The Kirloskar story began in 1888 when Laxmanrao Kirloskar set up a small bicycle repair shop at Belgaum. Laxanrao and his brothers set up a model industrial colony called 'Kirloskravadi'. Their new company 'Kirloskar Brothers Limited' wa the parent of all the 26 companies that flourish under the Kirloskar banner today. the end of the World War II brought a tremendous upsurge of industrial activity under Laxmanrao's eldest son "S.L." who is the Chairman of the Group today. Kirloskar Electric Company Limited at Bangalore, and Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited at Pune were established in 1946, the latter was in collaboration with U,K.'s Associated British Oil Engines Export Ltd., the first instance of an Indo-Foreign collaboration. Next came Kirloskar Pneumatic Company Limited (1958) and Kirloskar Cummins Limited (1962) both at Pune. The latter won a citation from Lloy's Register of Shipping. Later the Kirloskar diversified into inustrial consultancy and five star hotels among other activities. today the Group's annual sales exceed Rs. 700 crores.

It has been a long march from a small shed to 26 powerful units, from a work force of four to over 20,000 employees- the Kirloskars have kept pace with India's march to freedom, to self sufficiency, to export around the globe contributing to the Country's core industries such as defence, power generation, oil and gas, agriculture, steel, coal and mining, railways and transportation. the Kirloskars describe themselves as "businessmen engaged in winning freedom and prosperity for our country through our chosen method- engineering excellence". text: Based on material supplied by Kirloskar Brothers Ltd.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India