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Landmarks of Luxury
The Indian economy is growing and with it are the increasing opportunities in tourism
and hospitality. Within this scenario Hyderabad is fast emerging as a tourism and
commercial centre.
Realising the need for strong infrastructure that would sustain the increasing tourist flux,
GVK entered the hospitality sector with two luxury hotels. This was at a time when
Hyderabad was growing as a metro and gaining recognition as a city of potential. This
change also created a need for world-class convention facilities in Hyderabad and GVK
stepped forward to offer the same at its hotels.
Providing further support to this growing industry, Orbit Travels and Tours was
established. This company caters to the exacting demands of the international and
business travellers, with personalised and effecient customer service.
The Krishna Oberoi
True to this tradition of defying the accepted,GVK promoted the Krishna Oberoi and gave
Hyderabad its first five-star luxury hotel. Soon after the hotel opened its doors to its high profile guests, the Krishna Oberoi
became an icon of hospitality in Hyderabad. Each of the 286 tastefully decorated rooms reflect GVK's eye for perfection . The new
deluxe rooms have been completely design to mirror the rich and royal past of Hyderabad
while introducing the most modern facilities for a business traveller. Both classic and
functional, the rooms are furnished with persian style carpets, original Qutb Shahi
miniature paintings, rich silk upholstery and a workdesk phone which has a computer
socket to keep the guest wired to the world. There are 10 deluxe suites, two presidential
suites with private swimming pools and a state-of-the-art health club.
A fully equipped business centre provides excellent corporate and convention facilities.
The four refurbished meeting rooms and facilities create the perfect ambience for business
meetings.
The Krishna Oberoi was the first in the city to tempt the Hyderabadi palate with
international cuisine. The speciality restaurants-Schezwan Garden, Firdaus and Gardenia-the coffee shop, regularly organise international food festivals. These are eagerly awaited
by the epicures in Hyderabad.
Holiday Inn Krishna
Hotel Inn Krishna established GVK's second milestone in the hospitality industry. This
five-star hotel is a franchise of the world famous Holiday Inn Chain. It has been designed
as an atrium hotel with landscaped interiors and exteriors complemented by luxury and
ultra modern facilities. The hotel has become increasingly popular with the frequent
business traveller.
The 150 well appointed guest rooms offer international travellers with the famous Holiday
Inn options King Leisure, Twin Studio and Double Double. Each is a statement in luxury
equipped with a mini refrigerator, individual climate control, CCTV, channel music and
national and international direct dialling.
Holiday inn Krishna has many special facilities to its credit like non-smoking rooms and
larger rooms equipped with modern amenities. Reflecting a concern for the handicapped,
facilities have been provided for wheel-chairs and there are specially designed rooms with
attached bathrooms.
The hotel's speciality restaurants offer a multi-cuisine spread. The Blue Flower, Mama
Mia, the Paradise Lounge and the Atrium Bar offer connoisseurs a range of international
favorites. The banquest and convention facilities offer a versatality of locations to suit
different occasions.
Kohinoor, The Terrace Garden, the Pooside, the Lawns and The Pavilion are today much
quoted for their courtesy and service efficiency.
Novopan
Novopan has been a unique and exciting experience since it was GVK's first industrial
experience. It not only initiated GVK into high profile industrial activity, it also earned
for GVK the outstanding reputation of being India's first manifacturer of high quality
prelaminated particle boards. Beginning in 1979, Novopan industries ltd. Particle board
division laid GVK's foundation in Hyderabad. As an upcomming company, it enjoyed
the advantage of being one of the few in the field. It was a time when particle boards
were being called " the product of future"
Laying the foundation
After observing the success rate of prelaminated particle boards in Europe, GVK
decided to create it's own territory in the field. This led to the setting up of the first three
layeres particle board manufacturing unit in Patancheru, Medak district of Andhra
Pradesh. The Fahrni Institiute of Switzerland, pioneers and world leaders in three
layered particle board technology provided the technical expertise.
The help of Funder of Austria, one of the largest producers of prelaminated boards in
Europe, was enlisted for the lamination division. Both the technical collaborations had
a ten year agreement period during which any development in the field in Europe was
to be transferred to their licensee, Novopan in India.
Engineering the product for customer needs
To absorb European technology and orient the same towards the Indian market was the
initial task. Through several technical demonstrations, carpenter - converter meets and
training programmes, Novopan engineered its product to fulfill the market need. This
led to development of Novopan-exterior grade particle board, developed totally through in house expertise. It surpassed the stringent international standards for water
resistant particle boards and could be used for industrial and domestic applications.
Capturing the Indian market
Despite the initial hesitation that is associated with any new concept, prelaminated
particle boards soon became popular. Overcoming the inertia from the carpenter segment, particle boards became acceptable. And strenghened by the product's
revolutionary qualities, Novopan caught the imagination of the Indian market. It began
to enjoy an increasing presence in the interiors of several government institutions like
MES, CPWD, Housing boards, DoT as well as corporate offices and banks.
As product awareness increased, so did the demand for prelaminated particle boards.
Several new ventures were set up in and around the country. However, Novopan still
enjoys a leadership position and is sold in the market at a premium. Novopan has infact
become a generic name for prelaminated particle boards in the market.
Modernisation and expansion
Over the years, Novopan has maintained its leadership position through several
modernisation programmes. Old machines were replaced or modified in order to keep
pace with the latest developments in Europe and offer a wider choice with product
innovations to the Indian market.
New developments
Sensitive to the market needs, the company has continously promoted research and
initiated product development. This led to the introduction of many new products like
post forming laminates and high abrasion anti-static flooring grade particle boards
being among the latest ones.
Undisputed market leader
The company has grown steadily over the years. A technology intensive programme led
to an increase in production capacity to 150%. Today the company stands on a strong
financial base and has been consistently paying dividends.
GVK prides itself not only on being the first to introduce the product in the country, but
also on being the pioneer and market leader in the industry.
Novo Furniture widening horizons
Always in search of novelty and seeking newer product applications, Novopan
Industries decided to introduce the Indian consumer to an European concept. This was
the concept of machine made furniture which was a forward integration strategy for the
prelaminated particle board business. This eliminated the dependency on manual carpentry and also helped to educate the market about the diferent methods and styles
in which Novopan could be used. The ease and convenience of this ready-to-assemble
office furniture met the demands of a growing market.
GVK Chemicals
Chemistry of excellence GVK Petrochemicals
To develop the laminates industry and offer the Indian market a new product, GVK set
up GVK Petrochemicals to manufacture Amino Resins for the wood based industry and
Modified Melamine Formaldehyde Resins for the short cycle laminating industry. This
made the company, the first indigenous manufacture of a previously imported polymer.
The technology was from M/s Funder of Austria, a leader in the field, with whom GVK
entered into an exclusive ten year technical agreement.
The result of a carefully planned backward integration strategy, GVK Petrochemicals
initially catered to Novopan India's requirement of Amino Resins for the manufacture of
prelaminated particle boards. Soon the company began manufacturing a range ofthermosettings polymers to meet the requirements of particle board, high pressure
laminate and straw board industries. Its product profile also includes a host of specially
formulated resins that cater to specific user industries.
Customising technology
The erstwhile Nova Resins and Chemicals which was later renamed GVK Petrochemicals took upon itself the task of improving and indigenising the world class
technology from M/s Funder of Austria. Funder develops path breaking resins and
formulations. Water-resistant, all-purpose exterior grade resin is one such example.
Conforming to international standards, these resins enabled Novopan to pioneer exterior grade moisture resistant plain and prelaminated particle boards.
The company starts with an initial installed capacity of 800MT per annum. In 1994, GVK
Petrochemicals as a backward integration project, commissioned a Fomaldehyde manufacturing plant with an installed capacity of 12000MT per annum. Commercial
production started in February, 1995.
Today the company is one of the few manufacturers in the world who can formulate
and manufacture hi-tech thermosetting resins. A fully equipped research and development laboratory has continuously contributed to product development and
upgradation of technology.
GVK Infrastructure & Constructions :
Tomorrow holds another promise. As India emerges into a new world order with a
liberalised economy, GVK is forging ahead. Infrastructure is a critical input in the growth of developing economies like India. To
quote the World Development Report'94, "Infrastructure represents, if not the engine,
"the the wheels of economic activity."
The availbility of infrastructure facilities is vital for the accelaration of the economic
development of any country. Governments have traditionally been aware of this and
have accorded high priority to investment in sectors such as railways, roads, power
telecommunications, ports, water supply, sanitation and sewerage and airports. A wave
of privatization and deregulation has been sweeping infrastructure sectors around the
globe over the last decade.
Therefore both quantity and quality improvements in infrastructure are essential to
modernise and enable countries like India to compete internationally.
GVK's successful debut in power generation was not just a learning experience but an
eye opener. GVK discovered a dormant potential in infrastructural development. Realising its strength in organising resources, getting together skilled porfessionals and
successcully implementing projects, GVK foresees a future where infrastructure will be
an area of focus.
Taking advantage of the Government's policy to privatise the setting up of infrastructural facilities, GVK is poised to enter several crucial areas in addition to
power. These include railways, water, roads and ports.
In all these areas GVK will benefit from the rich reservoir of experience it has gained
from its early days in the construction of large infrastructure projects. With this
background and its success in the power sector, it will not be long before GVK achieves
its goal of attaining a global presence in infrastructure development.
The challenges of the future are many. And GVK goes on relentlessly. Transforming
visions into realities. Striving for excellence. Growing with a rare foresight. Achieving
success. Exploring its potential. Because at GVK there is one mission - "We make it
happen".
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