INA Unveils Manufacturing Facility at Talegaon

INA unveils manufacturing facility at Talegaon FIFTEEN months after laying the foundation stone for their second plant in the city,INA Bearings India ¡ª it is a Schaeffler group company ¡ª on Friday inaugurated their 18,000 sq mt facility at Talegaon. Established at an investment of 40 million euros, the plant will produce precision products for the automotive and industrial sectors. The 1 lakh sq mt area will encompass manufacturing facilities and an administration building. An engineering and test center is also being set up at the location to tailor-make solutions for the needs of Indian customers. The entire facility is set to be fully operational by 2008. The Talegaon facility will manufacture over 40 million units of various products for the Indian market. This will include needle cages, drawn cup bearings, engine components such as roller finger follower, chain tensioner, clutch release bearing, water pump bearings as well as welded cage production. The facility currently employs 350 people. Speaking at a function to mark the inauguration of the facility, managing director of the Schaeffler group, Maria Elisabeth Schaeffler said: ¡°India is of great importance for us and we consider it as an economic area with future and potential. We want to contribute to and participate in the development of the promising market here.¡± According to Schaeffler, Pune was the preferred destination to set up the second facility due to its economic potential, qualified and skilled manpower, competitive cost and cooperation by the authorities. ¡°The good experience with the first hired INA plant in Pune prompted us to invest in our own land and manufacturing facilities here. We see a lot of potential in the region and want to leverage it,¡± Schaeffler said. The company also said that it may ramp up its headcount to 500 employees over the next three years. ¡°We will also be expanding our facility in Baroda, where 60 million euros will be invested by 2010,¡± said Bishvarup Dhar, managing director of INA India.