HÜBNER is Building a Green Factory in Bangalore, India
The HÜBNER Group is expanding its production capacities in India. Since September 2021, the company has been constructing a modern, low-energy building with production, administration and logistic facilities in the vicinity of Bangalore with a planned completion date set for the end of 2022. HUBNER India produces folding bellows and gangway systems for rail vehicles.
“We expect to achieve local as well as group-wide benefits through the expansion of our Indian location. Bangalore will strengthen our global production network, giving us more leverage in the future markets of India and Asia. In addition, the factory will also support other company locations thanks to its low production costs.”
Current major projects being handled by the company include supplying systems for metros in metropolitan Bangalore, Mumbai and Sydney, Australia. In addition, HUBNER India has secured an important order for the Vande Bharat Express (Train 18) of Indian Railways. In the coming years, the majority of these new trains will be equipped with gangway systems from HUBNER India.
Sustainable, Resource-Saving Approach
The new facility has the internal project name “Namma Factory” (or “our factory” in English) and has been designed as a green factory. For this purpose, HÜBNER contracted with the Indian company LEAD, which is specialized in environmentally friendly construction. At the new site, as little soil as possible has been moved for the construction. In addition, sustainable materials are being used and local companies are doing much of the work.
Environmental and climate protection are also a priority in the new facility’s heating and water systems. Solar panels will provide the energy, rainwater is being used and wastewater will be treated in the facility’s own sewage treatment plant.
New Possibilities in Important Markets
“The new facility will provide us with new possibilities for serving important markets in India and Asia.”
It is planned to increase the number of employees from the current 50-person workforce to 125 in the mid-term after completion of the new factory. The HÜBNER Group is investing a total of approximately €7 million in the project. The current premises have been leased and have now become too small.
New Facility in Future with 8,200 Square Meters
In 2016, HÜBNER acquired a 38,000-square-meter plot in Nelamangala close to Bangalore for the expansion plans. The new building will have a total area of 8,200 square meters, 6,500 of which will be for the production. By comparison: At the old location, only 700 square meters were used for production. The new facility is scheduled to go into operation in December 2022. In addition to sewing and assembly processes, complex metalwork processes such as CNC milling, bending and welding will also be possible for the first time.
“With our own location that has been designed precisely to fit our requirements, we will be able to serve the market more flexibly and reliably.”
Sperber explains that with the new facility the production will be less dependent on deliveries from other group locations and can be expanded significantly. The focus will be on local projects as well as on standardized, long-term projects with high volumes for the group.
This article was originally published by HÜBNER.
