THE METAL GROUP: ROAD MAP TO A CORPORATE
1987
Metal debuted in the business world under the brand name Metal : in 1987. The Metal was founded in Dhaka with the aim of manufacturing bus and truck bodies. The company took out an exclusive dealership from Simpson & Company Ltd, Chennai, India. It used to import chassis of bus and truck and assemble the bodies here. As it did not prosper up to the level of early expectation and enthusiasm of the management, it was soon aborted.
1993 – The Metal (Pvt) Ltd.
Metal then turned their attention to the mechanization of agriculture which was then an ambitious dream. Bangladesh had just started to see, after its independence in 1971 small power tillers made in China to plow the lands in some different places. From mid-seventies of the last decade Power tillers and diesel engines grew in use in cultivation and irrigation gradually. But Bangladesh had not seen use of any four wheel tractor in cultivation except limited use of four wheel tractors in the BARD project and a few tractors in the Tea Estates and Sugar Mills. BARD let the farmers use their tractors on rental basis, but the farmers never owned them. Sugar Mills and Tea Estates used theirs for haulage and never used them for cultivation of land for agricultural purposes. The use of four wheel tractors for cultivation was a distant dream in a country where poorly clad farmers found themselves driving a bullock drawn wooden plough for generations. The two co-founders of The Metal, Eng. Aminul Islam and Eng. Sadid Jamil, came forward in this vital sector and set up a company, The Metal (Pvt) Ltd, in 1993 to take Bangladesh forward in the mechanization process.
2003 – Metal Agro Ltd.
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By the year 2003, Metal turned its attention to the production and marketing of improved seeds, a basic input in agriculture to ensure genetic and physical purity of crops. This led to the creation of a subsidiary company, Metal Agro Ltd, for research and production of seeds under their own management.
2005
Agriculture mechanization being the core of Metal business, it increasingly made efforts to familiarize the four wheel tractors with robust marketing policies and aggressive motivational thrusts at the grassroots level. In 2005 Eichar brand was added to its inventory of four wheel tractors which was a new brand of Tafe Motors & Tractors Ltd (TMTL), a sister concern of the Chennai based Tractor and Farm Equipment Company of India (TAFE).
2007 – Jamil Engineers Ltd.
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Jamil Engineers was set up in 2007 at Bariali in Joydevpur on a 0.59 acre land. The facility here had a workshop that could now make small spare parts and small mechanized tools and equipment. Bangladesh by now had ample manpower in light engineering works and the factory built here could manufacture light equipment for mechanized agriculture along with spares.
2008 – Metal Plus Ltd.
The increased business activity necessitated the setting up of another company. Metal Plus Ltd was set up in 2008 to engage in Agriculture mechanization process further. The Eichar tractor added to its repertoire, made marketing more intense and business drive more specialized and hence came up the question of establishing Metal Plus Ltd to exclusively deal with the expanded area of business drive. However, in 2005 Metal obtained exclusive distributorship of this popular brand, Eichar Tractors, from its manufacturer, Tafe Motors & Tractors Ltd (TMTL), an allied concern of Tractor and Farm Equipment Company of India (TAFE).
2012
In 2012 Metal set up a second seed research and production company, Metal Seeds Ltd to expand its seed research and production capabilities.
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A new company, Metal Parts Ltd, was set up, to concentrate on customer service. The Metal Corporate by now had vast clientele to provide a great deal of customer service with spares along with import and distribution of parts and accessories.
With sales recording a sharp rise, Metal had to review its own strength and weaknesses in its business policies and activities.
2013
Metal established two companies, Metal Holdings Ltd and Cox’s Bazar Surf Club Ltd, stepping beyond, for the first time, its core area of business activity which is agriculture mechanization.
Both these areas of business interest were pursued in view of the growing demand for urban housing and resort facilities with recreation amenities for an increasing number of tourists, both local and foreign visitors.
2013 – Metal Holdings Ltd.
Established in 2013 Metal Holdings Ltd was to do real estate development initially in Dhaka City. It has developed apartment buildings at Pallabi, Mirpur, Gulshan and Baridhara and has handed them over to the owners. Two other projects are under way at Pallabi and Mirpur.
2013 – Cox’s Bazar Surf Club Ltd.
Cox’s Bazar Surf Club Ltd is a sea sport facility that is housed by the resort that stands on the Sugandha beach in Cox’s Bazar. It stands on 2 bighas of land (0.6612 acres) and has a 120 feet long double storied building overseeing the sea front. The resort has 8 fully furnished rooms with a restaurant on the ground floor with sprawling space for socializing. The big open field behind within the boundary walls makes it a secluded place for playing with children and other amusements. The resort overlooks the surf side and is just a few steps away from the facility. Mr. Tim Steal, the first manager of the club organized and furnished the club with a real sense of gusto.
2016 – Metal Parts Ltd.
A new company, Metal Parts Ltd, was set up, to concentrate on customer service. The Metal Corporate by now had vast clientele to provide a great deal of customer service with spares along with import and distribution of parts and accessories.
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2016 – Metal Biotech Nursery .
With the rise of a thriving middle class from the late eighties, floriculture became a hotspot for commercial agriculture in suburban Dhaka and the southwestern districts of Bangladesh. But the variety of flowers was limited to a few numbers and the shelf life of locally produced flowers was pitiably short. Finding this a promising area of business Metal founded Metal Biotech Nursery in 2016.
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2016 – Metal Agritech Ltd.
Once the agriculture mechanization business was firmly in place, with the farmers, agri extension offices, the government and local service providers all coming together, Metal concentrated in other areas of agri mechanization like planting, seedling, reaping and harvesting. Metal founded a new company, Metal Agritech Ltd, to take forward these areas of agri mechanization.
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2019 – Metal Farmtech Ltd.
To boost its core business, Metal established yet another company, Metal Farmtech Ltd which became another arm in the agriculture mechanization process.
Metal Farmtech Ltd was founded in 2019, the latest member in the Corporate, to vamp up the mechanization process in Bangladesh agriculture.
2019 – Metal Motors Ltd.
Yet another company, Metal Motors Ltd, was founded and it was its first crack in the automotive business. Metal Motors Ltd was set up in 2019 to spearhead the business
Metal Motors Ltd. became an exclusive distributor of Forland brand light Tractors for Bangladesh and signed an agreement with Changsha-Foton Vehicle Technology Company Ltd in this regard. Forland Tractors have 6 models Metal Motors Ltd has in its product list.
Metal Motors Ltd has become an exclusive distributor of Atul brand three-wheelers for Bangladesh. The Atul Auto Ltd of India has made Metal Motors Ltd an exclusive dealer for Bangladesh. Atul three-wheelers have 3 models now in its product list.
Metal’s business efforts spurred by sincerity and honesty have borne expected fruit. Metal today is synonymous with agriculture mechanization in Bangladesh. It also the home of genetically healthy and pure seeds of all kinds of rice, vegetables, potatoes, flowers, maize coming to bear on the quality of life and livelihood of rural farmers in Bangladesh.