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MANGALORE: Primacy Industries, the country’s largest candle export house is back at the Baikampady Industrial Estate here.
 
Gutted in a fire on January 10, the temporary closure of the house had brought 900 odd workforce on the brink of desperation. Some even resigned and left for greener pastures. The others who lived on half-salary are now returning to their work place as the factory is slowly getting its production back on line.
 
The factory and offices of the facility were gutted in the fire accident. While there was no casualties and none sustained injuries in the late night incident, the entire plant and machinery, equipment, raw material, packaging items and finished products worth several crores were reduced to ashes. Within six months, the factory has been rebuilt and production has commenced at the unit that is one of the largest employers at the Industrial Estate.
 
V K Talithaya, president, Primacy Industries, which is a constituent enterprise of the Manipal Group told TOI that four of the nine conveyer lines have been set up and production is going on. "At the time that the fire broke out, we had nine conveyer lines that helped us produce 55 containers of material each month," he said, adding that factory management is now re-employing its staff starting from managerial staff to workforce downwards.
 
Another major change that the company has incorporated, Talithaya said is to set up two large factory halls, and one office building and a store room separately. Prior to the incident, the company had a large factory hall that also housed the office with a separate store room.
 
Talithaya said, "We will restore all facilities that the workforce here enjoyed prior to January 10," and the ramp up our workforce to original levels as our production facilities improves.
 
Gautham Pai, chairman, Primacy Industries said resumption of operations has brought delight to all concerned. "We hope to see all happy faces back at work soon," he said added this stupendous feat of management team draws inspiration from the group’s guiding philosophy - People first. Sagar Mukhopadhyay, vice-president (corporate affairs), The Manipal Group said the rebirth has been made possible by unstinted support of all stakeholders.