Steelbird to invest Rs 100 cr in new plant in Rajasthan

Firm currently produces helmets from two plants at Baddi in HP, aims to expand reach and cater to customers across country

Helmet manufacturer Steelbird plans to invest Rs 100 crore in the initial phase for setting up a new manufacturing facility at Tapukara in Rajasthan, which will become operational in the next two years.

The Delhi-headquartered firm, which currently produces helmets from its two plants located at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh, aims to expand its reach and cater to customers all across the country.

"We plan to come up with a new plant at Tapukara in Rajasthan. It will be the world's largest helmet manufacturing facility with an initial production capacity of 10,000 units a day and which could be later expanded to over 50,000 pieces a day," Steelbird Managing Director Rajeev Kapur told PTI.

The investment in the initial phase would be around Rs 100 crore which would be increased according to the requirement, he added.

The company has already started the process to procure land for the plant and aims to start production within the next two years, Kapur said.

"The demand for helmets is going up steadily. Going ahead it would touch 100 million units per annum. So we are getting ready for the future with this plant," he added.

The company would manufacture 'Steelbird' and 'Ignite' branded helmets to start with at the plant and would also utilise the facility to supply co-branded helmets to various OEMs including Yamaha, Honda and Royal Enfield, Kapur said.

Besides, the company is also planning to roll out 200 stores across the country in two years under the 'Steelbird Riderz Shop' brand.

The company, which currently sells its products through more than 2,000 direct dealers, is taking up the step as it seeks more visibility in the market.

"We have already opened 10 outlets. Out of these, only two are company-owned while the rest are franchisees. The plan is to have 200 shops over the next two years," Kapur said.

Steelbird, which also exports helmets to over 150 entities around the world, aims to close the current financial year with close to Rs 250 crore turnover.