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The family-owned German company, Freudenberg Group, is investing around Rs 130 crore in its existing project in Mysore, making it the company’s largest investment in the Asia-Pacific region.
The product development laboratories in Mysore will become a regional competence centre for specialty lubricants, release agents and maintenance products. The centre will serve Freudenberg’s customers in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim as well as some global needs as a technical centre of excellence.
Its companies, Chem-Trend and Klüber Lubrication India, are building the group’s most modern facilities. Since its launch in 2011, first buildings have been erected. By 2016, when the project is scheduled for completion, this state-of-the-art facility will provide 17,000 m2 of covered space. Total area is around 40,000 sq m. An additional plot of land covering over 8,000 sq m has been acquired.
Specialty lubricants, release agents and maintenance products being manufactured in the Freudenberg Company Klüber Lubrication plant operating here since 1989. Its brands of Klüber Lubrication, Chem-Trend and OKS presently have various applications in different industries such as infrastructure, automotive, energy and food industry.
The plant employs some 110 employees. It is expected to add over 100 people. Positions in production, quality management, logistics, and product development will be filled by chemical and mechanical engineers, managers and other skilled professionals.
“This investment reiterates the importance of the Indian market for Freudenberg Group,” said Jörg Matthias Großmann, Freudenberg Group Regional Representative for India and Chief Financial Officer for Freudenberg Chemical Specialities, in Mysore.
Speaking to reporters, he said, “For years, Mysore had been one of the key manufacturing locations for Freudenberg, a family-owned German company. It is assuming an important role in Freudenberg’s innovation strategy. The existing infrastructure, mild climate, qualified partners and skilled workforce make Mysore a logical choice for future expansion.”
Freudenberg has held business ties with customers and partners in India for almost 100 years. The group has a workforce of over 3,000 at 28 locations. It generated Rs 956 crore sales during fiscal 2011.
A joint venture, Freudenberg Gala Household Products, opened a plant for production of mechanical household cleaning products in Adas, near Anand, Gujarat investing around Rs 20 crore. Freudenberg Filtration Technologies India in Pune acquired the specialty filter manufacturer Pyramid Filters in April 2012.
By the end of the month, EagleBurgmann, a manufacturer of sealing technology, will complete another important project, a new Rs 10 crore R&D laboratory in Pune, Großmann said.
“The Freudenberg Group will continue to grow its activities in India both through internal growth and through strategic acquisitions,” he emphasised.
