• Saint-Gobain’s Gyproc Business launches the largest plasterboard manufacturing facility in India to serve the growing Indian market· Saint-Gobain has invested Rs. 350 crores in this world-class class facility at a new site in Jhagadia, Gujarat
Jhagadia, 31 January 2018: Pierre-André de Chalendar, Chairman and CEO of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain inaugurated India’s largest plasterboard manufacturing plant. Located in Jhagadia, Gujarat, this is India’s largest gypsum based plasterboard manufacturing facility till date with an annual capacity of 30 million square metres. Gyproc India has three existing plants in India located in the states of Haryana, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
In the last few years India has witnessed an ever increasing demand for infrastructure owing to the rapid growth in urban population along with scarcity of land. It is estimated that in the next twenty years there will be more than 68 cities with a population exceeding one million. With the construction sector in India expected to remain buoyant, growing demand requires developers in India to go for high-rise constructions and hence explore faster, greener and more efficient construction methods. Gypsum Plasterboard based ceilings and drywall solutions are ideal for such construction as they are lightweight, environmentally friendly, facilitate faster construction and offer a lot of flexibility in terms of aesthetics. They can be designed to deliver a superior performance across comfort parameters like acoustics, thermal, visual, air-quality and provide fire-safety as well.
Keeping in line with the government’s focus towards the re-generation of existing cities and urban areas as part of its urban development mission, market leader Saint-Gobain’s Gyproc business in India is rapidly taking the lead in offering efficient and green construction solutions and has already gained a strong foothold in the construction market.
Speaking on the Jhagadia plant inauguration, Mr. Pierre-André de Chalendar, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer – Compagnie de Saint-Gobain said “As one of the fastest growing economies in the world, India is an important market for Saint-Gobain. Being a global leader in the construction industry we see lot of opportunities in India to utilize our expertise in sustainable building solutions to enhance human habitats and promote well-being in living spaces. Over the past two decades we have consistently invested in India in developing new markets, in building new world-class manufacturing facilities, in technology and in human capital. In all our businesses we work very closely with our customers with the intent of addressing their current needs while simultaneously anticipating their future needs. We focus a lot on Research and Development and our world class Saint-Gobain Research India (SGRI) facility in Chennai is developing innovative solutions for markets such as India. The Jhagadia plant which incorporates the best technology will help us to grow and to serve the Indian market.”
Mr. Anand Mahajan, General Delegate, Saint-Gobain Group in India, said “India is amongst the best performing regions for Saint-Gobain and it has been our constant endeavor to develop the markets in India by bringing the best technologies and building world-class manufacturing facilities, in line with the Government’s “Make in India” mission. Over the years, we have made significant investments across all our businesses – Glass for Buildings and Automotive, Gypsum Plasterboard and Plasters, Abrasives, Ceramic Materials, Performance Plastics and so on. Today, more than 95% of our local sales are from products manufactured in India. We believe that our Gyproc Business has the potential to play an important role in shaping the future of the Indian construction landscape. The Jhagadia plant is our 22ndmanufacturing entity in India and will help us further strengthen our leadership position in the gypsum industry.”
Also speaking on the launch and growth outlook of the business, Mr. Venkat Subramanian, Regional CEO Construction Products India & Managing Director, Gyproc India said “As a pioneer in the gypsum industry, our Gyproc business in India has been at the forefront of developing the construction market through end-to-end design and system capability, innovative products and solutions. We dedicatedly work towards creating new categories in the interior spaces through smart marketing campaigns and continuously build awareness through close engagement with architects and contractors. Gyproc India is an active contributor to the Skill India initiative and we partner with Skill Training institutes across India to address this skill gap by creating employable high-quality workforce. Over the past decade Gyproc India has successfully created a robust distribution network and our strategically located Jhagadia plant will help us serve our customers across India more effectively.”
As a market leader, the Gyproc business is committed to grow the gypsum industry in India through its market development efforts, distributed manufacturing footprint, innovative products and solutions, skill development, Research and Development and superior customer service.
ABOUT SAINT-GOBAIN
Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and solutions which are key ingredients in the wellbeing of each of us and the future of all. They can be found everywhere in our living places and our daily life: in buildings, transportation, infrastructure and in many industrial applications. They provide comfort, performance and safety while addressing the challenges of sustainable construction, resource efficiency and climate change.
€39.1 billion in sales in 2016
Operates in 67 countries
More than 170,000 employees
About Saint-Gobain Group in India
Over the years, the Group has made significant investments in India, has achieved strong and profitable growth and has built an enviable reputation. Today, it is a leader in all its major businesses (Glass for Buildings and Automotive, Gypsum plasterboard, Abrasives, Ceramic Materials) with sales of Rs.5785 crores in 2016. In India, Saint-Gobain is a brand that is respected and widely recognized. Currently, Saint-Gobain has a pan-India presence with 22 manufacturing sites (nearly all of which are certified under ISO 14000 and OHSAS 18000), sales offices in all major cities and industrial towns and an extensive dealer network.
Two large entities, Saint-Gobain India Pvt. Ltd. (SGI) and Grindwell Norton Limited (GNO), a publicly traded company, house Saint-Gobain’s businesses in India. The Group currently operates in two of Saint-Gobain’s business sectors: Innovative Materials (Flat Glass and High Performance Materials) and Construction Products.