Germania batteries: Fully charged on the growth path

In 1975 a young Dr Raghunath Shirodkar quit his job inGermany and returned to Goa with the intention of doing something for his land.His experience in R&D in batteries stood him in good stead as he set upGermania batteries with his younger brother Satish P Shirodkar. 

The company initially made only battery plates and suppliedthem to Bajaj Auto. Satish Shirodkar said, “We did this for 14 years. Despitehaving a large market share it was not very profitable. We then decided tobranch out.” They shifted their focus from manufacturing plates to batteries.Not many people are aware that it was Dr Shirodkar who suggested reduction inthe content of antimonial alloy from the existing 5% to 1.8% in battery plateswhich helped reduce the price of batteries in India by a third. “This waspossible by introducing new technology” said Satish.

“Despite being in the business for a while, the market shareof Germania was stagnant. I knew it was time to change,” said Satish. Withenquiries coming in from Germany, it was natural for the Shirodkar’s to beginexporting. After Europe the Shirodkar’s moved into Russia and Turkey. Now, theoverseas market contributes over 50 per cent of their total turnover.

The Shirodkars also set up another factory inKundaim---United Lead Oxide. This factory produces industrial batteries. Theirmajor client is the Indian Railways. On an average their factories producebetween 5,000- 7,000 industrial batteries and automotive batteries every month.

With the future of the battery industry bright Satish isworking towards a public offering on the share market. He said, “I am workingtowards it and it should happen in a few years”.  

The company has grown from an initial turnover of Rs4,80,000 to Rs 25 crores. With new products scheduled to be launched, themanagement expect a 50% increase in turnover. Shirodkar said, “Batteries arethe future. They provide us with a mobile source of power that makes manymodern conveniences possible.”