Coimbatore wet grinder makers to set up common centre

The Coimbatore Wet Grinder and Accessories Manufacturers' Association (COWMA) is planning to set up a common facility centre (CFC) at an investment of Rs 2.85 crore for the benefit of its members.

The association has identified one acre land near Arasur, on the city outskirts for the purpose. Of the total estimated project cost of Rs 2.85 crore, Rs 99 lakh would come as a subsidy from the Central government while the state government would provide Rs 16.52 lakh. The remaining amount would be contributed by the members of Cowma.

Speaking to Business Standard, Cowma president N Rajan, said under the cluster programme that was started earlier in 2005 for the wet grinder and accessories manufacturing units here, it was decided to set up a CFC. A special purpose vehicle (SPV) would be formed to implement and monitor the project.

The proposal envisages setting up facilities for common plastic and stone testing, modern welding and copper drawing, besides a training centre, a research and development facility, a testing laboratory and a business information centre.

"International buyers demand quality certificates but there is no standardisation or testing centre for the wet grinder industry as of now. The establishment of a testing centre would help the manufacturers to a great extent in this regard," he added.

Rajan added that the total production from the 200 wet grinder manufacturing units here was about 75,000 pieces a month, of which 10 to 15 per cent is exported. Apart from this, there were nearly 500 accessories manufacturers.

Currently, the products from this region are being exported to Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, the US, UK, Netherlands and Canada. Cowma has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with trade bodies like Malaysian Trade Agency (Matrade), Koeran Trade Agency (Kotra) and the Netherland Business Centre (NBC).