Atlas Copco expands Cherlapally unit.

Swedish major Atlas Copco has expanded its factory at Cherlapally in Hyderabad with an investment of ₹ 80 crore, a programme that provides a significant boost to the manufacturing capacity and paves the way for launch of new products.

Speaking to press persons at the new unit’s opening on Wednesday, president of the Mining and Rock Excavation Technique Business Area Helena Hedblom and senior executives said an R&D test centre for the company’s rock drilling products also formed part of the expansion.

Without sharing details, she said that with the expansion the capacity of the plant has been doubled.

In the coming months, the Hyderabad plant is scheduled to introduce new products such as rotary products for oil and gas applications, drilling consumables for surface mining applications and innovative deep hole drilling machine to cater to Indian and African markets, a release from Atlas Copco (India) said.

Ms. Hedblom said that the Hyderabad plant was in operation since 2009 and employed over 200 persons. Overall, an investment of ₹ 130 crore had been made on the facility, that apart from exporting around 70 % of its production, also supplied to Atlas Copco’s factories in the U.S. The expansion would generate employment for 35 persons additionally.

The facility at Cherlapally is one of the 13 global manufacturing units of the Euro 11 billion company. Pune and Nashik are the other locations in India hosting Atlas Copco manufacturing units, she said, adding that the Hyderabad plant was focused on products used in surface mining and digging water wells.

THE HINDU