The visit by the KMTC (Kerala Medical Technology Centre) team to St. Mary’s Rubbers Pvt. Ltd. on 10^th July 2023 marked a significant step in the effort to foster MedTech ecosystem in Kerala. The purpose of the visit was to explore and understand the manufacturing processes, and the new technologies employed by St. Mary’s Rubbers Pvt. Ltd and to leverage the experetise to foster the development of new medical devices and promoting the MedTech ecosystem in the region.

This visit aligned with KMTC’s mission to establish Kerala as a MedTech hub by encouraging innovation, technology transfer, and partnerships in the medical technology sector.

St. Mary’s Rubbers Pvt. Ltd., established in 17th October 2002, was founded and promoted by Mr. Sunny Jacob and his wife, Mrs. Mini Sunny. The company, based in Edakkattu (H), Koovapally, Kanjirapally, Kottayam (DIST), Kerala, has specialized in the procurement of field latex in ammoniated form. By subjecting this latex to the Centrifuging process, the company produces various grades of Centrifuged Latex (Cenex), which serves as a crucial raw material for manufacturing a wide range of rubber-based products, including Gloves, Condoms, Foam, Elastic Threads, Rubber Bands, Balloons, Rubber Lined Mats, and more. Additionally, the byproducts generated during the process, namely Skim Block Rubber and Skim Creep Rubber, are effectively utilized in the production of various other rubber products, enhancing the overall value chain.

St. Mary’s Rubbers Pvt. Ltd. has successfully established a wide network of marketing channels in the domestic market and has been actively involved in exporting its products since 2003. Over the years, the company has attained a prime position in export turnover, gaining recognition and acceptance in markets abroad. The company’s overseas clients are satisfied and reputable, reflecting the company’s commitment to delivering high-quality products.

With a significant focus on international markets, around 70% of the company’s total production is earmarked for export. In the last financial year, the company’s latex exports accounted for 50% of the total exports in the country. The company’s products have reached various countries, including the USA, Germany, Italy, China, Brazil, Belgium, Portugal, Tanzania, Kenya, Istanbul, Malaysia, Pakistan, Argentina, Sri Lanka, Denmark, Canada, Netherlands, Turkey, Egypt, UK, Dubai, Spain, Nepal, and more.

St. Mary’s Rubbers Pvt. Ltd. operates with a vision to continually improve and achieve greater heights. Recognizing the importance of customer relations, the company places ample effort and maintains continuous commitments to ensure customer satisfaction. Emphasizing good manufacturing practices from the beginning has allowed the company to meet the prescribed standards and specifications for processed latex set by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The attainment of ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certifications and the establishment of a well-equipped testing laboratory at the processing centre further demonstrate the company’s dedication to maintaining high-quality standards.

Starting with just a single latex separator machine, the company’s well-planned activities and operations have led it to a prime position with numerous latex separators in its modern plant. The phased manner of expansion has significantly increased the company’s production capacity.

In pursuit of value addition, St. Mary’s Rubbers Pvt. Ltd. embarked on the establishment of a Skim Crepe Unit, exporting and selling quality crepe domestically. Subsequently, the commissioning of a new plant for converting Skim Crepe to Skim Block has resulted in high demand from both domestic and international markets, with successful exports of the value-added product.