Mumbai: Hikal Ltd has posted a 16-per cent growth in net profit at Rs 4.53 crore for the quarter ended 30 June 2002 as against Rs 3.92 crore in the corresponding quarter of the last year.

Hikals sales showed a 12-per cent rise as compared to the performance during the corresponding period last fiscal. Its sales during the quarter under review stood at Rs 27.08 crore as against Rs 24.25 crore registered during the Q1 of the last fiscal.

Hikals main thrust of business is in pharmaceuticals. It has already started constructing a new multi-product facility in Bangalore to manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) for the attractive US markets.

Hikal, a global growth company, is expanding its business relations internationally through collaborations with reputed corporations. In 2001, Hikal took over the pharmaceutical research centre and the API unit (bulk drug manufacturing) in Bangalore from Wintac.

The company has already made a mark for itself in the areas of crop protection chemicals, APIs and research and development.

Hikal is a leading global manufacturer of Thiabendazole (TBZ), a post-harvest fungicide. The company is also involved in custom synthesis and toll manufacture of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and intermediates. It has manufacturing facilities in Taloja, Mahad, Panoli and Bangalore. All the Hikal plants are ISO 9000-certified. Its Taloja and Panoli plants are ISO 14000-certified.

Hikal recently set up a thermal oxidiser, standalone waste disposal incinerator facility at their plant in Dombivili, near Mumbai, in March 2002 to incinerate its waste. This underlies its commitments to safety, health and environment.

It is one of the few organisations in India that has this facility to incinerate industrial waste with state-of-the-art technology to help in keeping the environment free from pollution. It is also equipped to handle assignments and contracts from other companies, which would be interested in entrusting the company with the waste management on their behalf.