Kokuyo Camlin to focus on notebook segment

Consumer and office stationery maker, famous for making children's crayons, Kokuyo Camlin Ltd., plans to commission a new Rs.100 crore integrated plant near Mumbai, a top company official said here.

The new plant is expected to be ready in about two years. The company's focus now is its notebook market, the official said.

"By mid-2015, the new plant is expected to start commercial production. It will be an integrated plant making a range of products," A. Srikanth, chief executive officer, told IANS.

In 2011, Japanese group Kokuyo bought controlling stake in the then Camlin Ltd. and changed the name to Kokuyo Camlin.

Kokuyo Camlin, with a turnover of Rs.453 crore, makes a range of stationery products for four segments - children, office professionals, artists and those pursuing different hobbies.

According to Srikanth, nearly 65 percent of the company's turnover is from the school segment, 25 percent from the office segment, and the rest from others.

He said the company will be focusing on the growing notebook segment - both institutional and retail - and work has already started to expand the geographical presence.

The school product segments - colour crayons, geometric box and others - is turning attractive for many players. Even companies predominantly in the office stationery segment have now entered the school product segment.