Mr. Kay Kay, welcoming the Chief Guest Mr. P. Thangamani, Tamil Nadu Minister for Industries
With the Indian automotive industry emerging as one of the largest and a key driver of growth in the country since two decades, there has been a simultaneous rise in demand for world-class service equipment. Radial Trading Centre (RTC) has been a pioneer in offering quality and reliable equipment for the service industry for many years. With over three decades of expertise in the field, Mr. Kay Kay, Group Managing Director, heads the company operations in the country. RTC has its corporate office and training centre in Chennai with branches at Madurai, Bangalore, Ernakulam and Pondicherry.
The company deals in globally-renowned garage equipment brands such as John Bean, Haweka, Mondolfo Ferro, Stehnoj, Eurolube, Hongtech, Nova and Schumak, apart from other branded tools, jacks and special tools from leading companies. It also offers specially approved lifts from Autop of Germany for premium vehicles such as BMW Mercedes Benz, VW, Audi, Porsche, etc. and other equipment and tools from ITI, Luvata, Hatco, in addition to specialty products from the US.
“The growth of the automotive service industry and the quality of service set-up across India is changing dramatically. The standards are going up at the dealer level as well as in private workshops. RTC continues to be a leading player in the tyre segment with approvals from big brands that include Apollo, MRF and Michelin, among others”, says Mr. Kay Kay in a casual chat with MOTORINDIA.
RTC remains one of the largest and most successful dealers for Snap-On equipment and tools in India, in line with its record as the latter’s leading agent in the UAE and other nearby regions. It has sold many units of the Haweka truck alignment systems in the country which have been very well received by customers. The Haweka systems consume only 25 per cent time and 20 per cent effort when compared to the other conventional products in the market. Haweka’s patented wheel clamping technology is very unique making the German truck wheel alignment system difficult to match by any other product in the market. In order to be able to market and service global quality equipment, RTC staff and technicians have undergone comprehensive training at its principal’s locations in Germany and in Italy.
Talking about service back-up being one of RTC’s major strengths, he states: “We have a total sales and service team of over 45 people across the country. We call our mantra for success as PPP – Products, People and Pride. The price comes only next for us and personally, I am not too pleased when customers demand for ‘cheap and best’ products because the equipment can either be cheap or best and can never be both. On the service front, as a testimony to our efficiency and strength, many of our customers in Dubai say that they would even buy an unknown product from Kay Kay as they have complete confidence on RTC Kay Kay’s service back up. I am really thankful to all those customers and proud of them too.”
RTC has recently added some new items to its product range, like the new paint booth from REAL, available to suit different budgets, and Surya Panels from Monaldi of Italy. These booths are capable of replacing diesel and gas burners used for drying vehicles and are tipped to be revolutionary in functioning, environmentally safe and also less expensive. They are also capable of drying vehicles in just one-fourth of the time taken by diesel burners. With the heavy vehicle market picking up slowly, Mr. Kay Kay is confident of his company products evoking good response moving forward, and expects a proportionate rise in revenue as well. “We had clocked a turnover of Rs. 14 crores in FY14. We also expect the market to get better next year and hope to increase our revenue as well. Chennai is known as the Detroit of Asia and the slight turbulence and instability in the region at present is only temporary. We are certain that the market will be back to normalcy quite soon”, he signs off.
