BEML plans to invest Rs 360 cr in aerospace manufacturing plant

Defence PSU BEML Ltd plans to invest Rs 360 crore for setting up an aerospace manufacturing complex here and is scouting for acquiring small firms to strengthen this business vertical.

The plant would come up on a 25-acre plot in the aerospace special economic zone at Devanahally on the city outskirts, the BEML Chairman and Managing Director, Mr V.R.S. Natarajan, told reporters here today.

“This manufacturing facility is expected to be operational in 2012-13,” he said.

Company officials said the aerospace division would manufacture gears for helicopters, jigs for aircraft structures, machining of aerospace components, fabrication of structural sub-assemblies for Su-30 aircraft and a variety of ground support and ground handling equipment.

Mr Natarajan said BEML was looking out for opportunities to acquire small aerospace firms to strengthen its business in the field.

He said the company's aerospace business would go up to Rs 100 crore annually in three years, and it aims to notch Rs 1,000-crore business by 2016-17.

Currently, the order book of the company stood at at Rs 4,300 crore, he added.