A professionally managed company controlled by the Garg group, Kanpur, Standard Surfactants has a sustained presence in surfactants (surface active agents) and synthetic detergents.

SSL put up its second unit to manufacture 90% active matter sulphonic acid from linear alkyl benzene (LAB) and also synthetic detergents in 1992, at Mandideep, Madhya Pradesh; the first being at Rania, UP. The film sulphonation plant, created and deployed in 1995, has commenced production of 97% LABS with additional capacity to produce ADS.

The largest non-captive surfactant manufacturer in north India, the company serves customers like HLL, P&G, Godrej and Shaw Wallace. Besides having a captive demand for 6000 tpa of surfactants for its detergent division, it also has a tie-up with P&G to pick up at least 50% of its requirement of surfactants from SSL. This demand, estimated at 5000 tpa currently, is likely to go up to 8000 tpa by 1997.

Standard Surfactants now intends to explore the areas of toilet soaps and related personal-care products. The film sulphonation plant has the flexibility to manufacture most of these products with small modifications and additions. It also plans to diversify into the production of speciality chemicals -- alpha olefin sulphonates, sodium lauryl sulphate and sodium lauryl ether sulphate.

During 1997-98, the company has added more products in its line of production i.e. calcium alkyl benzene sulphontae, emulsifiers etc. It has also increased its installed capacity of synthetic detergents by 18000 TPA.

The company is strategic emphasissing its operations in three core areas viz., Contract Manufacturing, Surfactants and FMCG category. In 1999-2000, the FMCG division has been successfully engineered by strengthening of sales network and adding new products to the existing line viz., Agarbatti, Hair Oil,etc. The Surfactants business has formally introduced more products in the year 2001. The company is also planning to commission its Spray Division Plant in the fag end of 2001-02.