Growing in times of Covid-19

A virus has taken us all hostage and has changed the way we live our lives, do our work and grow our firms. While scientists are racing against time to find a cure and bring our lives back to BC (before-COVID-19) days, I remember what Albert Einstein said – in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. 

 I remember what Albert Einstein said – in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. 

It has been a difficult few months for us - from having to close our plants, make difficult decisions on pay packages, cost-cutting and redundancies. However, amid these challenges, we have also managed to find opportunities. 

 At Apollo, despite economic hardships and downturns, we decided to press ahead and open our seventh manufacturing unit in the world, in India. We just inaugurated our highly advanced and futuristic commercial facility to manufacture high-end bias and steel radial two-wheeler tyres in Gujarat.

Just last month we also rolled out our first tyre from the new Andhra Pradesh greenfield facility. However, unlike during the BC days when all openings were done in person, this time, our Chairman Onkar S Kanwar, Supervisory Board members and the entire Senior Management team and I participated in the opening, virtually.

Located in Chinnapanduru village in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh (AP), the facility is spread over 256 acres. The company will invest close to Rs 3800 crores in Phase I of this greenfield facility. While the capacity will be ramped up gradually in the next 12 – 18 months, as the demand improves. By 2022, this plant will have a capacity to produce 15,000 passenger car tyres and 3,000 truck and bus radials per day. With a modular layout, the capacity at this facility can be replicated with minimal engineering efforts and with economies on investments.

What is exciting about the new plant is that it is an ultra-modern facility which reflects our growth aspirations and manufacturing capabilities, showcasing some of the best practices available across the globe in tyre manufacturing. This highly automated plant uses IT-driven systems and robotics and employs young and skilled associates on the shop floor, mostly hired locally. 

 What is exciting about the new plant is that it is an ultra-modern facility which reflects our growth aspirations and manufacturing capabilities, showcasing some of the best practices available across the globe in tyre manufacturing. This highly automated plant uses IT-driven systems and robotics and employs young and skilled associates on the shop floor, mostly hired locally. 

The deployment of state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies at this facility will enable Apollo to target premium OEMs and after-market customers in India. This will further consolidate the company’s vision of providing world quality products to global markets.

 Adhering to our environmental obligation, the facility has been designed to accommodate roof-top solar panels, to be introduced in a phased manner, for optimum usage of natural light for the shop-floor with an eco-friendly power source, and as a zero water discharge facility with an in-built effluent treatment plant. 

 While we maintain our commitment to work towards a sustainable future, we are also monitoring the current pandemic, its impact and preparing and creating strategies for all possible economic scenarios. Multiple teams across our organisation are working on strategies to safeguard our future. 

 We have taken to the virtual world in a big way from e-learning to e-launches. 

 E-learning is becoming a way of life for all of us. I have been utilising my own time by logging onto the Apollo Virtual Academy to learn.

E-learning is becoming a way of life for all of us. I have been utilising my own time by logging onto the Apollo Virtual Academy to learn. Our HR team continues to roll out programs spanning industry knowledge, business skills and Covid-19 specific programs, and I am glad to see the number of people taking up courses going up every week!

 We have also continued to launch new products and meet our partners despite the lockdown. Our Europe region successfully concluded the virtual launch of the new Vredestein Wintrac and the new Vredestein visual identity. This was a phenomenal success. A typical launch would cost us around a million Euro, but the team’s virtual launch was done at a fraction of the cost. Yet, at the same time, we engaged with 10 times more partners in trade and media as compared to the usual launch wherein we engage with around 400 people. 

 The APMEA Sales & Marketing also successfully connected with over 1500 dealers via a webinar across India, further strengthening our relationships with the dealer network while eliminating costs of a typical dealer event saving costs on travel, foods and hotels. 

Using virtual learning and e-launches have been a welcome outcome of these very challenges times. And guess what, I believe we will continue to invest and expand in out e-initiatives even after we go back to the BC days. All I can say is Einstein was right – in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.