The Bangalore-based corrugated flexible hose pipes manufacturer Sunrise Corrugated (India) is in talks with Kable of France to supply corrugated flexible hose envelopes made of polypropylene (PP) and flame-retardant polypropylene (FRPP). Kable is keen to source about six different varieties with an initial quantity of about 1.5 million metres per month. It will be the first direct exports business for Sunrise, said L S Rajpurohit, managing director.

On the domestic front, the company is negotiating with Motherson Sumi to supply FRPP for its wiring harnesses. Product samples are currently being validated. On confirmation of the order, Sunrise will supply about 10 different varieties of corrugated flexible hoses with an initial volume of 25,000 metres per month, said Rajpurohit. While sales for 2005-06 were Rs 5 crore, this year's target is Rs 8 crore with 75 percent of that coming through exports, he added.

The company's existing capacity of three million metres per month is fully utilised and is to be increased to five million metres to cater to the new orders. Construction of a new facility is underway and a new Italian-made machine, which is a high-speed water-cooled unit that requires minimal supervision, will be commissioned within a couple of months. According to Rajpurohit, while an increase in workforce is not required, the machine will enable better quality levels and also substantially eliminate rejections. Commercial production will commence before the beginning of the second quarter of fiscal 2007, he said.