CUMI was established as a result of diversification from banking business through
cycle manufacturing with the intent to manufacture
abrasive materials. CUMI's
parent company, the
Murugappa Group, made a tie up with Carborundum UK, a subsidiary of American abrasive manufacturer,
Carborundum and the
Universal Grinding Co. Ltd. UK in 1950. The result was the
Carborundum Universal of Madras. Then it was renamed and incorporated in 1954 as Carborundum Universal Ltd (CUMI).
Establishments Initially CUMI was founded to manufacture the core products for the collaborating companies. Later the company established its first
bonded abrasive plant at
Chennai with the facility acquired from Ajax Products and began its manufacturing in the abrasives platform. With the intention of producing
technical ceramics for high temperature insulation products CUMI has made joint venture with
Morgan Crucible Plc. UK resulted in the establishment of Murugappa Morgan Thermal Ceramics Ltd in 1982. The company has laid a strong foundation in
engineered ceramics through number of joint ventures. In 1991 Wendt (India) Ltd, a joint ventured company of Wendt GmbH, Germany and The House of Khataus, was merged with the CUMI. CUMI's first
industrial ceramics division was established in
Hosur,
Tamil Nadu as a technical partnership with
Coors Ceramics, USA in 1991. Later it was expanded with the unique Metallized Cylinders Plant. As a part of expanding their presence, in 2005 the company started CUMI Middle East FZE in Ras Al Khaimah. In order to strengthen their global presence CUMI bought Abrasive Enterprises Inc., Canada, for $2.24 Million by 2006. After a year CUMI established CUMI International Ltd in Cyprus.
Acquisitions Within a decade, after the withdrawal of the collaborators, CUMI acquired Ajax Products Pvt Ltd. CUMI stepped up its investment in abrasive industries by acquiring the Eastern Abrasives Ltd.,
Kolkata in 1978. In 1997, Cutfast Abrasive Tools Ltd., Eastern Abrasives Ltd., Cutfast Polymers Ltd. and Carborundum Universal Investment merged with Carborundum Universal Ltd. Within a year of acquisition of Sterling Abrasives Ltd. and SEDCO in 2003, CUMI acquired CUMI Australia Pty Ltd. In 2007 the company took over the Chinese firm, Sanhe Yanjiao Jingri Diamond Industrial Company Ltd., and the Russian Volzhsky Abrasive Works. Further acquisitions followed in 2008, including Foskor Zirconia Ltd., South Africa which became a subsidiary of CUMI.
Diversification Besides manufacturing, marketing and distribution, CUMI is also involved in diversified works like
mining,
power generation and
TOT agreements with various organizations. CUMI acquired
Bauxite mines at Bhatia and
Okha in Gujarat, a Silicon Carbide plant in
Koratty, Kerala and a brown Aluminium Oxide grains plant at
Edapally, Kerala. CUMI established a 12MW
hydroelectric power plant at
Maniyar, Kerala in 1994. and a 5.5MW Wind mill at Nallur. CUMI made a
technology transfer with Answer Technology Inc., USA for advanced monolithics and a technical collaboration with
National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology of India,
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre of India and
Pennsylvania State University of USA for the development of advanced ceramic technology.
CUMI Direct CUMI Direct is an online e-commerce platform that was started in 2005 and sells: •
Warehouse Equipment - Pallet Trucks, Stackers, Table Lifts, Movable Dock Ramps, Stationary Dock Levelers, Tail Lifts, Fork Lifts, Plastic Pallets, Caster Wheels •
Material Handling Equipment - Shopping Trolleys, Hand Carts •
Power Tools - CUMI Power Tools, METABO Power Tools •
Industrial Ceramics • Electro Minerals •
Abrasives - Thin Wheels, Rolls, Grinding Wheels, Non Woven Wheels, Coated Abrasives, Porous Tiles, Super Abrasives, Resonoid and Rubber, Vitrified Ranges • Metal Working Fluids - Cleaner, Forming Fluids, Neat Oils, Rust Preventives, Water Solubles •
Strapping Tools - Tensioners, Sealers •
Super Refractories products - Fired Refractories, Monolithic Products Most of the products are granted CE and GS certificates. ==Major divisions==