BATL to get AS9100 certification

The Hindu (February 10, 2009)                                                                           Print This News

Thiruvananthapuram: BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Ltd. (BATL) is all set to enter the club of internationally acclaimed aerospace companies and expand its clientele base on getting AS9100 certification by March 31, its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director A. Sivathanu Pillai told presspersons here on Monday.

The company was now catering to the needs of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Atomic Energy Commission, mainly producing robotic arms with remotely operated systems. The certification would open the vestibule to the exporting sector, he said.

BATL would become eligible to take up orders of external agencies. The certification, a hallmark for precision, was attained in record time and the success should be attributed to the work culture that was created since its takeover.

Dr. Pillai said the BrahMos missile was expected to be rolled out from the factory here within two years. The second phase of the BrahMos Missile Integration Complex would be set up here at an estimated cost of Rs.75 crore. Defence Minister A.K. Antony would lay the foundation stone for the complex at 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday.

The factory needed seven acres of land for the second phase development. Negotiations were on with the Airports Authority of India to get the land of the Indian Air Force for further expansion. For the third phase, the factory needed 50 acres.

Dr. Pillai said the people here were highly skilled and capable. What was lacking was a will to surge and if provided the right motivation, a turnaround could be easily attained in the public sector units under the State government.

Industries Minister Elamaram Karim, Law Minister M. Vijayakumar and others would attend the function.

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