"We plan to manufacture the hi-tech precision medical equipment ourselves after we consolidate our position in the market through imported machines," Morepen Laboratories general manager -- sales, Manoj Pahwa, said.

The company, which on Wednesday launched inhalation therapy equipment in India as part of its marketing pact with German major Pari GmBh under the "Morepen Pari" name, will for the time-being import equipment from Pari.

However, Morepen will gradually shift to manufacturing the equipment in-house after obtaining licence from Pari and judging the response in the domestic market, Pahwa said.

"We have done the ground work for this and hope to convert this marketing pact into a joint venture agreement soon," he said.

Morepen's plant in HimachalPradesh has been constructed keeping in view us Food and Drug Administration (FDA) norms to facilitate a joint venture agreement as and when it materialises.

"Since most of these precision machines have been developed by big names, foreign partners insist on exceptional quality standards," he said.

"We would look at two-way joint ventures where both the partners would manufacture and market each other's products in their respective markets," Pahwa added.

Morepen is also looking at developing its plant as an export hub for neighbouring countries, Pahwa said.

"We want to develop it as an export hub both for our own products as well as our partner's products," he said.

Under its marketing pact with Pari GmBh, Morepen will also export different models of the Pari inhalation therapy equipment to Nepal, he said.

At present, three models - Pari Walkboy (Rs 15,000), Pari Boy (Rs 7,000), Pari Master (Rs 14,500), Pari Proneb (Rs 4,500) are being offered to patients with respiratory diseases like bronchitisand asthma. While Pari Walkboy allows for mobility to the patients, the other models are for non-ambulatory patients.

Three other models - Pari Junior, Pari Universal and Pari Thermal will aslo be launched shortly.

Morepen Laboratories recorded an impressive performance in 1998-99 with a total sales of Rs 250 crore and net profit of Rs 34 crore.

It has been concentrating on manufacture of bulk drugs Cisapride, Loratidine and started production of Sultamycillin.

The company is already exporting these drugs to 22 non patent countries and claims to hold number two position in the world for these three bulk drugs.

The company's manufacturing facilities for Loratidine Has received USFDA approval enabling it to explore new markets.