Slowdown effect: AB SKF delays commissioning Haridwar plant

AB SKF, a global solutions and technology provider of bearings and seals, today said it has delayed the commissioning of its manufacturing facility, for automotive bearing, at Haridwar due to slump in demand.

The company had planned an investment of Rs 150 crore in the plant and the construction was scheduled to start in the end of the current year.

It has also bagged an order of over euro 300 million to supply bearings to wind energy major Suzlon.

"We have decided to postpone work at the Haridwar plant due to a slowdown in market demand. We expect to start work at the plant in the first quarter of 2010. We feel that the current market demand can be met with our facilities in Bangalore and Pune," AB SKF President and CEO Tom Johnstone told PTI.

The company has two manufacturing plants in Bangalore and one in Pune, he added.

It will start supplying bearings to Suzlon from its overseas plant till the time its Ahmedabad facility goes on stream in the second quarter of next year.

"Our agreement with Suzlon is for five years. We will start supplying bearings from next year," Johnstone said.

It has invested Rs 300 crore in the Ahmedabad plant.