Even though Aksh Optifibre has been India’s second largest optic fiber cable manufacturer, for long, it has always preferred a low profile existence. However, things changed after its IPO in mid-2000. And even as its BSE listed stock hogged the limelight, the company, too, continuously grabbed attention because of huge orders from different quarters and aggressive expansion plans. Besides, the proliferation of OFC networks and the big plans of companies like Reliance ensured continued focus on Aksh.

But beyond all this, what made the company bigger was its overall business performance. Aksh Optrifibre’s turnover of Rs 142.55 crore in 2000-01 was 40 percent more than its previous year’s turnover of Rs 102.1 crore. The company achieved a net profit of Rs 19.12 crore during the year as against Rs 5.83 crore in 1999-2000, reflecting a growth of around 228 percent.

Among the big orders that the company received during the year was the Rs 60 crore order from BSNL for supply of 12F and 24F optical fiber cables. The company also made a dent in the export market by executing orders worth Rs 24.07 crore during the period. The export earnings represented a 488 per cent growth over the previous year. Among other things, the company took a step towards backward integration by merging Telecords (India) Pvt Ltd, a manufacturer of Fiber Reinforced Plastic rods.