Established in the 19th century by The Singer Company, US, at Bombay as Indian Sewing Machines, Singer India was initially marketing the indigenously produced sewing machines under the trade mark Merritt - owned and locally registered by The Singer Company, US. In 1977, it started carrying on its business in India as a separate entity. The company has a collaboration with Singer, the Netherlands, which also holds 51% stake in the company. _x000D_ _x000D_ In 1984, the company diversified into a varied range of household appliances -- TVs, washing machines, cooking ranges, food processors and vacuum cleaners. In 1986, it came out with an indigenous model of an automatic sewing machine for fashion designing, which was launched in Mumbai. In 1989, Himec India became a wholly-owned subsidiary chiefly to export the company's product - mainly the Zig Zag machine. Its other subsidiaries are Mahavir Founders & Engineers and Singer India Trading. At present, the company has diversified into the totally unrelated business of household furniture.It had entered into the refrigeration industry by setting up refrigerator manufacturing units in different states. It has started manufacturing Ironing Presses. The company has added one more model of Washing Machines in 2001-02._x000D_ _x000D_ The company set up a new factory to manufacture audios and black & white TV sets, production of which commenced. Its Jammu factory was awarded the ISO 9002 certification. During 1999-2000, the company introduced professional XL-1000 and XL-100 fully computerised sewing machines imported from Singer. Microwave ovens and steamlite irons, both imported, has also been introduced to its existing range._x000D_ _x000D_ In 2000-01, the company expanded/upgraded the range of products offered in refrigerators, colour televisons and foodprocessors. During February,2001 the Board has approved the Rights Issue of equity shares in the ratio of 1:1 at par of Rs. 10/-each. The issue opened on july 16,2002 and closed on September,2002. Subsequent to the rights issue the Share Capital increased to Rs.15.65 crores._x000D_ _x000D_ The company has successfully introduced 3 new imported models of Zig Zag sewing machines during the year 2003-04 and also introduced insdustrial sewing machines._x000D_