German auto component manufacturer Brose has set up a manufacturing unit in Hinjewadi, Pune. The facility is to produce window regulators in the first year and has capacity for two million units. By September this year, the plant will also be producing manual seat height adjusters and in the medium term the plan is to manufacture and supply the entire product portfolio locally.
"Setting up a development center in India in 2006 was the first step in the realisation of our long-term objective to establish Brose in India. With the Pune plant we now have a local production footprint covering the entire value chain in Pune – from development, component procurement to final assembly and logistics," says Ashwani Aggarwal, President Brose India.
The first project to be executed by the plant is an export assignment for a European customer while the second project will be an assignment for a locally based international OEM for the Indian market. Series production will start in April 2011. "The goal is to serve both export business and the Indian automotive market from the new factory," Aggarwal continues, "As a world market leader, Brose offers national and international manufacturers in India not only competitive, cost-optimised products, but also high-tech products of international quality standard".
In 2012, the automotive supplier will extend its activities in India even further and has already been actively searching for suitable land in the Pune region. Surinder Chauhan, Plant Manager of the new facility reveals: "Our plans include building a new facility encompassing product development, product testing, production and administration in one complex. The increased space for manufacturing additional Brose products and a base to implement diverse manufacturing processes will further enable us to meet our customers' requirements. The new facility will feature Brose’s international architectural corporate design, with open concept working spaces and social areas for our employees."
Brose commenced its first engineering services in India in 2006 and set up a development and sales office in Pune to support Indian customers and suppliers.
At present, there are approximately 85 employees engaged in the development of electronics, electric motors, window regulators, seat adjusters and closure systems for the Indian market and other Brose Group locations.
Regional procurement and IT services are also carried out in Pune for the corporate. The company has its presence in China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and India.
