Havells plans entry into CMH lighting segment

The $1.2-billion Havells India plans to produce ceramic metal halide (CMH) lamps which are designed for indoor and outdoor lighting applications, a top company official said today.

"The CMH plant will be manufacturing 1-million units annually and will be the first in the world to manufacture CMH lamps. We also plan to export 90 per cent of production," Havells India's Joint Managing Director Anil Gupta told reporters here.

The company is targeting a Rs 100 crore turnover from this segment, he further said.

CMH lamps are considered as the highest efficiency light sources in the industry and are rated best in the CRI class with improved lumen maintenance.

"CMH lamps are the future of lighting in commercial and outdoor application segment and we being the sole manufacturer of this lamp in the global market will push this segment and grow all over the world," he said.

The company also wants to expand its market position in western India by opening another corporate office in Mumbai besides its global corporate head office in Noida, near Delhi.

"We decided to set up our second corporate office in Mumbai with an eye to increase our position and marketshare in western India," Gupta said.

In 2008-09, the company consolidated its CFL, motor and switchgear division globally by making India as the hub.

Havells also announced the setting up of India's largest integrated motor manufacturing capacity at its Neemrana plant in Rajasthan besides consolidating its global CFL manufacturing capacities. This makes the Neemrana plant the hub for all CFL and new generation CMH lamp manufacturing.

The factory has a capacity to produce around 20,000 units per month making it the largest integrated motor manufacturing unit in the country.

Havells India has invested close to Rs 150 crore to install this capacity at the Neemrana plant and now it will be producing 4-million units of CFL per month.

The company intends to export close to 50 per cent of the production from the plant to EU countries.

Havells India has 94 branches and representative offices, and over 8,000 professionals in over 50 countries across the globe.

Currently, it has seven manufacturing plants in India located at Haridwar, Baddi, Noida, Sahibabad, Faridabad, Alwar and Neemrana, and nine manufacturing plants located across Europe, Latin America and Africa.