Sriperumbudur & Oragadam Projects Update

[TechCity]

Monday, Apr 28 2008 Source:http://news.webindia123.com/news/Art...28/942313.html

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today said his Government would like to make Sriperumbudur as the largest hub in the world for mobile-phone hand-sets manufacturing.

While inaugurating Motorola's Chennai Manufacturing facility here last night, he said Nokia plant is one of the largest hand-sets manufacturing facility in the world in terms of volume.

The Chief Minister said ''Samsung was also in the process of establishing the facility here. Sony Ericsson, too, is making hand-sets here through Foxconn and Flextronics.'' He said the employment generated by Government in the Industries, has triggered a cycle of economic growth in allied sectors and service-oriented Industries. Apart from mobile hand-sets, Sriperumpudur was becoming India's largest manufacturing hub for electronic hardwares and automobiles, including components, he added. Mr Karunanidhi said after the commissioning of Renault-Nissan car project in 2010, the total capacity of six projects at Irungattukottai-Sriperumbudur- Oragadam-Maramalainagar corridor would exceed 12 lakh cars per year.

''This will make this corridor as one of the top ten car manufacturing centres of the world'', he said adding ''apart from car manufacturing, the corridor would produce a range of other automobiles, including commercial vehicles, earth moving and construction machinery and tractors, making it Detroit of Asia''.

Mr Karunanidhi also said more projects were in the pipeline.

''Our Government will sign Memoranda of Understanding(MoUs) in the coming months to fetch more investments in this year than what was achieved during the last 16 years, he added. The 172.4 crore facility, which spread over 2,70,000 sqft, would support an integrated telecom products portfolio, including GSM and CDMA mobile devices and networking equipment, such as, base-stations and system controllers.

The manufacturing unit has capacity to produce over 12-million mobile phones and 6,500 base-terminal stations each year.

[Subra]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/3053633.cms

CHENNAI: Medical technology products manufacturer Trivitron Group of Companies has announced the establishment of a Rs 250-crore Medical Technology Park at SIPCOT Industrial Park at Sriperumbudur near here, the foundation stone for which was laid on Monday.

The facility would be implemented by way of a joint venture with Japan-based Aloka Company Ltd, which is holding the major stakes at 60 per cent, Trivitron Group of Companies Managing Director GSK Velu told reporters here.

The company had also forged JVs with Biosystems of Spain and Brandon Medical of the UK and was holding major stakes of 60 per cent and 51 per cent respectively, he said.

Velu said that the park would come up on 23 acres of land, and added that the company proposed to acquire 2 more acres of land as it was exploring the possibility of converting the park into a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

"Cost effective, high quality medical technology products will be manufactured here, with a view to export them to South Asia, Middle East and African markets, besides selling them in India," he said.

Manufacturing the products in India for domestic use would reduce their prices by 30-40 per cent, he claimed, adding that most of them were presently being imported.

He also said that the company planned to employ 3,000 persons in the next three years and said that the operations involving Aloka would start by next January, while those with Biosystems and Brandon would start by March 2009.

[Subra]

http://www.emsnow.com/npps/story.cfm?pg=story&id=33577

ProWorks, Inc. announced definitive plans for an expansion of its operations into the Sriperumbudur Hi-Tech Special Economic Zone in the Tamil Nadu province of India. The announcement coincides with the receipt of an official notification from the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu ("SIPCOT") of an allotment of 2 acres of land in the
Sriperumbudur Special Economic Zone. This allotment from the government of Tamil Nadu is the first milestone in ProWorks' plans to build and operate a 100,000 square foot plant to be operational in mid 2009.

ProWorks has been pursuing an expansion to India for about a year, and has been working on obtaining land allotment in the highly-sought Sriperumbudur region for the past five months. Sriperumbudur is quickly becoming one of the most desirable manufacturing hubs in India. Other large EMS companies such as Foxconn, Flextronics and Jabil, and large OEM's such as Dell, Nokia and Motorola operate large factories in Sriperumbudur. Availability of key supply chain partners, proximity to Chennai and India's second largest and most modern sea port facilities, and strong existing and growing infrastructure make Sriperumbudur the ideal location for ProWorks' expansion.

Commenting on this key milestone for the company, Bill Moradkhan, ProWorks' President and CEO, said, "Obtaining land allotment in the Sriperumbudur Special Economic Zone and the eventual facilities there strengthen the position of ProWorks to better serve the global economy. The expansion is expected to not only create additional growth potential for our current customers, but also increase our ability to attract new and larger customers." Mr. Moradkhan went on to comment, "This strategic expansion to a low-cost labor center is an essential element to support the continued growth of our business by offering global competitive pricing, scalability, flexibility, and superior operational performances for our customers."

ProWorks plans several more key announcements related to its expansion plans to India in the near future.

[senthil2001msk]

US headquartered Laird Technologies, a global leader in the design and manufacture of customized, performance-critical products for wireless and other advanced electronics applications, has announced the setting up of its first offshore manufacturing facility in India. Laird Technologies, a unit of the UK-based Laird Group PLC, employs over 14,000 employees across 40 facilities located in 14 countries.



The 160000 sq. ft manufacturing facility located in Nokia SEZ (Special Economic Zone) in Sriperambudur near Chennai was inaugurated today by Shri. G. K. Pillai, Commerce Secretary, Government of India. Mr. Mike Connor, British Deputy High Commissioner for Southern India, was also present on the occasion.



Set up at an investment of over $15m, Laird Technologies will employ over 1200 people at its Chennai facility, when fully operational. The manufacturing facility will initially produce antennas, battery packs and EMI shielding products for cellular handset applications for its Indian customers. The company also expects to export the products, manufactured at the Chennai facility, to overseas markets.



Laird Technologies already supplies products to large Indian enterprises in the mobile phone, telecom infrastructure equipment, computer hardware, and automotive electronics sectors, from manufacturing facilities outside India.



Sri Talpallikar, Managing Director-India, Laird Technologies said, “Availability of a skilled work force, support from the Tamil Nadu Government, the presence of good logistics, excellent infrastructure facilities, lower costs and our ‘close to the customer’ strategy were reasons for the choice of Chennai as our first offshore location in India.”



Sri Talpallikar added, “This new facility will allow us to support our Indian customers with new products in a timely and efficient manner. With the setting up of the manufacturing facility in Chennai, we are poised to aggressively expand our customer base in India over the next 12-18 months.”



On the company’s plans for the Indian market, Marty Rapp, CEO, Laird Technologies, said, “Our new manufacturing facility in Chennai is a big step for us in our goal to be local, globally. With the facility becoming operational, we now look forward to introducing a wider range of our products, and servicing the rapidly growing electronics market in India.”

[senthil2001msk]

Saint-Gobain Glass India Ltd will decide in the next four to six weeks the location for its planned expansion. The company is looking at sites in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and at its existing plant near Chennai for the expansion.
The decision will depend on a number of factors such as the product mix, logistics cost, proximity to markets, ease of exports and government support, according to Mr B. Santhanam, Managing Director, Saint-Gobain Glass India.

“I would say that there is a good possibility for multiple investments,” he told Business Line at the Saint-Gobain Glass India’s plant at Sriperumbudur, near Chennai..

The company, according to him, has fairly large investments planned over the next five years in a range of products — basic glass, advanced glass and automotive products.

Saint-Gobain’s plant has two float glass lines with a total capacity of about 5 lakh tonnes a year. It also makes laminated and tempered glass for the automotive industry. Mr Santhanam said the float glass industry was hugely capital intensive and hence the company’s programme entailed investments in excess of Rs 1,500 crore.
For basic products, it made sense for the company to have its plant close to the demand centres while for advanced glass products the benefits (from the government) that the company got and the skills available will determine the location.

The photo-voltaic industry was another big business opportunity and with fairly large investments planned in the sector, the company would have to examine these investment decisions also before it decided on fresh investments. “We will make one big call in the next four to six weeks and then take the next set of investments. We are in talk with all the governments,” Mr Santhanam said.

The float glass industry has two large end users — the construction industry and the automotive sector. Mr Santhanam does not think that there is a slowdown in the construction sector. On the contrary, with emphasis now on energy-efficient buildings, he feels that Saint-Gobain with its range of advanced products is best suited to tap this segment.

The automotive segment too, he feels, will see a growth, especially of cars in the Rs 3- 7 lakh price bracket. This is because of the new car models that have been launched since the second half of 2007. Hyundai Motor India’s expanded capacity is on stream and there will also be a good growth in exports. The scheduled launch of the Tata Nano in the second half of this year will also help the company as it is the sole supplier for the car. In 2006 (January-December is the company’s financial year), Saint-Gobain’s turnover was about Rs 800 crore and it would have grown by close to 25 per cent last year.

[MA Eswaran]

http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/24/stor...2455141600.htm

Foundation laid for medical technology park

CHENNAI: Trivitron group of companies, a provider of medical technology, has laid the foundation for the construction of its medical technology park at the SIPCOT Industrial Park, Irungattukottai, Sriperambudur, near here. The cost of the project is Rs. 240 crore in the first phase. The park would have collaborations with the international medical technology companies, says a release. — Staff Correspondent

[Subra]

http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/25/stor...2553900400.htm

KANCHEEPURAM: The Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways is planning to set up a container freight station (CFS) on the Chennai-Bangalore National Highway near Sriperumbudur, according to the Union Minister, T.R.Baalu.

Talking to reporters here on Saturday, Mr.Baalu said that the Ministry has written a letter to the State government in this regard stating that setting up of a CFS facility would help ease goods vehicle movement in Chennai.

Already the Chennai harbour and airport have been linked with the Golden Quadrangle. The CFS at Sriperumpudur would cut short the number of goods carriers passing through arterial roads in Chennai to reach the harbour. This would also help quick loading of vessels at the harbour.

Responding to a question on setting up grade-separators/flyovers, the Union Minister said the Ministry would not confine itself to taking up such projects in urban areas alone. Stating that such facilities would be created in rural pockets also, Mr.Baalu pointed out that a grade separator being set up at Perambalur-Ariyalur junction on the Grand Southern Trunk Road would be completed by December this year.

The GST Road, which provides a vital link to Chennai from southern districts, would be made a 6-lane road under the National Highways Development scheme-5, to be taken up soon by the Ministry.

Replying to a question on the future of cement roads, being maintained by the Ministry in certain semi-urban and urban areas, he said under the present circumstances the Ministry would not give priority to such projects. He replied in the negative when asked whether there was any plan to reduce toll fees collected from the motorists using carriageways laid under built-operate-transfer scheme.

[senthil2001msk]

Chennai, May 26 (IANS) Indian commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland Ltd and Japanese Nissan Motor Company have floated three joint venture companies, with a total investment of around Rs.23 billion ($575 million), for manufacture of light commercial vehicles (LCV), power trains and technology development. For this purpose, the two companies signed their Master Cooperation Agreement last October, and formalised it now.

Ashok Leyland Nissan Vehicles Pvt Ltd, the vehicle manufacturing company, will be owned 51 percent by Ashok Leyland and 49 percent by Nissan. Nissan Ashok Leyland Powertrain Pvt Ltd, the power train manufacturing company, will be owned 51 percent by Nissan and 49 percent by Ashok Leyland, while Nissan Ashok Leyland Technologies Pvt Ltd will be a 50:50 owned the technology development company.

The vehicle manufacturing enterprise will involve a capacity of 100,000 vehicles in the first phase, to be scaled up subsequently. The plant would come up at Chennai and is expected to start production from 2010-11. Among the three platforms identified, covering applications up to 7.5 tonne Gross Vehicle Weight, is an all-new generation Nissan Atlas F24 light-duty truck.

In addition, an all-new engine is being developed specifically for LCV applications, as part of the range of Euro-3 and Euro-4 compliant diesel engines.

“The balanced joint venture structure facilitates meaningful contribution from both partners and the best opportunity to leverage their respective strengths,” said R.Seshasayee, managing director, Ashok Leyland.

Speaking about the venture, Nissan executive vice-president Carlos Tavares said, “We made another important step in the creation of a solid structure that will allow Nissan and Ashok Leyland to enter successfully the LCV market in India and global markets.”

[senthil2001msk]

May 26, 2008
ProWorks has hosted a high-level government delegation from the state of Tamil Nadu, India on Saturday, May 17, 2008.

Mr. M.F. Farooqui, I.A.S., Secretary of Industry for the Government of Tamil Nadu, led the delegation which also included Mr. M. Velmurugan, I.E.S., Director, Guidance Bureau, Mr. S. Ramasundaram, I.A.S., Chairman and Managing
Director, Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. (TIDCO), and Mr. V. Veerappan, Co-Founder and Director of TAPP Semiconductor.

The day's events included a factory tour of ProWorks' Santa Clara facilities, presentation of the detailed expansion plans to India and discussions about how ProWorks and Government of Tamil Nadu will collaborate to make ProWorks' expansion a success.

Commenting on this strategic meeting, Bill Moradkhan, ProWorks' President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Throughout the process of planning our expansion to Tamil Nadu, we have been impressed by the openness of its State government and their energetic pursuit of mutually beneficial relationships with private enterprises."

Commenting on the day's events, Mr. M.F. Farooqui said, "We are very impressed with ProWorks' operations in Santa Clara and its proprietary information systems, and will provide all of the assistance necessary to help ProWorks deliver on its vision of replicating these state of the art facilities in Sriperumbudur. As a leading and innovative EMS provider of complex printed circuit board assemblies and systems, ProWorks is a strategic addition to the Sriperumbudur Hi-Tech Special Economic Zone."



http://www.emsnow.com/npps/story.cfm?pg=story&id=33692

[Subra]

Originally Posted by senthil2001msk

May 26, 2008
ProWorks has hosted a high-level government delegation from the state of Tamil Nadu, India on Saturday, May 17, 2008.

http://www.emsnow.com/npps/story.cfm?pg=story&id=33692

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Looks like a high level delegation involving TIDCO, ELCOT and few industrialists led by Industries Sectratary are touring US for road show. Not sure why this is not getting more visiblity. There are multiple appointments in the ELCOT website related to US road show. Here is one sample.

http://www.elcot.in/appointment_view...ate=2008-05-06

[senthil2001msk]

Renault-Nissan and its vendors will be housed on 890 acres at Oragadam

Trial production will begin by 2009

and commercial production by 2010




CHENNAI: Having allotted 640 acres to the Renault-Nissan joint venture for making 4 lakh passenger cars a year at Oragadam, the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) proposes to allot 250 acres in two places to its suppliers.
In all, Renault-Nissan and its vendors, numbering 100, will be housed on 890 acres in and around Oragadam.

By far, this is the largest land allotment for an automobile major by the government agency.

Hyundai Motors was allotted 526 acres at Sriperumbudur.

50 acres allotted


A five-member committee, headed by SIPCOT chairman and managing director N. Govindan, met on Monday and distributed 50 acres in the suppliers park to seven essential suppliers.

“We have already allotted 640 acres to Renault-Nissan. They would like to have their suppliers close to their manufacturing facility so that their delivery schedules are not affected. In the first phase, the suppliers park will be located on 161 acres at Oragadam, and the second phase will come up on 90 acres at Pillaipakkam,” Mr. Govindan told The Hindu.

Renault-Nissan officials told SIPCOT officials that the trial production would begin by 2009 and commercial production by 2010. The joint venture will invest Rs. 4,000 crore, and the vendors will invest another Rs.1,000 crore.


http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/29/stor...2961471200.htm

[senthil2001msk]

Asian location for second Signet Solar site


http://www.gasworld.com/news.php?a=2793;la=1


Signet Solar, a leading manufacturer of silicon thin film photovoltaic (PV) modules and user of industrial and specialty gases, has announced plans to locate its second manufacturing site in the Sriperembudur Special Economic Zone near Chennai, India.


Signet Solar’s decision to expand manufacturing in India follows more than $400m in advance orders for the first three years of production. The company’s German plant is scheduled to start production by Q3 2008 and will have a total annual production capacity of 60 MW.


The announcement could be seen as a further sign of the rapidly developing PV and wider electronics market that is expected to boom over the course of the next five years, with the industrial and specialty gas market set to prosper as the demand for materials and ultimately gases increases accordingly.


“We are on schedule to start shipping products from our Dresden, Germany manufacturing plant by Q3 2008 and plan to begin shipments from India by 2010, with a goal of achieving grid parity pricing within the next five years,” said Rajeeva Lahri, CEO and Founder of Signet Solar.


“We have strong demand in Europe and the US and are pleased that our customers have shown confidence in our engineering capabilities and our global strategy to produce high quality modules on a large scale.”


Signet Solar chose to locate its next manufacturing site in India because of the attractive incentives offered by the Government, including the recently announced semiconductor policy initiative and because of the strong emerging demand for renewable energy in India. Chennai, a port city in southern India, is a growing manufacturing centre with well-developed infrastructure, world-class educational institutions and a large pool of engineering talent.

A. Raja, Honorable Minister of Information Technology and Communications, spoke of the policy in relation to the new announcement and enthused, “We are pleased that global companies are responding to the new national policy on semiconductors. Signet Solar’s state-of-the-art photovoltaic technology will play an important role in building nano-manufacturing infrastructure in India and deliver clean energy for sustainable, environmentally friendly growth.”


Large area thin film solar PV modules are in high demand in the utility and commercial market segment, with thin film modules expected to play a vital role in peak power production and stand-alone applications by avoiding massive investments in power infrastructure. The Spiritus Group, a leading industrial gas consultancy, estimates that the end-use segment of electronics is set to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 10.5% and will present a significant mode of industrial gas demand.


Signet Solar has already agreed a turnkey contract for gas services and supply with the US’ Air Products for a new PV module production facility in Mochau, Germany, announced in January 2008.

[Subra]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/3100335.cms

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has dismissed a batch of petitions challenging the acquisition of land by the Tamil Nadu Government at Orgadam in Kancheepuram District for setting up a Special Economic Zone.

In his order, Justice P Jyothimani said "considering the industrial development of the state and the fact that 6,500 land owners, except the 16 (petitioners), had either accepted the compensation or surrendered lands by accepting the acquisition proceedings, I am of the view that the petitioners are not entitled for any relief as claimed,"

The petitioners M Haridas and 15 others, who sought a direction to restrain the state industrial department from proceeding with the land acquisition for the project coming up on an area of 395.87 hectare, contended that they were middle class people with houses or sites on which they were running shops, their only source of livelihood.

On the petitioners' plea that some portion of the land proposed to be acquired was meant for religious and small scale industrial purposes, the Judge said they could make proper representation to the government, which in turn should consider them in accordance with law.

If the petitioners were already carrying on some industrial activities at the site, they could make proper representation to concerned authorities after the acquisition proceedings were over for the purpose of allotment of land, the judge said.

[senthil2001msk]

Manufacturing success: India prepares its road map for the next growth route

http://www.livemint.com/2008/06/0422...s-India-p.html
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Core constraints: The Nokia factory at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. India’s physical infrastructure has been running behind its potential to grow, but the government is hopeful it will catch up within a few years.


For a few years now, a facile dichotomy has made the rounds in economic circles: Among developing countries, China means manufacturing and India means services. Yet, several leaders of the public and private sector in India see the country’s road to riches leading through manufacturing as well.
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[Subra]

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...s/14061507.htm

NEW DELHI: Vehicle maker Renault Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd (RNAIPL) on Friday kicked off construction work for its new passenger vehicle plant in Chennai, which will have a capacity of four lakh units a year and will be set up with an investment of Rs 4,500 crore.

The company today held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site in Chennai. "This is an important day in Chennai for Renault, Nissan, our local employees and the community".

"The new project is a very tangible result of the strength and success of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, and is a clear indicator of RNAIPL's long-term strategy for this important market," Mr Shohei Kimura, Managing Director, RNAIPL said in a statement.

The facility, which is expected to begin operations in 2010, would have an annual production capacity of four lakh vehicles for both local market and export.

RNAIPL is a 50:50 joint venture between Renault and Nissan to manufacture passenger vehicles and has a minimum investment plan of Rs 4,500 crore in the country. Earlier last month, Renault-Nissan Alliance entered into a joint venture with the country's two wheeler major Bajaj to develop, produce and market a low-cost car by 2011, which will be priced at $2,500.

Besides, Renault has planned to produce several cars on the Logan as well as other platforms.

"It is currently developing a product range to best match Indian customers' needs, tastes and dreams," the company said. On the other hand, Nissan would produce a family of models based on its new A-platform, including Micra. - PTI

[Subra]

Originally Posted by senthil2001msk

Chennai, May 26 (IANS) Indian commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland Ltd and Japanese Nissan Motor Company have floated three joint venture companies, with a total investment of around Rs.23 billion ($575 million), for manufacture of light commercial vehicles (LCV), power trains and technology development. For this purpose, the two companies signed their Master Cooperation Agreement last October, and formalised it now.

Ashok Leyland Nissan Vehicles Pvt Ltd, the vehicle manufacturing company, will be owned 51 percent by Ashok Leyland and 49 percent by Nissan. Nissan Ashok Leyland Powertrain Pvt Ltd, the power train manufacturing company, will be owned 51 percent by Nissan and 49 percent by Ashok Leyland, while Nissan Ashok Leyland Technologies Pvt Ltd will be a 50:50 owned the technology development company.

The vehicle manufacturing enterprise will involve a capacity of 100,000 vehicles in the first phase, to be scaled up subsequently. The plant would come up at Chennai and is expected to start production from 2010-11. Among the three platforms identified, covering applications up to 7.5 tonne Gross Vehicle Weight, is an all-new generation Nissan Atlas F24 light-duty truck.

In addition, an all-new engine is being developed specifically for LCV applications, as part of the range of Euro-3 and Euro-4 compliant diesel engines.

“The balanced joint venture structure facilitates meaningful contribution from both partners and the best opportunity to leverage their respective strengths,” said R.Seshasayee, managing director, Ashok Leyland.

Speaking about the venture, Nissan executive vice-president Carlos Tavares said, “We made another important step in the creation of a solid structure that will allow Nissan and Ashok Leyland to enter successfully the LCV market in India and global markets.”

Still keeping my fingers crossed as the MOU is not signed. An article in Hindu Business Line quoted that it is a toss between Sriperumpudur and TADA. Since Nissan-Leyland had formally applied for land and cleared by TN cabinet, I hope they will select Sriperumpudur.

[senthil2001msk]

Trivitron to invest Rs 170 crore for technology park


http://www.expresspharmaonline.com/2...market11.shtml


Trivitron group of companies has laid the foundation stone for construction of Trivitron's Medical Technology Park (TMTP) at the SIPCOT industrial park, Irungattukottai, Sriperambadur. This park is first of its kind in India and will also have collaborations with the world renowned medical technology companies. Trivitron has signed three joint ventures with Aloka from Japan, Biosystems of Spain, and Brandon Medical, a UK based company, to manufacture black and white ultrasound systems and colour dopplers, wide range of diagnostics reagents and shadowless high end operating theatre lights.

TMTP is spread over an area of 23 acres and will see an investment of over Rs 250 crore in the first phase of the project. Trivitron also plans to invest Rs 170 crore in the project and the remaining Rs 80 crore will be raised through various joint ventures. The upcoming facility will be built at par with international manufacturing standards and the layout abides the FDA and CE norms. Trivitron is also exploring the option of converting the park into SEZ after acquiring another two-acre land in the same location.

The aim of the park is to develop high quality, cost effective medical technology products suited to the needs of developing countries. This will also enhance the accessibility and affordability of these products to the rural mass. The company will primarily focus on producing medical technology products for emerging markets with particular emphasis on South Asia, Middle East and African Markets. Trivitron will focus on manufacturing of medical equipments in the areas of critical care, cardiac care, imaging and routine laboratory diagnostics. For the initial phase, it will manufacture products with the support of its in-house technology and R&D department, which would include products like x-ray machines, C arm, ECG machines, stress test systems and Holter monitors, syringe and infusion pumps, haematology reagents, haemodialysis concentrates etc. All products manufactured in the TMTP will be CE and US FDA approved and will be sold in all the emerging markets across the world apart from India.

"Our aim is to position India as an alternate viable low cost manufacturing hub in the global manufacturing map of medical technology products," said Dr G S K Velu, Managing Director, Trivitron. On choosing Chennai, he opined, "Chennai has always been the most sought after destination for top multinational companies in the areas of automobiles, electronics, and software etc due to its industrial friendly policies. Moreover, the Government of Tamil Nadu has proactively helped us in bringing this project to the state. The MTP proposes to employ over 1,000 people in the coming three years and will create abundant employment opportunities for the people of Tamil Nadu. The products manufactured in MTP will be priced 30 to 50 percent less than the current MRP."

Yoshihiro Yoshikawa, President, Aloka, Japan, said, "We are pleased to partner with Trivitron in this project, which is sure to change the face of the medical technology manufacturing industry in India. The demand for high quality ultra sound equipments is constantly increasing. The domestic manufacturing will help in keeping a check on the rising cost of healthcare in India. Our rudimentary objective is making quality healthcare affordable to the Indian population that has grown to 1.13 billion people." Initially, Trivitron will use 15 acres of land for manufacturing its products through technology transfer arrangements and remaining 10 acres will be allotted to its JV companies.

[Arul Murugan]

Work on Renault-Nissan car plant gets under way

Special Correspondent

Passenger cars to be rolled out from the facility by 2010

CHENNAI: The ground-breaking ceremony of the Rs. 4,500-crore Renault-Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd (RNAIPL) car manufacturing plant was performed at Oragadam near Chennai on Friday, with the company officials promising to roll out the first passenger car by 2010.

Top officials of the company took part in the ceremony, while Industries Secretary M.F. Farooqui unveiled the plaque.

Renault and Nissan are holding 50 per cent stake each in the new company that proposes to manufacture 400,000 passenger cars a year. The cars are meant for domestic as well as export markets.

Essential suppliers are also planning to set up their base in Oragadam as well as in Pillaipakkam. RNAIPL would procure most of its components from its vendors, who are being allotted around 250 acres of land and their investment is estimated to be over Rs. 1,000 crore.

Three models


In his address, Nissan Motor Co senior vice-president Colin Dodge said that Nissan proposes to produce a family of three models based on its new A-platform, including the next generation of Micra.

“India is one of the five leading competitive countries to produce the new A-platform models. The development of a competitive A-platform is one of the several business breakthroughs announced as part of Nissan GT 2012, the company’s new five-year business plan. We are fully committed to India and would offer only the best. The new compact cars would address the needs of larger section of society,” he added.

Renault Group executive vice-president – Manufacturing and Logistics Michel Gornet said that Renault plans to produce several cars on the Logan platform and on the other platforms as well. Renault is currently developing a product range to match Indian customers’ needs, tastes and dreams and this called for setting up a new facility in Oragadam.

Mr. Farooqui said that the establishment of RNAIPL added brand value to Tamil Nadu as an investment destination and it also opened up new areas of employment.

He also said that a major portion of land was handed over to the company to begin the construction activities.

Traditional start: Shohei Kimura, corporate vice-president of Nissan Motor Co Ltd, participating in the ground breaking ceremony at Oragadam, near Chennai on Friday.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/07/stor...0753530500.htm

[senthil2001msk]

Moserbaer signs MOU with TN Government

http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews...TEGORYNAME=CHN
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Chennai, June 09: : New Delhi-based leading optical storage media manufacturer Moser Baer (India) which had chosen Chennai to set up a Rs 2,000 crore solar photovoltaic fabrication facility had signed an MOU with the TN Government today

This signals a new era in the state's emergence as an electronics manufacturing hub.


The solar PV facility is expected to come up on 120 acres at the Oragadam-Sriperumbudur SIPCOT SEZ. However, the company has sought about 250 acres for its Chennai unit, provisioning for future expansion. The plant will be developed in two stages. In the first stage, a single thin-film solar fabrication facility will be set up following the land acquisition process, according to Moser Baer officials.


In the initial phase, the plant would create around 3,000 jobs, including for engineers and research scientists, said Deepak Puri, managing director, Moser Baer India. The company expects to fund its Chennai expansion through internal growth accruals. The plant is expected to generate revenues to the tune of $1 billion over the next 3-5 years.


Puri said Moser Baer had decided to move into Tamil Nadu due to the support of a progressive government, efficient administration and investor-friendly policies followed by the state. M. H. Farooqui secretary, industries, government of Tamil Nadu, signed the MOU on behalf of the T N Government and Deepak Puri CMD of Moserbaer signed on behalf of Moserbaer India Ltd., in the presence of M Karunanidhi Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, A Raja Union minister for communications and the chief secretary L K Tripathi.


The global photovoltaic market is on a high growth curve, with sales expected to grow over six times


The company is also working on the "thin-film" technology to make solar cells. It had announced an investment of $250 million (around Rs 1,110 crore) over the next three years to set up the largest thin-film solar fabrication (fab) facility in the world.


Thin-film solar modules are ideal for energy farms, rural applications and building integrated photovoltaic markets. - Staff Reporter

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[vinothvasagar]

CHENNAI: Work on the Rs.993-crore water desalination plant in Chennai South will commence within 3 or 4 months. It will be completed in 18 months, Chief Secretary L.K.Tripathy said here on Tuesday.

Addressing a workshop on ‘Industrial and Municipal Water Management,’ organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry in association with the Netherlands Business Support Office and Norit India, he said the 100-million-litre-a-day (MLD) desalination plant is being set up at Nemmeli on the DBOOT (design, build, own, operate and transfer) basis.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi held a review meeting with Mr.Tripathy and senior officials on the desalination plant being set up in Kattupalli near Minjur. Sixtythree per cent of the work was over and the Rs. 500 crore-100 MLD plant would become operational by January 2009. It would be fully operational by April-May 2009.

Later, Mr. Tripathy told The Hindu that the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) would select a consultant this month for supplying recycled waste water for industries in Sriperumbudur, Oragadam and Irungattukottai and tenders for the Rs. 680 crore-project would be floated within six months.
The project would come up in three phases of 40 MLD each and water would be made available to industrial units by the third year. The first two plants built on DBOOT are being set up at Nesapakkam and Koyambedu. The work on taking Cauvery drinking water to Ramnathapuram district by traversing 260 km would be completed by April-May 2009. It would benefit at least four districts, he said.

The Chief Secretary said that the State government was keen on providing quality water by investing over Rs.4,000 crore in the above schemes. He added that Hogenakkal drinking water project was aimed at supplying quality water to those affected by fluoride.

M. Holterman, Norit Chief Growth Officer, termed Chennai as the Water Scarcity Capital of India and said immediate steps had to be taken to address it. He asked the Indian entrepreneurs to develop and implement sustainable water strategy as time was running out.

FICCI Tamil Nadu State Council chairman M. Rafeeque Ahmed said a 7,200 kilo-litre-a-day effluent treatment plant for tanneries at Vaniyambadi-Vellore region would become operational in a couple of months.