BizBud

EMP heading for int’l fame

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

A visionary thinking of people is “a must” to develop a country. Whatever the field they are involved in. this thinking will take the country forward as the end result. Chairman EMP Engineering engineer Chandrananda Diyunuge is one in that calibre who is determined to bring valuable foreign exchange to the country by manufacturing and exporting engineering products to the international market.

His vision is to be the provider of total electrical engineering solutions and be switch board manufacturer in compliance with evolving standards to supply globally. The Company today is responsible for a turnover of Rs 50 million monthly much ahead than it expected to be.

An old boy of St. Thomas’ College Matara, Diyunuge graduated from the Moratuwa University as an electrical engineer in 1998 and worked for few companies in Sri Lanka and abroad to gain practical experience. However, he did not have job satisfaction in any of those places to suit his talents and capabilities. Finally he decided to move away on his own.

It was in October 2003 Diyunuge embarked on a new project with his colleague engineer Suresh Kumara by purchasing a company with a huge liability of Rs.35 million, a blacklisted name in the banks and many complaints from unpaid suppliers.

Questioned why he took such a risk he said that it was a challenge but he was confident that he would be able to take it forward from there with a good management system also considering the location at the Industrial Park in Panagoda. Today Kumara is his Managing Director. As he expected and planned with lots of hard work he was able to settle most of the outstanding commitments within six months with the help of available resources and only five workers. “

“When I wanted to increase the number of workers I realized that there was a huge scarcity of skilled labour and it was a very time-consuming process to train new people up to the standards I wanted.

Then I decided to go for modern technology with advanced machinery in collaboration with a foreign partner. It worked out well and I sent people overseas training to learn the technical know how.

As a result we were able to manufacture high volumes at a reduced cost and the demand for our products in the local market increased rapidly and this progress made us employing two hundred people including twelve young Engineers. Today every department of the company is headed by an Engineer,” Diyunuge said.

At present forty per cent of their production goes to the export market and the balance sixty per cent remains for the local market. But even ten per cent of the production is too much for the local market and therefore Diyunuge wants to make it the other way round.

He is confident that he could supply the full requirement for the country even if all the imports of similar nature is stopped. “If the Government imposes high tax on such imports the country could save lot of foreign exchange while providing employment to thousands of young people. The factory operates only for 12 hrs a day unless there is a special order although it has the capacity to operate round the clock.

The company is now in the process of obtaining all internationally recognised certifications in order to be able to expand the international market. EMP is also expertise in turnkey electrical installation in high rise buildings and engaged in cable management system. A new sister company EMP Engineering was formed to perform this task in 2006.

His future plan is to diversify into PVC lines as well where he will be able to provide a total package to their clients in project market with all related facilities at a reasonable cost.

The upcoming PVC factory is another Rs. 150 million investment in a two acre land opposite the present location and another factory in a six acre land in Padukka will be ready by 2011. In five years time the projected turn over will be Rs One billion for the group.

There are two agents based in Maldives and in India currently and EMP products are exported to South Africa, Bangladesh, Kenya, Maldives and Germany. The company imports few raw materials not available in the country and export finished goods with value added six times according to the Chairman.

The company celebrated its fifth anniversary with the new management recently not forgetting the welfare of those who worked hard from the beginning and during difficult times. Fifteen employees were rewarded with gold trophies and children of employees with bank accounts.