Formerly known as N K Oil Mills, N K Industries (NKIL) extracts and refines castor oil. A government-recognised Export House, it has doubled its refining capacities, besides adding facilities to manufacture castor oil derivatives. The project was funded by a public issue in Aug.'94. NKIL changed its conventional manufacturing process of oil milling and refining to incorporate the latest technology -- oil decanters, vertical continuous solvent extraction plant, continuous oil refining, energy-efficient hydrogenous plant and quality fatty acid production plant -- making it an integrated complex. The product (castor oil), used in the lubricant, paint, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, is also used in foreign countries as a major source of natural chemicals. The company exports to Europe, Brazil and the US -- the three major consumers of castor oil. NKIL received the Gujarat government's export award for 1992-93. It has set up a trading branch in London, UK, in accordance with its plan to enter the global market for agricultural commodities. In Apr.'97, it took over K V Patel & Co, a partnership firm engaged in the business of dealing in edible and non-edible oils. During the year 1998-99, the company has been declared a sick company due to the mounting losses and accordingly has been referred to BIFR for rehabilitation.