Mr. Zane Pedder- The Man with the Midas Touch !
Pedder Ceramics

Since how long are you involved with the company?
Pedder Ceramics is India's leading creator of fine ceramics. My father, Mr. Darius Pedder formed this company, and started manufacturing gift articles in a small place on 28th road, Wagle Estate Thane, more than two decades ago.

Though I had a science background, my love for artistic things and a flair for design had me interested in the factory. A readymade factory and the hard work put in by my father needed to be carried forward so, it was in '94 that I actively joined my father. It was ideally a good option for me and I dived right in.

What kind of Ceramic articles do you make?
We make a lot of delicate figurines, water jugs, lamp bases, crockery etc.
A lot of hotels, corporate houses and restaurants approach us for making a range of the customised gift articles, housekeeping articles, Bath Accessories, Moulding Sanitary Ware like soap dishes, tooth-brush holder, toilet-paper holder (except Basins & Commodes) and also swimming pool accessories and specialised Tiles like anti-skid tiles, benders etc. A lot of architects like Mr. Hafeez Contratcor have exacting requirements, we try and fulfill them. Besides this, we are open to new ideas and challenges from designers.

What is the process involved in making any Ceramic article?
Its only in our Tiling department, that some sort of production line system can be employed as some are standardised in shape, size, colour and print. Otherwise, every ceramic gift article is handcrafted, it is first sculpted, finished, baked, painted, fired again, gold details for decoration are addedif necessary, and baked again, all these take multiple hours at every stage, requiring a lot of manpower and specific artistic skills. A Ceramic piece has to baked/fired thrice separately and cooled for several hours. Its only then, one can say 'Mitti' turns to 'Sona'.

What are the changes and additions you have made since you took over?
I have tried to modernise the plant in every possible way. Earlier we had kerosene kilns, now we have smokeless, environment friendly Gas Kilns, an automated conveyor belt spray painting unit, huge Presses for mixing and moulding etc.

I have lately opened the company show room in our factory premises, so that the entire range can be showcased and products made available at wholesale prices,so the benefit is passed on to the consumer directly.

What is the farthest your beautiful products have gone?
The company's products are supplied from distribution centres throughout the country where we have Zonal offices like in Mumbai, Delhi and Banglore. My products as gifts may have gone to any corner of the world, but from our side, we have exported to Malaysia, America etc.

What do you want to achieve for your company?
As long as I continue managing the company like my father did, where with time it progresses and evolves in all respects and all the connected people are content I am a happy man!

As told to Thaneweb.com