Siemens components division, Electronic HiTech pact: Siemens Ltd's components division and Electronic HiTech Components (EHC) haveforged a strategic alliance wherein the former will market EHC's AC capacitors, power capacitors, metallised films and capacitor elements. EHC is a 74:26 joint venture between Siemens Matsushita Components GmbH and Asian Electronics Ltd. The alliance will lay a strong foundation for providing new product developments, higher business volumes and better market shares, Siemens said. Siemens executive vice-president (in charge of the components division) M Chaturvedi said, "This is a win-win situation and we will utilise our existing business strengths for providing better benefits to our customers."

Videocon festival offer: Consumer electronics major Videocon, for the Toshiba range of televisions has launched three new schemes -- diamond, gold and silver -- to coincide with the festival season. Under the diamond scheme, for Rs 59,990, customers can buy a 29" Toshiba colour TV along with a 280-litre, 3-door, frost-free Videocon refrigerator and a 4.5 kg fully-automatic Videocon washing machine. Whilethose opting for the gold scheme can buy a Toshiba 21" colour TV with a 4.5 kg fully automatic Videocon washing machine for Rs 29,990. The silver scheme, priced at Rs 24,990, includes a 21" Toshiba colour TV and a 18-litre Kenstar microwave oven.

Cognizant Technology bags Pacific Exchange order: Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTS) has bagged an order from Pacific Exchange, the third largest stock options exchange in the US, to modify its trading system for decimal-based pricing. The project is expected to be completed early next year and will be implemented in May next, CTS chairman and chief executive officer Kumar Mahadeva said. The company will ensure a seamless trading environment by building the ability to convert to decimal trading on a stock-by-stock basis and the code will be implemented in a CICS/COBOL environment, he added.

Goodcare plans new product every year: The Calcutta-based Goodcare Pharma Pvt Ltd (GPPL) will widen its product portfolio by launching a new product every yearand target a turnover of Rs 10 crore by 2000, company chairman Ram K Sharma said on Monday. "We intend to widen our product portfolio by introducing one product every year in the ayurvedic segment," he said. Sharma said ayurveda will have great demand inside and outside the country as it had no side effects. Launching a new range of anti-stress capsules `stress guard,' Sharma said the company hopes to raise its turnover to Rs 10 crore by the turn of the century.

Siemens launches new mobile phone model: Siemens Telecom Ltd on Monday launched its latest sleek lightweight `E10' model mobile phone in the domestic market. The fax and data compatible phone which is aimed at business class heavy users weighs only 160g. The lithium battery of the phone has a talk time of six hours and a standby time of 80 hours, a company release said. Priced at Rs 13,995, `E10' comes with a telephone book key which can store up to 25 entries and a keypad to prevent accidental operation. Siemens Telecom is a 50:50 jointventure between Siemens and Bharati Telecom to manufacture telephone instruments.

Handicraft trade fair from October 10: Asia's biggest handicrafts and gifts fair `Autumn 98' will begin in the capital from October 10, with special emphasis on environment-friendly and utilitarian handicraft products. The four-day fair will showcase hand made paper, jute, terracota, textiles using vegetable dyes, dry flowers and alternate wood products, an Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) release said. Handicrafts like giftware, kitchenware, decorative, tableware, woodcraft, fashion jewellery and musical instruments will also be displayed at the fair, it added.

Sharangdhar Pharmaceuticals launches granular `Chyawanprash': Sharangdhar Pharmaceuticals, a Pune-based company engaged in the manufacture of improvised ayurvedic medicines, has for the first time prepared the health tonic `Chyawanprash' in granular form. Despite the tremendous benefits that Chyawanprash has towards health improvement,its traditional sticky semi-solid form, sometimes poses limitations in consumption due to changed life styles and tastes of modern day life. Visualising these problems and aiming to make it more attractive, Sharangdhar Pharmaceuticals has now introduced Chyawanprash in granular form under the brandname `Chyawangrans,' company director Mukund Abyankar said.