Honeywell opens fourth technology centre in India

US-based diversified industrial solutions provider Honeywell International Inc today opened its fourth technology centre in the country.

"Honeywell has invested $34 million for developing the centre here in Gurgaon," UOP India, a Honeywell company, President Simon Hobbs said.

The Honeywell India Technology Center will primarily support Honeywell UOP's work in developing and licensing process technologies used in refining and the production of petrochemicals and renewable fuels. UOP is a recognised leader in refining, petrochemical and biofuel process technology, he said.

The company claimed that if Uniflex refining process developed by the Honeywell Inc is adopted by all refinery in India, it can help save USD 6 billion of crude per year. The process helps to get 4-6 per cent more diesel and gasoline.

It is ideal process for maximising transportation fuels out of a barrel, Honeywell's UOP president and CEO Rajeev Gautam said.

The facility features pilot plants for developing and demonstrating refining and petrochemical process technology by UOP, part of Honeywell's Performance Materials and Technologies (PMT) strategic business group, Hobbs said.

The centre will also perform other product and application development for PMT, including fluorine and nylon technologies, he said.

To begin with the excellence center would have 40 engineers which will go up to 65 by the end of this year, he said.

The total engineers expected to grow to 170 in the next five years, he added.

Besides, the company has technology and engineering centres at Bangalore, Hyderabad and Madurai.