Areva T&D lays foundation stone for nex factory at Hosur, Tamil Nadu

Areva T&D India Ltd has announced that in less than 45 days of the announcement of a new power transformer factory, AREVA T&D has again broken fresh ground by laying the foundation stone of a new instrument transformer factory at Hosur, Tamil Nadu.

On June 12, 2007, AREVA Transmission & Distribution (T&D), one of the world's leading T&D Companies, held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new instrument transformer factory to be built in Hosur.

Thiru Arcot Veerasamy, honorable Minister for Electricity, government of Tamil Nadu laid the foundation stone of the new facility, at an official ceremony, which took place in the presence of the Areva T&D's CEO - Karim Vissandjee, Executive Vice President Products, BU - Marius Vassoille, Country President India - Rathin Basu, besides, key dignitaries from the government of Tamil Nadu and local officials.

"This strategic move demonstrates AREVA T&D's technical competence and market consolidation plans in the high-voltage instrument transformers business. The Company has planned to invest over 100 crore in this new manufacturing unit, and double its capacity", said Marius Vassoille, Executive Vice President, Products, BU, Areva T&D. The Company already has two manufacturing units in Tamil Nadu, and this is the third planned one. In total it has 8 fully functional manufacturing units in India.

The new manufacturing facility will directly employ around 300 people at full capacity, and throw open immense opportunities tar indirect employment by the creation of a world-class supply chain and vendor base. The Tamil Nadu government wants to develop the Hosur industrial township as a giant satellite town. With basic infrastructure facilities in place, it has been an industrial hub for more than two decades now and home to other big manufacturing plants.

According to the Company officials, Hosur site is expected to be a world class Competency Center for High Voltage (HV) Instrument Transformers up to 800 kV and Medium voltage ranging from 145 - 245 kV. It will also manufacture Line Traps up to 800 kV and Condenser Bushings for Power transformers up to 400 kV. Increasing its export potential to Asia (except China) is also in the offing.

Areva, the world leader in the Instrument Transformers product segment, with 26 per cent market share in this segment, is poised for greater investment opportunities in dynamic markets of developing nations of Asia, particularly India.

Globally, Areva's Instrument Transformer group has experienced great growth and development in the past two years. With the recent acquisition of RITZ High Voltage instrument transformers activities and Passoni & Villa, it is a worldwide leader in this field and holds the number one market position in the United States, Germany and Brazil.

With over 50 years of operating experience in the country, Areva T&D India contributes to around 9 percent to the overall order intake of its parent Company - AREVA T&D, and has an aim of doubling its market share in India by 2010.

Source : Equity Bulls

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