Moneymakers
FRIENDS OF ENVIRONMENT: The world's largest producer and marketer of home appliances, Whirlpool Corporation, will flow in Rs 350 crore for setting up a modern CFC-free, nofrost refrigerator manufacturing plant in Maharashtra. This amount would be in addition to Whirlpool's earlier financial commitment of Rs 350 crore in its two joint ventures in India. Stanley K Kinnett, executive vice president, Whirlpool South Asia, said that the company plans to be a "major force in all segments of India's booming white goods market".
SOLVING WATER PROBLEMS: China Water Company, a joint venture between the China arm of Hongkong land Holdings, Tamasek Holdings and AIDC will finance and develop water-treatment projects in China. According to Hong Kong land, the venture will develop water-supply facilities of 150,000 cu m a day. Each group will invest US $10 million in the venture. Tamasek is an investment company owned by the Singapore government, while AIDC is owned by the Australian government. Managing director of Hongkong land, Percy Weatherall feels that China Water Company will contribute to finding solutions to China: water supply and pollution problems.
GOOD WOOD: Coirply, an eco-friendly wood substitute made of coir fibre and wood vineer has been developed by the research division of the Coir Board, the Central Institute of Coir Technology, Bangalore. "When the product becomes widely used, it can save our rapidly depleting forest wealth," said Board chairperson K George Joseph. A 12 mm coirply board can be sold for Rs 81 per square metre which is far cheaper than the phenol-bonded MDF boards which cost Rs 144. The Board has also requested the centre to raise the subsidy from Rs 11akh to Rs 21akh.
RELYING ON HERBS: Mumbai-based Rallis India, in conformation with its doctrine of gradually switching over to the production of herbal medicines, is going to launch a new herbal drug, Primedasa, used to enhance rapid action of antibiotics, and a herbal syrup, Khasinol, this year. In August, the company is also launching a new fungicide, mainly for grapes, called Bordeaux mixture. The fungicide will be manufactured at Pal ghat with a total capacity of 1,000 tonnes per day.
WASTE TO ENERGY: Western Paques, a Gadgil Western group company is planning a joint venture with Tata Iron and Steel Company for setting up a two-phased four MW power project. The project involves recycling garbage to produce power. The project is estimated to cost around Rs 50 crore and it will be executed in two phases. Facilities for the collection and disposal of garbage will be set up in the first phase, while the second phase will entail installing a power plant to generate about four MW by processing municipal solid waste.
NO PROBLEM CAR: One of the most prestigious car makers of the world Mercedes of Germany, unveiled the model for their new car which they say is a breakthrough in environment-friendlycars, as it emits no pollution at all. According to company sources the new electric car, which could be in production by the year 2010, uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity to power itself. This new environment-friendly car can travel at 100 km per hour and carry upto six people. The only emission which the car causes is a little cloud of steam.