Ceratizit India a significant player in the cutting tool market, has announced its expansion in its production in the country with the setting up of a second production unit Uluberia Industrial Area near Kolkata, to cater to the demand from Indian and other Asian markets. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Mr. Gaston Stronck, Ambassador of Luxembourg to India, Mr. Ashwani Sareen, Managing Director, CERATIZIT India Pvt. Ltd as well as the Representative for the Executive Board Jacques Lanners and Executive Board member Mr. Thierry Wolter.

Ceratizit India, a significant player in the Indian market has already been manufacturing hard metal products in Bengal for 17 years. The company has become an integral part of the global production and is now responsible for the supply of cutting tools for the entire Asian region. Hence, it intends to expand its business to meet the demand and supply of cutting tools with the recently acquired Plant in Uluberia Industrial Area. The new production unit is spread over 6.2 acres of land with the production capacity expected to increase three times compared to the present unit at Barisha. The expansion would also lead to creating job opportunities for 200 people and projected to generate revenue of Rs 150 to 200 crores in the next couple of years.

Besides the domestic market which has grown by 9 to 10% at a compounded annual rate, Ceratizit will serve the market in China in addition to all major Asian markets like Taiwan, Korea, Thailand and Malaysia. The biggest user industries for cutting tools include automotive, aerospace, railways, power and defence.

"To meet the increasing demand of cutting tools in Asia, this continuous expansion and strengthening of our activities in the important Indian market is key to our success," says Mr. Thierry Wolter, Member of the Executive Board of CERATIZIT S. A

We are enthusiastic about the establishment of the production plant: "the increase of our production capacities will create new job opportunities and will also enable us to significantly develop the manufacturing of cutting tool inserts, says Mr. Ashwani Sareen, Managing Director, CERATIZIT India Pvt. Ltd

The carbide specialist Ceratizit is synonymous with "hard material matters". CERATIZIT, headquartered in Mamer, Luxembourg is a pioneer and global player in sophisticated hard material solutions. The company is the world market leader in unique and consistently innovative hard material products for wear protection and cutting tools. It has a presence in more than 50 countries around the world providing services to customers in the automotive industry, mechanical engineering, oil industry, medical systems, electronics and tools and mould construction, to name but a few. With more than 600 patents and 5500 employees CERATIZIT is your high-powered partner worldwide.

(For further details, contact: Mr Ashwani Sareen, Managing Director, CERATIZIT & WNT India, 58 Motilal Gupta Road, Kolkata 700 008. Mobile: 033249-47003, Email: ashwani.sareen@ceratizitindia.co.in)