Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NEWDELHI2595
2007-06-01 06:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:  

EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: ZETATEK INDUSTRIES LTD.,

Tags:  ETTC ETRD BEXP IN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNE #2595/01 1520618
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 010618Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEAHLC/HQ ICE IAO WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6017
UNCLAS NEW DELHI 002595 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

USDOC FOR 532/OEA/M. NICKSON-D/KGAINES/JAY HATFIELD
USDOC FOR 3131/USFCS/OIO/ANESA/KREISSL
USDOC FOR 4530/MAC/ANESA/OSA
ICE HQ FOR STRATEGIC INVESTIGATIONS
STATE FOR EB/ESP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC ETRD BEXP IN
SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: ZETATEK INDUSTRIES LTD.,
HYDERABAD, LICENSE NO. D374611

REF: USDOC 04017

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 002595

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

USDOC FOR 532/OEA/M. NICKSON-D/KGAINES/JAY HATFIELD
USDOC FOR 3131/USFCS/OIO/ANESA/KREISSL
USDOC FOR 4530/MAC/ANESA/OSA
ICE HQ FOR STRATEGIC INVESTIGATIONS
STATE FOR EB/ESP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC ETRD BEXP IN
SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: ZETATEK INDUSTRIES LTD.,
HYDERABAD, LICENSE NO. D374611

REF: USDOC 04017


1. Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is
prohibited by Section 12(c) of the Export Administration Act.


2. Export Control Officer (ECO) Paul Cushman and BIS FSN Prem
Narayan conducted a Pre-license Check (PLC) at Zetatek Industries
Ltd. (ZIL),Hyderabad, on May 23, 2007.


3. BIS requested a PLC at ZIL, a private sector company, located at:
Plot No. D-31, Technocrats Industrial Estate, Balangar, Hyderabad
500037, Tel: 91-40-2372-1000, Fax: 91-40-2372-0305,
email:rskumar@zetatekindia.com, website: www.zetatekindia.com. ZIL
was listed as the ultimate consignee for 4 Model 234P04H-K2 and 1
Model 232HC-K2 amplifiers for vibration shakers controlled under
EAR99. The license applicant was Copley Controls Corp. (Copley),
Canton, MA.


4. ECO along with FSN Narayan met with R. Siva Kumar (Kumar),
Chairman and Managing Director, ZIL.


5. Kumar was aware of certain BIS regulations. However, this was
the first visit by BIS or USG officials to ZIL. He provided a copy
of the ZIL corporate brochure, Copley quotations and ZIL supply
orders for five amplifiers. Kumar did not submit a BIS-711 or an
end-use statement. However, he did inform Copley through an email
as to how ZIL plans to use the amplifiers.


6. Per paragraph 11 of reftel, ZIL informed Copley that they are
trying to sell their shaker systems to two Indian laboratories,
namely, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL),Chandigarh
and Research Centre Imaraat (RCI),Hyderabad. These are two of the
fifty-one laboratories/research establishments that operate under
the Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO),MOD, GOI. ZIL
has no firm orders from either of them.


7. Kumar reconfirmed this and stated that although he has no firm
orders from TBRL or RCI, he is very likely to get orders from these
two DRDO laboratories. He proposes supplying a shaker box to TBRL's
new site in Chandigarh for vibration testing of various products.
Of the five, two amplifiers will be attached with the shaker box
that he proposes to supply to TBRL and two will replace the existing

amplifiers at RCI. The remaining amplifier will be used with a
shaker box at his facility for various vibration testing purposes.


8. Kumar confirmed the stated end-use of installing the amplifiers
in ZIL-manufactured shaker boxes. He stated that the shaker boxes
are used to test the vibration tolerances of various products. The
amplifiers help power motors in the shaker boxes. The amplifiers
have necessary protection interlocks to ensure smooth operation of
the vibration system.


9. Kumar appeared over-anxious and seemed intent on winning over the
BIS Team and earning the "BIS Seal of Approval." He repeatedly made
reference to "poison pen campaigns" carried out against him over the
internet by his competitors. These poison pen campaigns alleged
that he was involved in illegal technology transfer. Kumar
vehemently denied any involvement in illegal technology transfer.
He repeatedly emphasized that the amplifiers in question do not even
require a BIS export license. He eagerly volunteered that only at
his insistence had Copley applied for a BIS export license. He
stated that he did so because he anticipated ultimately supplying
the amplifiers to DRDO laboratories and wanted to avoid any
appearance of impropriety. ECO and Narayan sensed that Kumar was
being deceptive during the interview.


10. ECO and Narayan were given a tour of the ZIL factory. The BIS
Team saw several shaker boxes under construction. Kumar also
displayed a shaker box with a German amplifier.


11. Established in 1990, ZIL is a closely held, small-sized company
owned by the Kumar family. ZIL manufactures environmental test
chambers, electro-dynamic vibration test systems and centrifuges.
It also provides technical service support and offers maintenance
contracts for its products. ZIL's customers include leading
research and development organizations and manufacturers of defense,
space, aeronautical, automobile, telecom and electronic equipment.
ZIL has marketing offices in Bangalore, Lucknow and Pune. ZIL
employs approximately 150 employees. ZIL's sales turnover for FY-06
was approximately $18.5 million.


12. Recommendation: Based on discussions with Kumar, the products on
order will form a part of shaker boxes which will be supplied to two
GOI-owned laboratories, TBRL and RCI. TBRL is engaged in carrying
out research on warhead designs for conventional weapons and RCI is

engaged in carrying out research on tactical missile systems such as
anti-tank, surface-to-air, and air-to-air. Kumar's business
operations appeared legitimate but ECO cannot offer an assessment as
to how the products on order would ultimately be used by TBRL and
RCI. Based on this fact and Kumar's apparent deceptiveness, the PLC
remains unfavorable. (PSCUSHMAN/PNARAYAN) Mulford