GREEN GUARDIAN

Timken India's Sanjay Koul, who puts the planet first, people second and profits third, wants to double the company's revenues in the next five years and make it the most preferred brand in the country

- Prerna Lidhoo

GROWING UP IN Kashmir, Sanjay Koul spent his childhood surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the valley nestled among the majestic Himalayan mountains. The area is also notorious for testing one’s perseverance during the harsh winter months. As he grew older, he developed a deep appreciation for sustainability, a sense of community, and deep resilience—values that he still holds dear as Chairman and Managing Director of Timken India, incorporated in 1987 as Tata Timken Ltd (TTL), a joint venture between Tata Iron and Steel Company (Tisco) and The Timken Company, a world leader in tapered roller bearings. (In 1999, Timken acquired from Tata Steel its 40 per cent stake in Tata Timken Ltd and the name of the company was changed to Timken India Ltd).

Koul has seen Timken India—which manufactures engineered bearings and power transmission products—evolve from its early days. He joined the company just before it commenced commercial production at its Jamshedpur plant in March 1992; in fact, he helped set up the plant. “The way manufacturing was done 30 years ago is different from how you do manufacturing today. [In] those days, nothing was digitised. Now, manufacturing plants have process automation, digitisation, robotics, etc. for each of the processes. Manufacturing has changed its shape but has not changed its DNA,” he says. “Today, efficiency has become key.” In the past one year, Koul has spearheaded the company’s adoption of robotics and process automation. “Today, we are digitally connected to our suppliers and our customers. It is very tough for CEOs to function today without tech. I should know things like Twitter, SAP, LinkedIn. People who will not adapt will pay a price,” he says.