Usha Martin Infotech Ltd (UMIL) is a part of the Usha Martin Group, which was formed in India in the early 1960s with the establishment of Usha Martin Industries Limited (UMIL), engaged in the manufacture of steel wires, wire ropes and other related products. The group was promoted by B. K. Jhawar, who is the chairman of the company.
Usha Beltron Limited was incorporated on May 21, 1986 as a joint venture between Usha Martin Industries Limited, Bihar State Electronics Development Corporation Limited, AEG Kabel, Germany (now Kabelrhydt and a member of the Alcatel group) and DEG, Germany, to manufacture Jelly Filled Telephone Cables (JFTC). Pursuant to the orders of the High Court of Kolkata and Patna( Ranchi Bench) Usha Martin Industries Limited merged with Usha Beltron Limited with effect from May 15, 1998. Thereafter the registered office was shifted from Tatisilwai, Ranchi, Bihar to Kolkata in the State of West Bengal in the year 2000. The name of Usha Beltron Limited was changed to Usha Martin Limited with effect from May 1, 2003.
Started in 1961 Ranchi, Jharkhand as a wire rope manufacturing company, today the Usha Martin Group is a Rs. 3000 crore conglomerate with a global presence. The group has set new standards in the manufacture of wire rods, bright bars, steel wires, speciality wires, wire ropes, strand, conveyor cord, wire drawing and cable machinery. With continuous growth in both the domestic and international markets, Usha Martin, the group’s flagship company has emerged as India’s largest and the world’s Second largest steel wire rope manufacturer.
For Usha Martin, the path to sustainable growth was long; the management constantly tried out innovative business practices. With initiative to diversify the customer base by venturing into the international markets, moving up the value chain and fully integrating its business process to maximize stakeholder value.
Product range of the company includes:
- Coil & Bar
- Bright Bar
- Ropes
- Wire & Strands
- Structural
- Sling
- Cord
- Prestressing
- Machinery
- Tele Cables
Milestones:
- 1960 - The Wire Rope Plant with a capacity of 3600 TPA was set up at Tatisilwai, Ranchi in collaboration with Martin Black & Company (Wire Ropes) Ltd, UK.
- 1962 -UMIL commenced production of wire and wire ropes
- 1965 - UMIL promoted 'Usha Ismal Limited' in collaboration with CCL Systems Ltd, UK for manufacture of rope accessories and splicing equipment at its factory at Ranchi. UIL merged with UMIL in 1990 and became a division of the company.
- 1971 - UMIL promoted ' Usha Alloys & Steels Limited' for the manufacture of steel billets at Adityapur, Jamshedpur. UASL merged with UMIL in 1988.
- 1975 -UMIL set up its Machinery Division at Bangalore for manufacture of wire drawing and allied products in collaboration Marshall Richards Barcro Ltd , UK. UASL acquired an ongoing rolling mill at Agra.
- 1979 - In order to obtain steady supply of wire rods for its wire rope plant, UASL set up a Wire Rod Rolling Mill at Jamshedpur.
- 1980 - The joint venture company Usha Siam Steel Industries public Limited Company was incorporated in Thailand for manufacture of wire, wire ropes and auto cables.
- 1986 -UMIL, alongwith Bihar State Electronics Development Corporation, promoted Usha Beltron Ltd. (UBL) in collaboration with AEG KABEL of Germany for the manufacture of Jelly Filled Telephone Cables.
- 1991 - Usha Martin completed its supplies of the parallel wire stay cables for the Second Hooghly Bridge at Kolkata and established the company's capability for manufacturing sophisticated special cables.
- 1994 -The company made its first GDR issue at a price of US$ 10.70 per GDR, for a total consideration of US$ 35,000,000. The company established Usha Martin Europe Limited as its subsidiary, in joint venture with Exim Bank of India to create worldwide marketing and distribution set up for export of wire ropes.
- 1995- Commissioning of Mini Blast Furnace at Jamshedpur to reduce cost and improve productivity.
- 1996 - New state of the art Wire Rod Mill at Jamshedpur commissioned to produce higher weight coils for better productivity.
- 1998 - UMIL merged with UBL wef 1st October,1997. The shareholders of UMIL were allotted one equity share of UBL in respect of every three shares of UMIL held by them.
- 2000 - The company’s IT division, was demerged into a new company named as Usha Martin Infotech Limited (UMITL). In accordance with the scheme, UMITL issued and allotted one equity share of Rs. 5/- each to all the shareholders of the company in the ratio of one equity share of Rs. 10/- each held by them in the company. Consequently as per the scheme of de-merger, the face value of the shares of the company was reduced to Rs. 5/- each. The company established UM Cables Limited as its wholly owned subsidiary to set up a green field JFTC and OFC plant at Silvassa. Commissioning of 25 MW thermal power plant at Jamshedpur for captive consumption. The company acquired a majority stake in Usha Siam Steel Industries Public Limited Company, Bangkok (engaged in manufacture of wire ropes at its plant in Bangkok). The company also acquired 80% stake in Brunton Shaw Limited, UK, from Carclo Group. The company made its second GDR issue at a price of US$ 3.25 per GDR, for a total consideration of US$ 11,375,000 (1 GDR representing 1 equity share).
- 2001 - The company established Usha Martin Singapore (Pty.) Limited as its wholly owned subsidiary to set up a distribution center at Singapore for wire ropes. Commissioning of 2nd SMS at Jamshedpur to enhance capacity to 350000 TPA and produce quality specialty steel.
- 2003 - The company has disposed off its Rolling Mill Division at Agra for focussing on core business. The Promoters & IFC contributed towards equity 53,45,455 and 52,64,727 no of shares respectively @ Rs 33/- per share. IFC & DEG also provided to the company foreign currency loans of USD 21 million and Euro 10 Million respectively. The name of the company was changed to Usha Martin Limited with effect from 1st May, 2003. Brunton Wolf Wire Ropes FZ Co Middle East Dubai commenced its commercial production with production capacity of 6,000 MT p.a. A joint venture between Usha Martin International Ltd and Gustav Wolf of West Germany. The company obtained prestigious order for wire ropes for a period of 3 years from OTIS Elevators for world wide supplies. The company successfully created new facilities by modifying the cable plant to manufacture value added products such as bright bars, special wires and conveyor cords.
- 2004 - The company successfully commissioned DRI and WHRB power plant at its Steel Division in Jamshdedpur.
- 2005 - The company signs an MOU with Joh.Pengg for manufacturing of the speciality oil tempered spring steel wire. Takeover of JCT Ltd.’s steel division completed and successfully integrated with Usha Martin. Commences Iron ore mining successfully. Railway Siding commenced. DRI power plant capacity augmented by further 5 mw by putting up 40 tph char boiler. Commissioning of 3rd Ladle Furnace at SMS to increase steel capacity to 3,60,000 mt p.a. The company made its third GDR issue at a price of US$ 4.61 per GDR, for a total consideration of US$ 33.29 Million (1 GDR representing 1 equity share). Preferential allotment of 5800000 warrants to promoters@ Rs 153/- per warrants totaling Rs 88.74 Crores. Incorporation of Brunton Shaw America Inc as a new subsidiary of the company
- 2006 - Pursuant to B.T.A the company acquired the business of Usha Construction Steel Ltd, Rolling Mill at Agra w.e.f 1st December,2006 as a part of its steel segment.
- 2007 - The company acquired Netherland based distribution and rigging company De Ruiter Staalkabel B.V. Successful commissioning of Wire Rope Plant at Houston, America. The company subdivided its equity share from Rs 5/- each to Rs 1/- each. Preferential allotment of 385,00,000 warrants to promoters @Rs 87/- per warrants totaling Rs 335 Crores.