H&R Johnson plans Rs 400 cr expansion

Tile, bath and kitchen manufacturer H&R Johnson (India), a division of Prism Cement Limited is investing around Rs 400 crore as a part of the company’s plans to scale-up the Johnson Bath Division, it plans to invest in building new capacities as well as enhance its existing distribution network going forward in the next two years.

Johnson has already invested Rs 225 crore for the expansion of its Silica joint venture unit in Andhra Pradesh. The company has recently forayed into premium category health bathroom product business. It will produce over 1.5 million units of this new business within next two years. This range of anti-bacterial sanitary ware has been manufactured by using the silver nano technology.

The total production capacity of the company, which posted revenue of Rs 1,729 crore, would also go up to 51 million sq.m from 46 million sq.m. Johnson contributes 35 per cent of total revenues of Prism Cement Ltd, he added.

Commenting on this Ajit Singh, Vice-President (Sales) Johnson Bath Division said, The launch of Johnson’s germ-free sanitary ware is a significant step taken by our company in rolling-out super-premium innovations in the bathroom product business. This unique innovation reiterates our focus to amalgamate science & technology in the manufacturing of ceramic products that offer great value to our customers. We expect this addition of anti-bacterial sanitary ware to catalyze our future growth in Johnson Bath Division."

Company is also setting up a manufacturing facility at Samba in Jammu and Kashmir which will produce all kind of bath fittings. It is also exporting the products to countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh.

According to Singh, the market-roll-out of Johnson’s germ-free sanitary ware in Maharashtra is expected to be completed by June 2012. During the last fiscal, H&R Johnson (India)’s revenues crossed Rs 1729 crore recording a business growth of 18 per cent.

Its overall contribution to Prism Cement’s consolidated revenues was 35 per cent during the year. Johnson Bath Division clocked Rs 103 crore revenues for H&R Johnson (India).