Meet man who turned a small business into Rs 6500 crore company, got idea after fire in his office, now runs business in 95 countries, he deals in…

It is often said that success begins with a simple idea, and Rameshwar Lal Kabra’s journey with RR Kabel is a testament to this belief. Kabra, the founder of RR Kabel, transformed his retail business into a company worth thousands of crores, with products now recognized not only in India but worldwide. In just 25 years, his company has become a powerful brand in the wire and cable industry.
In the 1990s, Kabra operated a wholesale and retail wire and cable supply business in Delhi. While his business was running smoothly, a warehouse fire incident became a pivotal moment for him. Though the fire did not cause significant damage, it sparked a critical realization for Kabra. He understood that to succeed in the wire and cable business, safety standards needed to be prioritized. This idea laid the foundation for RR Kabel’s growth, as Kabra focused on creating high-quality, safe, and reliable products, which would ultimately distinguish his brand in the market.
How the journey started 25 years ago
Shreegopal Kabra, the current Managing Director and Group President of RR Global, shared the story of how the production of wires and cables began 25 years ago. Today, the company manufactures a wide range of products, including wires and cables, switches, fans, lighting, switchgear, and other equipment. These products serve various sectors such as residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure. The company’s success is attributed to its ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality products through advanced techniques, innovative design, and engineering.
Kabra recalled that 1986 marked the beginning of an exciting journey driven by a constant effort to innovate. They first established a winding wire manufacturing unit in Vadodara, and by 1991, they had set up Ram Ratna International for exports, which quickly earned recognition as a government-approved export company. Starting with an initial capital of Rs 27 crore, the company has grown into a Rs 6,500 crore enterprise today, according to a report in news18.com.
The birth of RR Kabel
This success motivated the company to expand further. In 1994, they set up another winding wire factory under the name Ram Ratna Wires Limited in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. By 1999, RR Kabel was launched, with a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for wires and cables in Silvassa, Gujarat. Two years later, the company introduced the concept of electro-mechanical multi-level car parking systems to India by launching RR Parkan.
Kabra said that the company’s cables and wires utilize German technology, with some products capable of withstanding temperatures up to 900 degrees Celsius. Currently, 95 per cent of their business is conducted through distributors, while 5% is done directly. Of their total market distribution, 72 per cent comes from the domestic market, with the remaining from exports. RR Global now exports to 95 countries under its own brand, making it the only company to do so, the report in news18.com said.
The wire and cable segment contributes approximately 87 per cent to the company’s total revenue, while exports account for around 24 per cent. Looking ahead, Kabra expressed the goal of achieving 20 per cent growth. He emphasized the potential of the stable domestic market and revealed that the company achieved revenue of Rs 1,808 crore in the first quarter of the current financial year.
RR Kabel, which went public in 2023 with an IPO price of Rs 1,035, now sees its stock trading above Rs 1,700.