indiamarkets: Under what circumstances did ‘SIMCO’ start at Shoranur ?
Naboodirippadu: My brother, Late P M C Divakaran Namboothirippadu, who got inspired by the historical speech of the social reformer Late E M S Namboodirippadu (who later on became the first chief minister of kerala) in 1947, decided to start an Industrial establishment of his own in our surroundings and be an acceptable model for the entire Namboodiri Community, which had been depending mostly upon their agricultural tenants for livelihood. With this view in mind, he purchased the Metal Industries Est.which had then remained closed at Kulappully, Shoranur and go ahead with the same Industry.

indiamarkets: Could you please tell us about the products, SIMCO has to offer?
Naboodirippadu: We can generally be called as the manufacturers of Agricultural Implements. Our products can be classified under three categories: - 1. Garden tools 2. Estate tools 3. Hand tools.

indiamarkets: What is the total Manpower strength of SIMCO?
Naboodirippadu: SIMCO has a total workforce of 100 male employees including skilled and non-skilled workers, office staff and Sales Representatives.

indiamarkets: What are the phases through which a tool passes during the process of manufacturing ?
Naboodirippadu: At SIMCO the process of manufacturing a tool or equipment passes through 6 different phases, namely Forging, Finishing, Grinding, Polishing, Heat-Treatment and Painting.

indiamarkets: What kind of job opportunities are available for the fresh technical diploma holders in your firm?
Naboodirippadu: Yes. We have always had a positive approach towards the ITI and Polytechnic Diploma holders. But of late most of the fresh technical diploma holders do not prefer to work in companies like SIMCO. In their words they are not willing to compromise with the, so-called ‘bad working conditions’ in our companies. It is clear that our youngsters dream of only the jobs which keep them away from the heat of the burning fire and smoke.

indiamarkets: What are the main raw materials required for the industry ?
Naboodirippadu: As raw materials SIMCO mainly needs the bits of used railway tracks that can be periodically had from the Southern Railway through auction. ‘Billet’ which the company is procuring from Vishakhapatanam Steel Plant in Andhrapradesh, is another major rawmaterial.

indiamarkets: Who all are your main customers and the regions they belong to?
Naboodirippadu: Our products, having weight right from 0.45 kg to 9.5 kg, are being sold off in all the South Indian States as per the orders collected by the 10 canvassing agents. Large-scale agriculturists, Contractors and owners of big plantations and hardware shops are the major customers of the firm.

indiamarkets: For which award or distinction, SIMCO has ever been selected? Naboodirippadu: Yes. SIMCO won the First prize in the World Agricultural Fair at New Delhi in 1961, and the Second prize in the National Quality Contest in 1986.

indiamarkets: Being the head of the most prominent private Metal Industrial Establishment at Shoranur, how do you comment on the Industrial tradition of your area ?
Naboodirippadu: You know Shoranur is an important area in the map of the Palakkad Industrial Belt. One of the three Industrial Estates in Palakkad is located at Shoranur. We along with the other Industrialists in our surroundings, are fully indebted for the great Industrial tradition of the area, to one Mr. C.K. Menon of Shoranur. The credit for placing Shoranur in the Metal Industrial Map of South India goes to Mr. Menon, who permanently settled down here after successfully completing a course in ‘Metallurgy’ from ‘Sheffield’, the place noted for Metal Industry in Great Britain.

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