Nilachal Refractories Limited (N.R.L.), formerly IPITATA Refractories Ltd. came into being way back in 1977 as IPIBEL Refractories which was promoted as a joint venture by Industrial Promotion Investment Corporation of Orissa Ltd. (IPICOL) and the then Belpahar Refractories Ltd. The objective was to cater to the growing refractories demand of the country emerging out of growth in ferrous, non-ferrous, cement, petrochemicals and chemical industries. The company made its presence felt in the market by providing refractories solution and total customer satisfaction for over 30 years. The plant, located in Central Orissa at IPITATA Nagar, Dhenkanal amidst green hills and picturesque surrounding along the National High Way No. 42. Over the years, the company was equipped with State of the Art production process and quality assurance system certified to ISO 9001 : 2000 . NRL also steadily built-up on continuous improvement through strong R&D endeavor. The company succeeded in becoming the most trusted partner of several organizations of repute, like all the SAIL plants, Vizag Steel Plant, Tata Steel, Hindalco, Nalco, Kudremukh Group etc. (the list is not exhaustive). Having regestered with top class consultants in India and abroad. YEAR EVENTS 1977 - The Company was incorporated on 30th June at Bhubaneswar. It was promoted in the joint sector by Industrial Promotion & Investment corporation of Orissa Ltd. (IPICOL) and Belpahar Refractories Ltd. The main objective of Company is to manufacturer specialised refractories mainly for glass, cement & aluminium industries. 1980 - Issued 6,24,000 No. of equity shares to IPICOL and its nominees and 6,00,000 No. of equity shares to Belpahar Refractories, Ltd. 15,000 Pref. and 11,76,000 No. of equity shares offered at par to the public in July. 1986 - The company proposed to install two more FSP of 400 tonnes per annum capacity to enable the company to manufacture blast furnace shapes, cement kiln bricks and other bigger ones. The company negotiated with Lafarge Refractories of France for the manufacture of special monolithics. 1987 - The name of the Company was changed to "Ipitata Refractories Ltd.", from "IPIBEL Refactories Ltd." with effect from 16th April. 1988 - The company successfully developed and marketed Hoogovan Checker bricks. They were supplied to Bhilai Steel Plant. 1989 - During the year, the Company developed a new range of refractories and new products like Alumina chrome bricks and klinker slag, low cement castables and slike gate accessories which was under trial. Towards the end of the year intra-union rivalry resulted in stoppage of work at the plant. - The company undertook to develop a new range of products. With a view to improving margins, the Company undertook to convert slag to clay conditioner besides getting lime calcimined through outside parties. 1990 - The company's proposed project for installation of shuttle kiln was kept in abeyance for the time being due to various constraints. 1991 - The company commercialised a special type of dry gunniting mass for coke-ovens and also developed high alumina bricks by using sillimanite sand instead of calcined kyanite low porosity blast furnace bricks. Hot patch insulation bricks and patching mass developed by the Company were in the process of commercialisation. 1992 - During the year the company marketed clay conditioner manufactured out of L.D. Slag in the brand name of `Growell'. 1993 - Overall performance won marginally affected due to the active support from TISCO. - During the year calcination of time was discontinued and the marketing of day conditioner was not stabilised. The company developed chemically bonded shall resistance 45%. Aluminia Hanger bricks, Hot face insulation bricks and superior quality table bricks. 1994 - The company came under the provision of the Sick Industrial Companies (Sp. Provision) Act 1985, a reference was made to BIFR. ICICI was appointed as the operating agency for the same. 1996 - Sale of Dolopatch mix at Jamshedpur operation of the Company was affected due to the poor offtake by the mini steel plants. The marketing of `Growell' was also seriously affected mainly due to drought condition and due to delay in allocation of funds from Central to various State Government.