Rothenberger opens Indian subsidiary

Germany's Rs 1,200 crore pipe tools major, Rothenberger AG, today launched its fully-owned subsidiary in India.

Rothenberger India, with its first office in Delhi, plans to cash in on the booming infrastructure market in the country.

The company is targeting the organised piping tool market, which is about Rs 450 crore, constituting 30 per cent of the total piping tool market in the country.

Andreas C Ehrler, managing director of Rothenberger Werkzeuge GmbH said that the company had plans to start manufacturing within next two to three years.

"First we want to study the Indian market and would like to find which products have major demand in the country. Then after two years we hope to have a manufacturing facility in India," Ehrler said.

The country manager of Rothenberger India, J P Singh said the Indian office would also serve Saarc countries such as Pakistan and Nepal.

According to him a manufacturing base in India would be viable only after the Indian company's turnover goes above Rs 30 crore.

The company is eyeing pipeline projects by state such as Kerala and Gujarat. The company will also target other industry segments in power, refineries, oil and gas.

Rothenberger claims to be a total solution company in the pipe tools segment of the machine tool business. It boasts of 14 manufacturing facilities with 2,000 products and 150 patents to its credit.