LIXIL, a Japanese water and housing products major has invested Rs 400 crore in its first sanitaryware manufacturing facility in India in Bhimadole, Andhra Pradesh. The one million units per annual capacity plant became operational today.
LIXIL India Sanitaryware, a part of LIXIL Asia Pacific, will run the plant housed on a 45 acre campus in West Godavari district. It will serve as the central production base for the Indian market. The main products will be a select range of GROHE, American standard.
While 80 per cent of the production will cater to the Indian market, LIXIL plans to export 20 per cent to its global markets. The capacity of the unit, headed by Katsuhiko Takeguchi, is scalable to 2 million units per annual.
LIXIL aims to support Government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and generate employment opportunities for more than 400 individuals in the State. Additionally, in line with the Government’s ‘Skill India’ initiative, LIXIL will induct 150 ITI student trainees under National Employability Enhancement Mission (NEEM) Scheme, a company press release said.
N Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh said, “the sanitation economy presents untapped potential and Andhra Pradesh is taking steps to help tackle the sanitation crisis, there are remarkable opportunities for stakeholders in the sanitation economy, pegged at 62 USD Billion by 2021”. The plant was inaugurated by Nimmakayala Chinnarajappa, Dy CM of AP.
LIXIL Asia Pacific CEO, Bijoy Mohan, said, “our new facility will be a zero water discharge plant which is a first in the industry in India. In fact, the team is also building capabilities for zero discharge of solid waste inside the plant. We aim to capture 15-20% market share and lead the local ceramics market in the next three years.”