Articles by Kumaran Pola

Demand Constraint to the Fore BATA INDIA'S domestic business during the year ended December 31, 1990 was seriously affected by the disturbed law and order situation in different parts of the country, especially in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and the north-eastern states. The directors are anxious about the decline in the disposable income of the middle class which forms the backbone of the company's business in the wake of inflation which worked out to be over 12 per cent per annum. The problem was compounded by the sharp increase in the cost of almost all raw materials and in operating expenses. Because of the fear of a further decline in sales Volumes, the cost increases were not passed on to the consumers.

Upgrading Technology and Reducing Costs Kumaran Pola SANDVIK ASIA reported impressive improvement in operations and profitability for the year ended December 1990. The production of tungsten carbide products increased to 54.96 lakh, equivalent to 1062 legs, from 49.58 lakh, equivalent to 1012 kgs, in the preceding year. The main raw materials and bought-out components consumed during the year were 104 tonnes of tungsten ore as against 136 tonnes in the preceding year, 11 tonnes of cobalt including cathodes as against 10 tonnes in 1989 and 18 tonnes of carbide powders as against 15 tonnes in 1989. These figures reflected the results of the measures taken by the company to improve the cost effectiveness in the manufacturing and process rationalisation areas. The imported raw materials and components formed 76 per cent of the cost of raw materials and components consumed during the year as The Week's Companies compared to 77 per cent in 1989. The company manufactures and markets cemented carbide cutting tools, wear parts and rock tools and mineral tools. The tungsten carbide products manufactured by the company include integral rock drill steels, bits, detachable bits, extension drill steel equipment, inserts, tips, dies, nibs, studs and other applications. Sandvik Asia is today the largest supplier of cemented carbide cutting tools which are marketed under the brand name 'Coro- manf. It offers the most comprehensive range of sophisticated rock drilling and coal mining tools.

liberates lost souls. That "claim, it will be immediately said, is an unpardonable ex' aggeration. Could there actually be any liberation for lost souls, would not they gravitate toward other lost souls alone? Or would they not contaminate the hitherto innocent ones, rendering them into apparitions without the least hope of redemption. Greene, will you not please agree, shades off into Dostoyevsky.

Improved Profitability Kumaran Pola HYDERABAD INDUSTRIES' sales showed a 16 per cent increase on annualis- ed basis during the year ended March 31, 1990 to Rs 107.54 crore. Through tight control on costs, the company managed to bring down the expenses to sales ratio Raw materials cost showed a 20 per cent

Piece of Shipping Cake Kumaran Pola ESSAR SHIPPING increased its main income from charter hire and freight by 47 per cent on annualised basis during the year ended March 31, 1990. Due to the increase in the number of ship days, judicious deployment of ships, tight control over expenses and also profit on sale of two ships, the company could achieve substantial improvement in performance during the year. There was increase in operating expenses such as employees' cost by 35 per cent and depreciation by 40 per cent on annualised basis mainly due to increase in number of ships and due to a larger number of voyages over the preceding year. Despite such spurts in expenses, the company could substantially reduce the expenses to sales (main income) 1989-90. This provided the explanation for