Carborundum Universal

What Carborundum Universal does

Carborundum Universal Limited (CUMI) is a Chennai-headquartered, publicly listed materials science engineering company operating under the 125-year-old Murugappa Group. Founded in 1954 as a tripartite joint venture, CUMI runs four integrated business segments — Abrasives (cutting, grinding, coated and bonded wheels), Industrial Ceramics (alumina, zirconia, RBSic, aluminium titanate and CUMITHERM thermal coatings), Electro Minerals (silicon carbide and fused minerals) and Super Refractories — anchored by a "mines-to-market" model with backward integration from its Kerala mineral mines through fusion, automated forming (dry pressing, cold isostatic pressing, injection moulding), SCADA-controlled mixing and unmanned oven handling to finished industrial products. CUMI also maintains defense and aerospace capabilities, producing approximately 150 tonnes annually of silicon carbide armor at Hosur and co-developing bulletproof jackets, vehicle armor, drone components and thermal barrier coatings with DRDO.

CUMI generates revenue predominantly through B2B hardware sales of industrial consumables and components, with pricing conducted on a quote-based, project-specific basis to enterprise customers across cement, steel, aluminum, power generation, mining, automotive, aerospace, defense, chemical processing, food/pharma and medical devices. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales via four Indian regional offices and wholly-owned subsidiaries in the USA (CUMI America Inc.), Australia, UAE and Thailand (Wendt Grinding Technologies), supplemented by exports to over 60 countries across six continents. For FY2024-25, consolidated revenue was ₹4,834 crores with PAT of ₹293 crores; FY26 consolidated revenue reached ₹51,494 million (up 7% YoY), standalone revenue ₹30,244 million (up 9% YoY), and standalone PBT ₹5,248 million, with FY26 capex of ₹3,094 million. The company employs over 10,000 people across 10 Indian manufacturing facilities, ISO 9001:2008-certified plants and DSIR-recognized R&D centers.

Name

Carborundum Universal

Legal name

Carborundum Universal Limited

Website

https://cumi-murugappa.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Carborundum Universal (CUMI) is a Chennai-listed materials science manufacturer producing abrasives, industrial ceramics, electro-minerals and super refractories for cement, steel, automotive, power, defense, mining and aerospace customers across 60+ countries via integrated mining-to-market operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chennai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Abrasives: Cutting and grinding wheels, coated abrasives, and bonded abrasives for industrial applications including fabrication, engineering, construction, and automotive aftermarket. Manufacturing capacity doubled to over 90 million wheels per year with new Hosur facility.
2. Industrial Ceramics: Technical ceramics, wear-resistant ceramics, engineered ceramics, and ceramic coatings for automotive, chemical, defense, electronics, energy, food, medical, and heavy industries.
3. Electro Minerals: Electro-minerals including silicon carbide and other fused minerals for various industrial applications.
4. Super Refractories: Refractory products for high-temperature industrial applications.
5. Power Generation: Operation of Maniyar 12MW hydroelectric power project under BOOT arrangement (contract ended December 2024).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Carborundum Universal Limited (CUMI) is a vertically integrated materials science engineering solutions provider that manufactures and sells industrial abrasives (bonded, coated, and thin cutting/grinding wheels), industrial ceramics (alumina, zirconia, RBSic, aluminium titanate), electro-minerals (silicon carbide and fused minerals), and super refractories for high-temperature applications. The company operates a "mines-to-market" model with backward integration from raw material mining in Kerala through fusion, manufacturing, and distribution, serving industrial customers in automotive, cement, steel, aerospace, defense, energy, and heavy engineering sectors across more than 60 countries.

Product overview

Carborundum Universal Limited (CUMI) is a materials sciences engineering solutions provider offering an integrated portfolio of four core product segments: Abrasives (cutting, grinding, and coated abrasives), Industrial Ceramics (technical and wear-resistant ceramic solutions), Electro Minerals (silicon carbide and fused minerals), and Super Refractories. The company operates from mining to market with integrated operations including mining, power generation, fusion, manufacturing, marketing and distribution. CUMI serves diverse industries including engineering, fabrication, auto components, infrastructure, steel, glass, power, mining, and aerospace. Recent expansions include the Thin Cutting and Grinding Wheels Plant at Hosur (doubling capacity to 90+ million wheels annually) and the acquisition of US-based Silicon Carbide Products, Inc. (SCP) and German brand DRONCO.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DRONCO: Cutting and grinding wheel brand acquired from Germany in 2023
• CUMITHERM
• CUMI Connect
• Wendt

Products and services

• Abrasives Comprehensive range of abrasive products including cutting and grinding wheels, coated abrasives, and bonded abrasives for industrial applications in fabrication, engineering, construction, and automotive aftermarket sectors.
• Industrial Ceramics Technical and wear-resistant ceramic solutions including alumina, zirconia, RBSic (Reaction Bonded Silicon Carbide), and aluminium titanate materials for applications in automotive, chemical, defence, electronics, energy, food, medical, and heavy industries.
• Electro Minerals Electro-mineral products including silicon carbide and other fused minerals used as raw materials in abrasives, ceramics, and refractories manufacturing.
• Super Refractories High-performance refractory products designed to withstand extreme temperatures and harsh environments in industrial furnace applications.
• Thin Cutting and Grinding Wheels Thin cutting and grinding wheels manufactured at the Hosur facility using DRONCO technology, with annual production capacity of over 90 million wheels.
• Silicon Carbide Products (SCP) Silicon carbide products acquired through 100% stake purchase of Silicon Carbide Products, Inc. (SCP), enhancing CUMI's advanced ceramics and silicon carbide capabilities for thermal applications across various industries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Manufacturing capacity doubled from 45 million to over 90 million cutting and grinding wheels per year at Hosur facility
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, strategic and core.

• CUMI AWUKO Abrasives GmbH (CAAG)minorOthers · 1 March 2026CUMI's German subsidiary CUMI AWUKO Abrasives GmbH is being voluntarily wound up due to continued losses. CAAG reported a widening loss after tax of EUR 10.2 million on revenue of EUR 10.1 million in FY25, compared to a loss of EUR 2.3 million on revenue of EUR 9.1 million in FY24. The closure is estimated to cost Rs 110-130 crore.
• IdeaForge TechnologystrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Strategic partnership for nanomaterial-reinforced drone collaboration. This collaboration is highlighted in research reports on the unmanned composites market as a key strategic partnership in the drone technology space.
• Silicon Carbide Products, Inc. (SCP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024CUMI acquired 100% of US-based Silicon Carbide Products, Inc. through a binding share purchase agreement valued at USD 6.66 million. The acquisition aims to expand CUMI's global footprint and enhance product offerings for thermal applications across various industries. CUMI established a wholly-owned subsidiary in the USA to facilitate the deal, with completion expected by October 2024.
• DRONCO GmbHcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2023CUMI acquired manufacturing lines, technology, and the DRONCO GmbH brand from Germany in 2023. These manufacturing lines were successfully relocated from Germany to the Hosur facility in India. The acquisition doubled CUMI India's annual cutting and grinding wheel manufacturing capacity from 45 million to over 90 million wheels.
• PLUSS Advanced Technologies Pvt LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2021CUMI acquired a controlling stake in PLUSS Advanced Technologies specializing in phase change materials and polymer additives with an initial investment of Rs 115 crore. The acquisition aligns with CUMI's focus on material science and expands offerings in thermal energy storage and related sectors. PLUSS played a role in cold chain logistics for Sputnik V Covid vaccines.
• DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCUMI collaborates with DRDO focusing on R&D, manufacturing scale-up, and export opportunities for defense and aerospace applications. Products include bulletproof jackets, vehicle armour, drone components, and aerospace parts. The company also promotes grassroots skills development through drone training programs for students.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Saint-Gobain: French multinational with overlapping abrasives (Norton, Grindwell) and technical ceramic/refractory operations globally. Comparable as the largest incumbent in CUMI's core categories with broader building-materials portfolio.
• 3M: US diversified industrial conglomerate with a sizeable abrasives division serving industrial and auto aftermarket. Comparable as a broad incumbent overlapping with CUMI's abrasives and industrial ceramics categories.

Direct peers

• Imerys: French-listed global leader in industrial minerals including fused minerals and silicon carbide. Comparable to CUMI's Electro Minerals division for raw material supply and value-added fused mineral products.
• Grindwell Norton: India's leading bonded abrasives manufacturer and Saint-Gobain subsidiary. Directly competes with CUMI in Indian industrial and auto aftermarket segments and is the closest listed Indian abrasives comparable.
• Vesuvius: London-listed global refractories specialist serving steel, glass and foundry industries. Directly comparable to CUMI's Super Refractories division by product application and customer base.
• Morgan Advanced Materials: UK-listed specialist in technical ceramics and engineered materials serving similar industrial, electronics, defence and energy applications. Closely comparable to CUMI's Industrial Ceramics division by product mix and end markets.
• Klingspor: German family-owned abrasives manufacturer with global coated and bonded abrasives portfolio. Comparable as a direct competitor in premium industrial abrasives markets where CUMI's DRONCO brand also operates.
• Tyrolit: Austrian abrasives specialist (Swarco/Plansee group) with broad grinding and dressing tool portfolio. Directly comparable to CUMI across bonded abrasives, superabrasives and industrial grinding products.
• RHI Magnesita: World's largest refractory producer with deep steel and cement industry exposure. Highly comparable to CUMI's refractories business in target customers and high-temperature application profile.
• CoorsTek: US-based private technical ceramics manufacturer serving semiconductor, medical, defence and energy markets. Directly comparable to CUMI's Industrial Ceramics division in advanced material categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cumi-1954
• Xx.com/cumi_official
• Facebookfacebook.com/cumimurugappa

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carborundum Universal