K. M. Mammen Mappillai Founder of MRF Limited

Biography of K. M. Mammen Mappillai

Early Life

K. M. Mammen Mappillai founder of MRF Limited (Madras Rubber Factory limited) was born in Kerala, Chennai on 28^th November, 1922. He belonged to a Syrian Christian family. His parents were K. C. Mammen Mappillai and Kunjandamma. His parents had eight sons and a daughter and he was the youngest among all. He got his early education from his home town and after completing his early education he got admission in Madras Christian College. He completed his graduation from that college. Madras Christian College was supposed to be one of the prestigious colleges of Madras.

Early Industrial Career

He debuted in the industrial field through a small balloon manufacturing hut like shop, mostly toys. He founded that small hut shaped shop near Madras which is now renamed as Chennai. It was introduced in 1946.

Founder of MRF Limited (Madras Rubber Factory)

After doing business in rubber toys manufacturing, he turned to manufacturing of thread rubber products. For that he introduced a company in 1952. He named that company as MRF Limited, which stands for Madras Manufacturing Company. This company was his source of earning then, from this company he became very successful and by the years his company grown and made so much profits. After so many years that company it increased its worth up to 30 billion Indian Rupees company.

Initially this company was started as a small shed of rubber toy manufacturing as discussed earlier also. It used to make the products like balloons, rubber toys, industrial gloves, and contraceptives. At that time, company had no installed machines. Its office was at 334, Thambu Chetty Street Madras, Tamil Nadu India. When that small shop started producing tread rubber, after that venture its first machine was installed. That was in 1952.

MRF Limited (Madras Rubber Factory)

MRF (Madras Rubber Factory) Limited is a multinational company based in India in the field of rubber products manufacturing. It is involved in the designing, manufacturing, marketing, and selling of tires of different types of automobiles. Its primary goods are of rubber which include tubes, tires, tread rubber, conveyer belt, and flaps. This company supplies its products to different countries and number exceeds 65 countries. It is mostly an exporter company.

MRF’s Sponsorship of Sports Events

MRF Company is also included in the sponsorship for so many sporting events. These events also include the sponsorship for Gaurav Gill who is a rally race driver. Through the sponsorship of MRF, he won the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship in 2013.

Padma Shri Awardees

Because of his great contribution in that industry he was awarded with Padma Shri award in 1993. After receiving that award he became the first person as industrialist from South Indian region to receive such an honor. After him, his some relatives also got that award. His relatives included his brothers, his nephew, and his cousin.

Controversial Fact

He was included in the list of eighteen persons who had their accounts in LGT Bank. Trials were launched against those persons. That is a controversy related to his name.

Death

He died on 3^rd March, 2003.