The history of the beaches of Sankarmangalam and nearby areas is inextricably intertwined with the history of KMML. Precious, as was discovered in 1909 by the German scientist Dr. C. W. Schomberg who found traces of monazite in the sand flakes on the imported coir from Sankaramangalam. The beaches with a wealth of rare earth minerals became the centre of scientific attraction.
By 1932, a visionary private entrepreneur established the F. X. Perira and Sons (Travancore) Pvt. Ltd, the forerunner to KMML. During the course of time, KMML changed hands three times over. In 1956 it was taken over by the state government and was placed under the control of the industries department. The unit was subsequently converted as a limited company in 1972 by the name of ‘The Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd.’ with the following broad objectives.
The construction of Titanium Dioxide Pigment using chloride technology started in 1979. The same was commissioned in 1984 as the first and only integrated Titanium Dioxide Plant in the world.
Today, with over 2000 employees and a range of products, KMML has become part and parcel of local and international life.
On 27th December 2006 Hon. Ex-Chief Minister of Kerala Shri V.S. Achuthanandan laid the foundation stone of the Titanium Sponge Plant in the presence of the Hon. Minister for Industries, Shri. Elamarom Kareem and other eminent dignitaries. On 27th February 2011 Honorable Minister of Defence Shri. A K Antony Inaugurated country's first Titanium Sponge Plant (TSP) at KMML.
With the inauguration of TSP, India became the 7th country in the world having the technology for producing titanium sponge, which is the raw material for titanium metal. Thus KMML has become a strategic Supplier of country’s present requirements of Titanium for its prestigious space missions. On 6th September 2011 KMML TSP manufactured the 1st Batch of Titanium sponge & now the production is in full swing.
