Nilkamal Quiz: Know the Brand Inside Out?

Nilkamal did not start life under the name we know today. When the company was officially registered in December 1985, it carried a completely different name that reflected its early focus on plastics processing. The name was later changed as the business grew and diversified.

Nilkamal was built by two brothers who came from a family with roots in plastics manufacturing going back to the 1930s. They are first-generation entrepreneurs who took the business from a single product line to a multinational operation spanning furniture, material handling, and retail.

Going public was a major milestone for Nilkamal. The timing was far from ideal as global oil prices were high and India was dealing with economic turbulence. Despite the unfavourable conditions, the IPO drew an overwhelmingly positive response, with shares oversubscribed 6.5 times.

At a trade exhibition in a European country, the Nilkamal founders noticed long rows of plastic chairs that were gaining popularity. Indians at that time mostly used wooden or metal seating. That observation prompted them to order a chair mould and bring plastic furniture to India.

In 2006, Nilkamal entered a joint venture with a German firm to bring metal shelving and racking systems to the Indian market. This partnership allowed Nilkamal to step beyond plastic products and offer storage solutions for warehouses, factories, and large commercial setups across the country.