Switzerland based Franke Faber India, manufacturer of kitchen products has set up a plant in Sanaswadi, near Pune with the total investment of Rs 55 crore. The plant will manufacture chimneys, cooking hoods, hobs and other kitchen appliances. This is the third plant of the company after Turkey and Italy. Also, Faber is eying export market from India operations. The products manufactured from India will be exported to SAARC countries, Middle East regions, South America and Africa. Over 2500 retail counters are presently engaged in sales and service across the country.
Commenting on this, Urs Meyer, president and CEO, Franke Kitchen Systems Group, Faber India said, " The new plant will service our exports to South East Asia and SAARC countries and also to the group companies worldwide. With changiNg conditions in China, many manufacturing companies are looking forward to set up business. China is no longer a cheap labour nation and has became very competitive. Considering this, we are coming up with manufacturing facility in India. Faber holds 40 per cent market share of this segment"
It manufactures kitchen hoods, hobs, cook tops, cooking rage, built in ovens, microwave ovens and dish washers under the brand name 'Faber' and kitchen sinks, taps, accessories and bio-waste disposers under the brand name 'Franke'. Also, the company is relocating its entire research and development centre from Sweden to India. It is investing Rs 10 crore in this centre. Faber Franke has other two R&D centres in Italy and France. Currently, Faber produces more than 300 products in Aurangbad and Pune plants of Franke Faber. Aurangabad factory has current production capacity of 80,000 sinks per annum and being ramped up to 120,000 sinks and newly set up Pune factory will produce 500,000 cooking hoods 100,000 hobs and 50,000 other kitchen appliances per annum.
