial Russian Government. Enfield used its own 225 cc two-stroke single and 425 cc V-twin engines. They also produced an 8 hp motorcycle sidecar model fitted with a Vickers machine gun.

Second World War (1939–1945)

During World War II, The Enfield Cycle Company was called upon by the British authorities to develop and manufacture military motorcycles. The models produced for the military were the WD/C 350 cc side valve, WD/CO 350 cc OHV, WD/D 250 cc SV, WD/G 350 cc OHV and WD/L 570 cc SV. One of the most well-known Enfield was the Royal Enfield WD/RE, known as the Flying Flea, a lightweight 125 cc motorcycle designed to be dropped by parachute with airborne troops.

Legends of Enfield

Royal Enfield Clipper

Indian Chief

Royal Enfield Interceptor

As far as the motorcycle brand goes, Royal Enfield is the only motorcycle brand to span three centuries, and is still going, with continuous production. Royal Enfield India is still manufacturing in India and is being sold in India and is also being exported to Europe as well as America, South Africa and Australia. Recently Royal Enfield has undergone a major retooling particularly in the engine department going from carburated cast iron engines to twin spark unit construction engine on all its models with EFI available on their flagship 500cc model. This retooling has sparked such an interest in these bikes that they have started double shifts at the plants.

Crompton Greaves - The Electrical Company

Enjoying a reputation of stature for over seven decades, CG, which originates in India, has transformed itself into a global corporation and is a USD 2 billion engineering conglomerate. With manufacturing facilities in nine countries across Asia, Europe and North America, CG is fast emerging as a first choice supplier of high quality, ”smart” electrical, industrial and consumer products and solutions all over the world. CG offers products, services and solutions through multiple revenue streams comprising three business segments, viz. Power Systems, Industrial Systems and Consumer Products.

Power Systems, CG is one of the preferred suppliers for transformers, switchgear, circuit breakers, vacuum interrupters, network protection & control gear, as well as design, servicing, and execution of turnkey T&D and substation projects and solutions. CG facilities are located in different parts of Belgium, Canada, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, UK and US. CG is amongst the top 10 transformer manufacturers in the world; and one of the very few companies worldwide, that designs and manufactures such a wide range of Power and Distribution Transformers as well as Reactors from 160kVA to 600MVA, and 11kV to 765 kV Class, conforming to IEC, ANSI, IS, BS and other International Standards. It has recently made an aggressive foray into the manufacture of 765kV transformers with the execution of its maiden order for the Power Grid Corporation of India.CG products find use in Industries, Power Utilities, Railways, Mines, and a wide population of Industrial users internationally.

Industrial Systems, engaged in the business of power conversion equipment; a wider spectrum of High and Low Tension rotating machines (motors and alternators), stampings, as well as railway transportation & signaling products. Industrial Systems is largely India focused with a very strong market presence and market leadership position in many segments, It also caters to foreign markets through its facilities in Hungary and exports. Its product portfolio includes motors & generators ranging from 20W to 30MW. CG also enjoys a market leadership for AC Motors and the second position in AC Generators and DC Motors in India and is the largest manufacturer of Low Tension motors in India offering a range of AC and DC motors ranging from 0.18kW to 4MW in various standards and customized configurations to respond to the exacting demands of the industry. The products of this sector have received many international certifications including CSA, UL, CE and Flame Proof Gas Group IIA and IIB certifications. The customer emphasis for this business group has been the textile, cement, sponge iron and large steel plants sectors, which are growing segments.

Consumer Products, one of the fastest growing businesses of CG with a spectrum of products ranging from fans, light sources and luminaires, pumps and household electrical appliances such as geysers, mixer grinders, toasters, irons and electric lanterns. CG is one of the trusted brands in this sector in India.

CG has been aggressively investing in R&D, product certifications, product quality, productivity enhancement and operational excellence. CG`s Global R&D centre, located  in India, has been recognised for its innovation and received the  prestigious "National Award for the Best R&D Efforts" for its outstanding achievements in the Electrical Engineering Sector in 2008. CG`s R&D strategy aligns with the Company`s Global Vision, and focuses on creating platform technologies, shrinking product development cycle time and enhancing CG’s Intellectual Property capital.

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Mahindra & Mahindra - UVs, Automotive, Equipments & Products

India got independence in 1947. In  the same year a company's journey started along with the new India and has participated in a unique way in Indian growth story. In its own way this company is not less than a Crown Jewel of Indian Automobile market. I am speaking of none other than Mahindra & Mahindra, a US $16.2 billion corporation employing more than 155,000 people around the world 

In 1947, Mahindra introduced India to its first utility vehicle when it assembled completely knocked down (CKD) jeeps in India resembling the iconic Willys Jeep.  Rough, uncertain driving conditions across the country led Mahindra to design its own powerful, handle-anything UV—the MM540.  More than 65 years later, it is still India's premier utility vehicle (UV) company. Today, in addition to making groundbreaking UVs like the Scorpio and Bolero, Mahindra offers cars, electric vehicles,pickups, and commercial vehicles that are rugged, reliable, environmentally friendly, and fuel-efficient. 

Mahindra Scorpio -  The Performer

Today The Mahindra Group comprises ten business sectors—Aftermarket, Automotive & Farm Equipment, Defense Systems, Financial Services, Hospitality, Information Technology, Real Estate, Systech, Two Wheelers and Mahindra Partners—with a presence in 18 industries.

The acquisition of the Ssangyong Motor Company in 2011, brought a major South Korean utility manufacturer with a presense in more than 90 coutries into the Mahindra fold. This means one can find Mahindra vehicles on the roads—both paved and unpaved—of Australia, Europe, America, Malaysia, South Korea, and South Africa.

Global Presence of Mahindra Automotive 

United States

Mahindra entered  into the US market in 1994, as Mahindra USA ans has been achieving consistently a very high customer satisfaction rate.  Mahindra USA sells planes to the Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary arm of the US Air Force, through their subsidiary Gippsland Aeronautics.

This company supplies prominent American companies with components.  Mahindra Ugine Steel Co and Mahindra Gears and Transmissions both work with Caterpillar and John Deere, and Mahindra Composites supplies to GE.  From their office in Ohio, Mahindra Engineering Services provides GM with engineering consulting.  And also help several American companies source high quality, low cost inputs from India through contract sourcing business.

Mahindra PickUps

Europe

Presence in Europe is anchored in several industries.  In agriculture, it is a major supplier of small, rugged, high performance tractors to Serbia, Turkey, and Macedonia. Mahindra also exports fresh Indian produce to European retailers through Mahindra ShubhLabh Services.

Many Mahindra vehicles are sold across Europe, including on of the largest deployed fleets of electric cars under the Mahindra Reva brand. Automotive components companies, Mahindra Forgings, Mahindra Composites, Mahindra Hinoday, Mahindra Gears and Transmissions, and Mahindra Ugine Steel Co manufacture a range of high quality parts for outstanding European companies including Volvo, Scania, Land Rover, Daimler, and Renault, to name a few. Mahindra Automotives has plants across Germany, the UK, and Italy. Their Motorcycle racing divison, Mahindra Racing, is based out of Switzerland and Italy and successfully competes in the Moto3 world championship and the Italian national championship.

Mahindra Reva - The Electric Car

South America

Mahindra Reva electric cars can be found on roads through Central and South America along with a range of diesel Mahindra vehicles. Also Mahindra sells "Rakshak" armored vehicles to the government of Guyana through their defense products company, Defence Land Systems. The products delivered to rural and agricultural areas are designed for high performance in local conditions. The tractors sold to farmers in Chile and Brazil are calibrated for local topography and farming functions, and Powerol diesel generators ensure uninterrupted power supplies in areas with unreliable electric grids.

Mahindra Trucks

Asia

Involvement in agriculture includes the distribution of fresh produce to retailers in Southeast Asia through Mahindra Shublabh Services and the production of tractors for use in China, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal.  In the past few years, two joint ventures were initiated in China to manufacture top-quality tractors suited to Chinese farming conditions and practices. Also various high quality automotive parts are sold to Maruti and Suzuki, Mitsuba and Toyota.

Mahindra vehicles are at work transporting goods and people in Malaysia, and the Mahindra Reva electric car enjoys a presence.  Their automotive consulting company, Mahindra Engineering Services, works with both Yamaha and Nissan to develop better products and better production systems.  The state-of-the-art Rakshak armored vehicles are sol to the government of Nepal through their defense products company, Defence Land Systems.

Mahindra XUV

Australia

Parts from Mahindra can be found in iconic aircraft from the Boeing 737 to the Gulfstream G150 to the Lockheed-Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft. Also engineering consulting services are provided to Seabird Aviation through Mahindra Engineering Services.

With the launch of tractor assembly and customer support center in 2005, Mahindra established itself as a major player in the Australian tractor market. Today, they serve a loyal and growing customer base through a network of 40 dealerships across Australia, and also expanded distribution to New Zealand and Fiji.

Finally, the automotive sector offers rugged multi-utility vehicles to adventurous Australian customers who relish their high performance both on and off the road.

Middle East & Africa

Powerol diesel generator sets are providing uninterrupted power supplies in both the Middle East and Africa, delivering stable electricity to businesses and homes to raise both economic vitality and living standards. Hardworking & reliable tractors are supplied to Iran, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East and Nigeria, Mali, Chad, Gambia, Angola, Sudan, Ghana, and Morocco in Africa to help mechanize farming processes and boost agricultural productivity. Mahindra vehicles are also sold in South Africa, and their steel company, Intertrade, maintains a key steel service facility at Sharjah.  

              

                   Mahindra vehicles meet global regulatory requirements such as End of Life Vehicles Directive (ELV) in the European Union (EU). All EU export vehicles are ELV certified, ensuring safe dismantling and recycling of fluids  in environment friendly manner, meeting recycling target of 85% and recovery standard of 95% where not more than 5% of the vehicle weights are sent to landfill.

Mahindra Vehicle Manufacturers was set up in 2007 to push their technology to the edge. M&M designed and built a greenfield facility at Chakan, near Pune, Maharashtra, to integrate the best in technology, environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and operational excellence.  Spread across 700 acres and planted with approximately 10,000 trees, Chakan offers a flexible and eco-friendly manufacturing layout for multiple Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPVs), sport utility vehicles (SUVs), and commercial vehicles that allows us to respond rapidly to changing customer needs. 

With a current capacity of 3.2 million vehicles per year and a future-ready expandable module setup, M&M has the flexibility to constantly innovate and adapt to changes in market demand or customer requirements in medium and heavy commercial vehicle range including the 0.75 ton Maxximo, Single and Double Cab Pik-Ups and the whole new range of Mahindra Trucks.

Biscuits , Cookies and Crackers - How it all Began

The history of biscuits can be traced back to a recipe created by the Roman chef Apicius, in which "a thick paste of fine wheat flour was boiled and spread out on a plate. When it had dried and hardened it was cut up and then fried until crisp, then served with honey and pepper."

The word 'Biscuit' is derived from the Latin words 'Bis' (meaning 'twice') and 'Coctus' (meaning cooked or baked). The word 'Biscotti' is also the generic term for cookies in Italian. Back then, biscuits were unleavened, hard and thin wafers which, because of their low water content, were ideal food to store.

As people started to explore the globe, biscuits became the ideal travelling food since they stayed fresh for long periods. The seafaring age, thus, witnessed the boom of biscuits when these were sealed in airtight containers to last for months at a time. Hard track biscuits (earliest version of the biscotti and present-day crackers) were part of the staple diet of English and American sailors for many centuries. In fact, the countries which led this seafaring charge, such as those in Western Europe, are the ones where biscuits are most popular even today. Biscotti is said to have been a favourite of Christopher Columbus who discovered America!

Making good biscuits is quite an art, and history bears testimony to that. During the 17th and 18th Centuries in Europe, baking was a carefully controlled profession, managed through a series of 'guilds' or professional associations. To become a baker, one had to complete years of apprenticeship - working through the ranks of apprentice, journeyman, and finally master baker. Not only this, the amount and quality of biscuits baked were also carefully monitored.

The English, Scottish and Dutch immigrants originally brought the first cookies to the United States and they were called teacakes. They were often flavoured with nothing more than the finest butter, sometimes with the addition of a few drops of rose water. Cookies in America were also called by such names as "jumbles", "plunkets" and "cry babies".

As technology improved during the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, the price of sugar and flour dropped. Chemical leavening agents, such as baking soda, became available and a profusion of cookie recipes occurred. This led to the development of manufactured cookies.

Interestingly, as time has passed and despite more varieties becoming available, the essential ingredients of biscuits haven't changed - like 'soft' wheat flour (which contains less protein than the flour used to bake bread) sugar, and fats, such as butter and oil. Today, though they are known by different names the world over, people agree on one thing - nothing beats the biscuit!

Some interesting facts on the origin of other forms of biscuits:

The recipe for oval shaped cookies (that are also known as boudoir biscuits, sponge biscuits, sponge fingers, Naples biscuits and Savoy biscuits) has changed little in 900 years and dates back to the house of Savoy in the 11th century France. Peter the Great of Russia seems to have enjoyed an oval-shaped cookie called "lady fingers" when visiting Louis XV of France.

The macaroon - a small round cookie with crisp crust and a soft interior - seems to have originated in an Italian monastery in 1792 during the French Revolution.

SPRING-uhr-lee, have been traditional Christmas cookies in Austria and Bavaria for centuries. They are made from a simple egg, flour and sugar dough and are usually rectangular in shape. These cookies are made with a leavening agent called ammonium carbonate and baking ammonia.

The inspiration for fortune cookies dates back to the 12th and 13th Centuries, when Chinese soldiers slipped rice paper messages into moon cakes to help co-ordinate their defence against Mongolian invaders. 

Britannia

Once upon a time, in 1892 to be precise, a biscuit company was started in a nondescript house in Calcutta (now Kolkata) with an initial investment of Rs. 295. The company we all know today as Britannia. Wadia group holds a majority stake of 50.96% in this company.

Ever Since the beginning Britannia focused on quality and value of their products. As a result, during World War II, the Government reposed its trust in Britannia by contracting it to supply large quantities of "service biscuits" to the armed forces. In 1975, the Britannia Biscuit Company took over the distribution of biscuits from Parry's who till now distributed Britannia biscuits in India. In the subsequent public issue of 1978, Indian shareholding crossed 60%, firmly establishing the Indianness of the firm. The following year, Britannia Biscuit Company was re-christened Britannia Industries Limited (BIL). Four years later in 1983, it crossed the Rs. 100 Crores revenue mark.

In 1997, the company unveiled its new corporate identity - "Eat Healthy, Think Better" - and made its first foray into the dairy products market. In 1999, the "Britannia Khao, World Cup Jao" promotion further fortified the affinity consumers had with 'Brand Britannia'.

Brands of Britannia:

Britannia Tiger: One of the biggest brands in the kids segment, has re-invented itself by offering new Tiger, enriched with growth nutrients and comes with the credo of 'Roz Badho'.

Britannia Good Day: Classic cookies which can really make us " Feel Good " 

Britannia NutriChoice: First Indian biscuits launched in the'Diabetic Friendly’ and ‘Heart Friendly’ cookies category with variants using oats and Raagi.

Britannia Veg Cakes: is every vegetarian's dream come true! 100% vegetarian cake with all the softness and delight and with Zero Cholesterol.

Britannia Treat: which comes in exciting flavors, and the new Treat Fruit Rollz!! Which comes in four masti fruit flavours - Juicy Apple, Strawberry Surprise, Tangy Orange and Delicious Dates!

Britannia Vita Marie Gold: the perfect companion for Tea

Britannia 50 50 Maska Chaska:  flavored in the classic American Cream and Onion style

Britannia Nice Biscuit: Biscuits in Coconut Flavour

Britannia Pure Magic:  rich and creamy dessert in flavours of chocolate and vanilla cream

Britannia Bourbon: Absolutely delicious bourbon cream sandwiched with Choco biscuits.

Britannia Little hearts: heart shaped sugar coated bakes which really do win one’s heart !!

In 2002, Britannia's New Business Division formed a joint venture with Fonterra, the world's second largest Dairy Company, and Britannia New Zealand Foods Pvt. Ltd. was born. Britannia holds an equity stake in Dynamix Dairy and outsources the bulk of its dairy products from its associate. Its main competitors are Nestlé India, the National Dairy Development Board, and Amul

In recognition of its vision and accelerating graph, Forbes Global rated Britannia 'One amongst the Top 200 Small Companies of the World', and The Economic Times pegged Britannia India's 2nd Most Trusted Brand. Today Britannia holds a major market share of around 33% in India and works under the platform 'taste bhi, health bhi'

Apollo Tyres

                  Apollo Tyres Ltd is the world's 17th biggest tyre manufacturer, with annual consolidated revenues of Rs 127 billion in FY 2012-13. It was founded in 1976. Its first plant was commissioned in Perambra, Kerala. The company now has four manufacturing units in India, one in South Africa, two in Zimbabwe and 1 in Netherlands.It has a network of over 4,000 dealerships in India, of which over 2,500 are exclusive outlets. It gets 59% of its revenues from India, 28% from Europe and 13% from Africa.

                  Today, the company owns 6 key brands — Apollo, Dunlop (brand rights for 32 African countries), Kaizen, Maloya, Regal and Vredestein. While brands Apollo, Dunlop and Vredestein comprise of tyres across categories — from passenger and commercial vehicles to off highway tyres, the remaining 3 brands are more product category specific. Regal and Kaizen focus on the truck-bus tyre segment while Maloya operates within the passenger vehicle tyre category.

                   In June of 2013 it was reported that Apollo Tyres was planning on buying out  US - Based Cooper Tyres & Rubber Company whcih is the 10th largest tyre manufacturer in the world. If this deal goes through Apollo tyres would become the 7th largest Tyre Company in the World. Also this acquisition is biggest ever by an Indian Company in automobile sector.

Parle Bisleri

                A Company name which is in itself a brand that pioneered the concept of mineral water, bottled with its distinct green label, Bisleri, today, is a household name. In my own experience i have seen common man from company executives to a daily wager asking for a bottle of Bisleri when it comes to buying Mineral Water. It sure is a generic name for bottled water in India. With a market share of 36% Bisleri undoubtedly leads the market of Mineral Water in India.

                Bisleri was originally an Italian company created by Signor Felice Bisleri, who first brought the idea of selling bottled water in India. Bisleri originated in Italy in a place called Nocera Umbra from a spring called Angelica. In 1965, it was introduced in Mumbai in glass bottles in two varietes - bubbly & still. In 1969, it was bought over by Parle. Later Parle switched over to PVC non-returnable bottles & finally advanced to PET containers

               Bisleri today has three products - Bisleri Mineral Water, Bisleri Soda & Vedica natural spring water. Powered by 17 owned plants, 33 co-packers, 11 franchisees and a wide distribution and retail network pan India, Bisleri is at the centre of the Aqua Green Revolution.


Also read more about Parle : http://desibrandz.blogspot.in/2013/09/the-parle-saga.html