Bond with excellence their driving force
Four SMEs of Uttar Pradesh have made it to the list of the country’s top 100 such firms. As part of HT’s fourpart series, we take a look at Lucknow’s Chopra Retec
LUCKNOW:It has been a long and successful journey for Kiron Chopra, 64.
From an entrepreneur to a leading manufacturer of rubber-based suspensions and exhaust parts of four-wheelers in the world, his company, Chopra Retec Rubber Products Ltd, is now a well known entity across the globe having footprints in Europe and the US.
He started a small manufacturing unit in 1996.
Facing all odds, the company has become a world-class manufacturing unit at the UPSIDC’s industrial area in Chinhat.
The firm’s turnover has grown from Rs 12 lakh per annum to Rs 21 crore having a workforce of 120 people.
It all started when a German client of Chopra requested him to manufacture suspensions and exhaust parts for German cars.
This client was not satisfied with the quality of parts he was getting from vendors in Europe.
This laid the foundation of Chopra Retec Rubber Products Limited, where Retec is the German client.
Automobile parts manufactured in Lucknow at the Chopra Retec are being used by top car manufacturers in the US, Japan, Germany and rest of Europe.
Hard work and dedication with a desire to excel helped Kiron Chopra achieve the present status.
His success holds more importance as he has proved his mettle in Uttar Pradesh, a state that is known for industrial backwardness.
“It was not an easy journey. When we started, nothing (raw material) was available in Lucknow and rest of UP,” said Chopra.
“Rubber and chemicals that are essential for products we manufacture were not available in UP. We had to purchase raw material from Delhi and Mumbai,” he added.
“As UP is land locked, we had to send our consignment to Mumbai from where it was shipped to Europe and other destinations,” said Chopra.
It was a cumbersome process in which lot of time was wasted, he added.
“Gradually things improved and a dry port came up in Delhi. From Lucknow our consignment is sent to Delhi by road and from there it is sent to Mumbai by goods train in containers for shipment,” said Chopra.
Despite improvement in UP’s industrial scenario, the Chinhat industrial area still lacks basic amenities.
“In the last several years things have improved. But the industrial area here still lacks basic amenities. The approach roads and encroachments do not leave a good impression on my foreign clients,” said Chopra.
“Whenever my German clients come to my unit in Chinhat, they complain about roads,” he added.
Chopra, however, is upbeat about the new industrial policy of the Uttar Pradesh government.
“Both the Centre and the state governments are focusing on improving industrial scenario in UP. It is not only good for us but also for the state’s progress,” he added.
For this remarkable success journey, Chopra gives credit to his family and staff members.
“Without the support of family and staff members it could not have been possible,” he said.
Now, Kiron’s son, Pranay, 37, helps him run the company.
AUTOMOBILE PARTS MANUFACTURED AT CHOPRA RETEC IN LUCKNOW ARE BEING USED BY TOP CAR MANUFACTURERS IN THE US, JAPAN, GERMANY AND REST OF EUROPE. HARD WORK AND DEDICATION WITH A DESIRE TO EXCEL HELPED KIRON CHOPRA ACHIEVE THE PRESENT STATUS