The Cosmic Birla Group, rooted in the East, is a prominent industrial conglomerate known for its innovation, growth, and unwavering commitment to excellence. Originally focused on engineering products and components, this business legacy, which spans five decades, has evolved into a diversified enterprise under the leadership of 34-year-old Aditya Vikram Birla, Chairman and Managing Director. The Group was founded with a dedicated focus on engineering products and components.
Cosmic CRF Ltd, publicly traded on the BSE, is the flagship entity of the group, offering a diverse range of products. The group’s strategic expansion includes associated companies such as AVB Entech, Comet Technocom, Comet Tradecom, Prilika Enterprise, Asansol Steel, Cosmic Rail Solutions Ltd, Cosmic Steel Castings Ltd, and N S Engineering Pvt Ltd. Additionally, initiatives like Cosmic EV Ltd (focused on electric vehicle bikes), Cosmic Springs and Engineers Ltd, and Cosmic Rail Solutions Ltd exemplify the group’s commitment to broadening its footprint and diversifying across various industries.The Group’s product range spans across cold-rolled formed sections, engineering goods, railway components, and items within sectors such as electrical transmission and defence. Additionally, the group is involved in real estate ventures and the production of primary steel goods and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). The Group is also recognized as an approved vendor by the esteemed Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO), highlighting its commitment to quality and industry standards.
Cosmic Steel Castings Ltd intends to establish a cutting-edge greenfield project capable of producing 30,000 metric tons per annum, including a top-tier casting facility. This initiative aims not only to supply railway products but also to cater to export-oriented sectors. The planning for this project has been heavily influenced by the Group’s expertise gained from Asansol Steel Castings, which currently manufactures 6,000 metric tonnes annually.
Under Cosmic Springs and Engineers Ltd, they have invested in a state-of-the-art spring manufacturing facility at Jangalpur, West Bengal, which will be manufacturing CANSUB springs used in railway bogeys and wagons.
The Group has acquired Raft Motors in Mumbai to launch a new line of electric vehicle bikes under the brand Raft Cosmic EV. They currently operate a showroom and service center in Satna, Madhya Pradesh, and have manufacturing facilities in Dhule and Bhiwandi, Maharashtra. Their first showroom and service center in Kolkata opened on April 15th, 2024, on Sarat Bose Road, with plans for a second showroom in Khidderpore. By June 2024, a state-of-the-art assembly unit will start operations in Domjur, West Bengal, to meet the demand in eastern India. An investment of Rs 50 crore is earmarked for the Eastern India region within the EV division, aiming for an annual production capacity of 25,000 units per annum. Raft Cosmic EV promotes sustainability by offering eco-friendly electric vehicles.
The Group has taken a deep dive into Russian manufacturing for automobiles, castings, and railway requirements and demand.
Aditya is quoted saying “We have transformed a 51-year-old legacy business group into the fastest-growing business entity in Eastern India. As a group, we have achieved a total manufacturing capacity of 100,000 metric tons. Our recent acquisition of NS Engineering Projects Pvt Ltd through the NCLT positions us to soon become one of the largest manufacturers of cold-rolled formed products globally. The investment from esteemed investor Ashish Kacholia underscores the confidence placed in our group’s initiatives. Looking ahead, we aim to achieve a revenue of Rs 5,000 crore by 2028 and plan to invest Rs 1,000 crore by 2027 to enhance infrastructure and upgrade existing facilities to state-of-the-art manufacturing standards across all sectors. The group is poised to expand into new territories and establish itself as a formidable force from the East in the days to come.”
Aditya Vikram Birla recently participated in the 2024 India Conference at Harvard Business School, where he engaged in a fireside chat titled ‘Transforming a Legacy Business into an Innovative Powerhouse,’ moderated by Sanjay Aggarwal, Partner at Finhive LLC. The event also featured distinguished guests including Indermeet Gill, Chief Economist at the World Bank; Deepa Malik, Indian Paralympic athlete; Karishma Kapoor, Bollywood actress; Radhika Gupta, CEO of Edelweiss; Hemang Jani from the World Bank; and Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal from J-PAL. This occasion provided a valuable opportunity to connect with potential talent at Harvard, which could significantly contribute to the group’s plans for expanding and developing its human capital.
