It was indeed a unique experience to take journey into the annals of history of a company right from its inception, going through its growth process. A candid and honest account of its roller coaster ride through the real life is indeed a memorable and gripping story of epic proportions. Particularly, when it stretches out to little over eventful half century in an era where time usually flies off.
It all started On August 05, 1960, when the Doshis and Vasas came together to form a joint venture. Till date this day is celebrated with all vigour as ‘The Founders Day.’ Our first foray into diesel engine markets consisted of our maiden production of conventional horizontal diesel powered engines. Our products had successfully penetrated markets in North Gujarat and Rajasthan which constituted 70% of our total sales.
Escalating transportation costs and longer transit time caused us to consider opening a second manufacturing facility in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. However in 1970, overall demand for diesel engines fell rapidly. This led to fissures between the Vasas and Doshis. Fissure soon grew to be an unbridgeable chasm leading to an inevitable separation. Doshis kept brand name ROCKET and Brand name COMET was retained by VASAS.
In 1970s, The Iran & Iraq war triggered many upheaval changes. In the year 1972 the basic differences between Shias and Sunnis factions came to fore. It triggered the longest war between Iran and Iraq. The whole of Middle East reached to a boiling point.
Consequently our RM input costs headed Northward. By the time the Domino’s effects hit the struggling diesel engine industry in India. It had reached the staggering increase. Fossil Fuel prices hit us where it hurt us the most. It rendered our horizontal engine products obsolete. It however kicked up the demands for fuel efficient engines. It forced the change on us. Either we kept pace or else we would be perished.
However in these dark times, came a silver lining in form of a huge order secured from government of Bihar. We had to supply 3100 engines within 4 months’ period. With our monthly capacity hovering around 500 engines, this seemed like a herculean task.
As luck would have it the providence apparently closed all the avenues but managed to keep them ajar as if to wait for REC to knock at the door. SBI local branch manager sanctioned a life giving loan of 25lakhs.
It opened the window of opportunity. Why did we credit the providence – the destiny? No one from SBI KOP branch was put on the mat for sanctioning this loan. It was indeed a miracle par excellence for a public sector bank.
Upon introducing portable series engines we had experienced severe cash crunch. As ROCKET was the sole buyer of required spares for this newly introduced series. It was the result of our in-house R&D efforts and we were the first to introduce this series of fuel efficient engines in India.
Consequently we were required to place order of higher quantity to provide necessary scales of economy to our vendors. We were also required to accept the delivery of higher quantities too. In fact we were compelled to carry significant inventory. Cost of rejections, if any, too were built up in our purchase prices as no other manufacturer would be in position to buy those sub-standard supplies.
But even in darkest times, we have never let our customer suffer. Our quality, pricing and service always remained best and consistent.
These were testing times for us and our vendors. The lack of working capital, led to delay in payment to our vendors. The delay shot up from 30 days to 180 to 200 days. We gratefully salute our VALIANT VENDORS who staunchly stood by us and continued their supplies to us, uninterruptedly. It reflects the mutual trust we and our vendors enjoy.
Slowly but steadily, Rocket was now gaining its ground. By late 70’s we started working with VOLTAS – A Tata group of company. In this time window we won THREE awards from government of Maharashtra for Excellence achieved in EXPORTS.
In the 80’s we undertook ambitious development project – The Portable Series. It took us almost six years of dogged determination, diligence and dedication to deliver the goods and enormous amount of patience, persistent painstaking efforts and above all perseverance to swim against the current and in uncharted waters.
Interestingly mostly all diesel engines that presently flood the markets are the products of old technology. At ROCKET, instead of sitting on our laurels we put in painstaking efforts to achieve persistent progress. Our 3rd generation COMET’s ‘Cub’ and ‘Colt’ diesel engines provide you with ‘refreshing change’ at affordable prices.
These new variants of diesel engines are produced with special care to ensure that they are ‘fuel efficient’ thus they are decidedly economical, and environmental friendly. They diligently endeavour to reduce the carbon footprint. They deliver higher HP output with lesser efforts. This dramatically reduced the normal wear and tear.
Today market shelves are full of COMET look alike products. But our loyal customers fondly remember us as the trend setter and know the obvious advantages that original COMET engines have over duplicate ones.
During the long, lonely and arduous journey we realized what it takes to undertake development of a brand new series of products and relentlessly pursue it through difficult and demanding times and achieve the seemingly impossible goal of commercial production.
When we look back today we vividly remember our journey. But for our endless will and restless zeal it would have been nigh impossible for us. We bask in the euphoric feelings and intoxicating but satisfying sense of achievement.
Frankly speaking we simply got addicted to the way of genuinely developing better products that would not only meet but clearly best the industry bench marks. Thus our penchant for perfection became our irresistible passion.
Since our inception in 1960, ours has been a customer driven company. Their needs and concerns form the basis of all our innovations and operations. Mahatma Gandhi’s invaluable words, finds its place in the very veins of our company.
recpl.wordpress.com 