Visakhapatnam: Imerys SA, a French multinational, on Thursday announced its launch of commercial sales out of its new calcium aluminate plant in Visakhapatnam. The €3.8 billion revenue company having 16,400 employees has invested Rs.350 crore in the Vizag plant.
A company release said the plant, which was commissioned remotely from Lyon, France, has recruited 100 people from the local communities. It will focus on specialty calcium aluminate binders, specifically designed for the Indian markets
This is a rare FDI into India since the onset of the pandemic and one which has been invested in Andhra Pradesh, a release from Imerys said.
The plant will also serve as a distribution centre of imported ready-to-use mortars and bentonite solutions to serve the infrastructure sector, for applications such as waste water, tunnelling and civil engineering in general. The choice of Vizag as a location was also to access the port of Visakhapatnam.
Imerys India so far employed 800 people in 16 industrial sites and eight sales offices. In addition to the production of calcium aluminate binders, the group produces specialty solutions for ceramics, plastics, polymers and refractory products.
“The opening of this new plant is a major milestone for Imerys. It is another proof that the group continues to invest in growing markets and geographies. The fully remote commissioning, caused by the enduring pandemic, has been an incredible achievement. Our local teams have been simply great, commented Alessandro Dazza, Imerys Chief Executive Officer.
