Ingersoll Rand, a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, has announced that it will invest Rs. 100 crores to upgrade its manufacturing facility in Naroda, near Ahmedabad. The strategic investment reinforces Ingersoll Rand’s overall growth strategy in India that is focused on driving innovation, technology and product development and is a reflection of its long-standing commitment to the country. Products and solutions manufactured at the Naroda plant will be distributed across both Indian and global markets.
With this investment, one of the oldest and most significant facilities of Ingersoll Rand globally will transform itself into a modern, state-of-the-art facility. The strategic investment at the Naroda plant will support production of the complete range of compressors in reciprocating, rotary and centrifugal, ranging from 0.75 to 4500 kW. Technologies for air treatment, filtration solutions, storage solutions, energy saving control solutions, remote monitoring as well as energy saving modular solutions for compressed air that increase the overall efficiency of an entire manufacturing and operating system will be enhanced at this plant. In addition, the facility will add new product lines with a high level of innovation.
Talking about this expansion and renovation of the Naroda manufacturing facility, Mr. Venkatesh Valluri, Chairman and President, Ingersoll Rand India, said: “The Naroda plant is one of our flagship facilities and is one of the oldest in the world, having begun operations in 1965, and the first that was set up in India, focused on both domestic and international markets. Over the past few years we have been strongly focused on innovation from emerging economies, and India has been at the forefront of this initiative. As India moves into a new era of economic realignment that will be focused on manufacturing, we are upgrading the facility by introducing new flexible production techniques, enhanced process efficiency methods and new technologies. This will not only increase the safety practices but also allow the company to deliver very cost-competitive products for India as well as for the global markets. This transformation is a step ahead to enhance our customers’ energy efficiency, productivity and operational efficiency.”
He further said: “India is a very important market for Ingersoll Rand and our investment in Naroda is a vital next step that we are taking to further strengthen our position in this growing market. We continue to commit to providing sustainable and energy-efficient solutions in India and the new improved Naroda facility will also help us to drive Technology Innovation and Product Development to serve local and global markets from India”.
The ISO 9001-2008 certified Naroda manufacturing facility, spread over 14 acres, caters to markets such as industrial efficiency, transportation, food security, logistics, process, pharmaceutical, healthcare, cement, mining and Defence. The planned transformation will provide the manufacturing facility with several benefits, including reduction in energy and resource consumption.
Besides the expanded manufacturing facility, the company’s operations in India include two world class manufacturing facilities, one in Chennai and the other at Sahibabad (near Delhi) and two engineering and technology centers, at Bangalore and Chennai. With a workforce close to 2,000, Ingersoll Rand has presence in more than 18 locations in India.
With rapid industrialization In India after Independence and the increasing demand for its engineering products, Ingersoll Rand India commenced its first manufacturing plant at Naroda in January 1965. In 1977, the company diluted its foreign equity holdings and became a public limited firm. It expanded its operations across India and further established its third manufacturing plant in Naroda in 1994. It is the only plant in the world that turns out products such as reciprocating compressors with technologies that have been uniquely developed and reengineered.
Key products from Naroda
Compressed air systems and services is one of the largest and predominant areas of business. The product range for the sector comprises compressors that enhance customers’ energy efficiency, productivity and operations. The company success lies in local innovation, technology absorption, a robust infrastructure, and significant investment in different facilities to transform them into world class products for customers.
The Ingersoll Rand Naroda plant offers the complete range of compressors in all technologies – reciprocating, rotary and centrifugal – from 0.75 to 4500 kW and has several firsts to its credit, including the distinction of being the first company to introduce centrifugal compressors to the country.
The Naroda plant is fully equipped to support customers in India as well as other emerging economies. It is equipped with most modern facilities, including the latest and high-tech testing machines. With lean manufacturing operational excellence, there is a special thrust on process improvement, waste reduction as well as environment, health and safety.
In order to maintain competitiveness in India, the company has doubled productivity at its Ahmedabad plant since 2006. The latest addition to the plant is the engineering and R&D centre which is one of the best in India. This centre especially focuses on introduction of new products, development of customized engineered products for the plant and new control features for the existing products, and identifies future trends in energy conservation.