Wienerberger forays into Indian market

Setting up Asia's first manufacturing plant near Banglore

The first investment by the company in Asia would be utilised for setting up a manufacturing plant in Kunigal, near here.Wienerberger India's Kunigal plant which spreads over 30 acres of land, would have an output of 100,000 tonnes per annum in phase one.

The euro 2.48 billion company, number two on the clay roof tiles market in Europe, already has government approval to double the capacity in phase two.

Commercial production would start by the end of 2008 and would focus on hollow blocks under the brand name "Porotherm" and an exclusive range of "Terca" facing bricks. The Kunigal plant is Wienerberger's first Asian facility amongst 263 plants in 26 countries.

"The demand for eco-friendly building materials is on the rise globally. In India, the birthplace of clay brick architecture, clay is still the most preferred building material", Ingo Hofmaier, Managing Director, Commercial, Wienerberger Brick Industry Pvt Ltd, told reporters.

"Wienerberger has a long-term interest in the Indian building market and our endeavour to provide high quality clay hollow bricks, facing bricks, clay pavers and clay titles in the most cost-effective manner has led to this investment", Hofmaier said.

The company said clay is locally sourced. It said the company's load-bearing clay hollow blocks can "beat the heat due to its outstanding thermal insulation properties".