R.K. Dutt - A Golden Legacy

A Golden Legacy

A Golden Legacy

1960 - 67 - A legacy of Scientific and Entrepreneurial Spirit

Datta Keshav Sathe (DKS), a young M.Sc. (Physics) Gold Medallist joined the prestigious Bhabha Atomic Research Centre as Scientific Officer of its very first batch and worked on Van De Graff Generator Project. In keeping with his entrepreneurial spirit, he went on to establish R. K. Dutt Concerns in 1960 as proprietary concern named in the honour of his parents Rama and Keshav Sathe. The enterprise would mainly engage in manufacturing and supply of rugged scientific equipment for School Science Laboratories, which was something the schools lacked in a big way. His life partner Mrs. Sudha Datta Sathe, was his firm support in the running of his business from home. Both of them hustled from a rented house in Sanmitra Chawl of Thane. Mr Sathe working on weekends – develop/purchase/supply.

1967-74 - The Start-up hustle

Soon this moonlit enterprise, "R.K Dutt Concerns" was flourishing, and he decided to resign from BARC to focus solely on business. With the advent of semiconductor components, he went to develop Battery Eliminators essential for demonstrative experiments in school laboratories. He also introduced “Primary Science Kits” – in which teachers would find everything to demonstrate science concepts to the students up to 4th Std. and up to 8th Std. This concept was a major commercial success and he soon moved on to own a 3 storied “Purushottam” Building in Brahmin Society – a spacious HQ for his enterprise. He soon purchased a 730 Sq.m plot at A-88, MIDC, Wagle Estate Thane.

1974-81 - Confluence Innovation spirit

Mr Kaustubh D. Tamhankar (KDT), Mechanical Engineer joined the business. In time, DKS recognised the limitations and challenges of catering to schools which were–multiple customers with small orders and uncertain credit terms. DKS decided to serve the Chemical Industry booming in Thane – Belapur Belt. He began by supplying Safety Boards and soon went on to develop rugged long-lasting handles for Audco Valves which were components for imported instruments. Next, he developed Heavy Duty Level Indicator as rugged substitute for Tubular Level Gauges. Also, developed Top Mounted Float type Indicator for underground tanks.

PSA&KDT

1981-83 - Confluence of the Engineering spirit

Mr Purushottam S. Agwan (PSA), a then young and energetic B.E. (Mech) VNIT Nagpur graduate with DMS (Mum) and 5 years’ experience in manufacture of Track Parts, in Tractors Division of Larson & Toubro Ltd (1976-81) resigned and joined the setup and never looked back

PSA&VSA

1983-89 - An Established Engineering Firm

PSA looked after Marketing and KDT after Manufacturing and DKS took care of Administration. Together, the trio developed several firsts for Chemical Process Industry: Magnetic Indicator for Liquid Chlorine for Century Chemicals; The first one of its type was supplied in ‘83 and gave trouble free service for 37 years; Pressurised floats for up to 50 bar pressures. Also added other products like Reflex-Transparent Gauges for Boilers.

Mr Mohan G. Nagarkar (MGN), B.Tech. (Electronics)-IIT Mumbai, then Chief Instrumentation Engineer Bayer (India), with 16 years’ experience, joined the setup to develop Fluoro-polymer Lined Steel Piping products.

1989-95 - International and Corporate Pursuits

PSA visited ACHEMA Frankfurt (Germany) Exhibition- 1989. MGN and DKS visited K-92 Plastic Exhibition in Dusseldorf (Germany).Three new Companies were floated – Tansa Equipment Pvt Ltd for Rotameters, Asanplast Engineers Pvt. Ltd Fluoropolymers, both at Asangaon. Igatwin Polymers Pvt. Ltd. for PP/PTFE Lined Pipes and Fittings Igatpuri. Mr Vijay S. Agwan M.Tech.(Prod), IIT Kharagpur, with 15 years’ experience in Resistance Welding, with BHEL Trichy and Mechelonic Welders Mumbai, joined the Group Marketing Engineers.

In 1993, another highly capable engineer joined the team. It was none other than Mr. Milind Chirmule, who through his meticulous and sincere approach has risen up to lead the company today, as the CEO.

Milind Joins

1995-2008 - International collaborations, credentials and innovations to pride for

R.K. Dutt signed agreement with Helios AG, Switzerland, for manufacture of Displacer Transmitters. RKD Magnetic Indicator with Rotocyl Indication was displayed at ACHEMA ’95. 1995 – CCoE Approval was received for Magnetic Indicators. Several were supplied for EO, NH3, Cl2, LPG, C4Cut, Unsymmetrical Hydrazine ( Space Fuel) for ISRO etc. In 1998, RKD became the first Process Instruments Manufacturing Company in India to get ISO 9002. By 1999, a manufacturing agreement was signed with Endress & Hauser - Switzerland for manufacture of Flow Tubes from 25 NB to 300NB. Soon, India's first, intrinsically Safe Transmitter in India was developed conforming to IS 5780. RKD Works received CMRI approval for manufacturing Flame Proof Ex Proof Housing to IS 2748, developed Boiler Gauges for INS Virat, Teer and other Indian Navy (INS) Ships

2009-2020 - A well trusted brand "RK Dutt" partners with Siemens India

In 2009 - RKD entered into Chanel Partnership with Siemens India for marketing Process Instrumentation Products like PT, DPT, Ultrasonic / Clamp-on/ Vortex Flow Meters, Coriolis Mass Flow Meters, Magflow Meters, RADAR Level Instruments, Valve Positioners etc.2015 – RKD became Exclusive Chanel Partners for Siemens Process Instrumentation for Mumbai, Thane, Nashik and Konkan region. Since then scaling new heights in reach and volume to Chemical Process Industry and proudly boasts of a 2500 plus strong client base.

Covid Champions

2020-2022 - A COVID 19 Champion

In spite of the lockdown, RKD continued manufacturing and services as it was one of the major suppliers to pharmacutical companies. It got its permission and was compliant in every COVID 19 Satfety protocol just so that the essential drugs would be available on the market. The Staff was very enterprising and took every care to be able to deliver the products on time.