Anil Sasi

New Delhi, Aug. 9

Metso Minerals is stepping up its India investments to cater to increased demand for crushing and vibrating equipment and pumps in the country, and related service products.

Besides a proposed manufacturing capacity ramp-up, the company — a subsidiary of the €6-billion Finnish engineering and technology group Metso Corporation — is also aiming to develop India as a sourcing hub for hardware, software and knowledge capital for overseas markets.

Having already invested €42 million in India during the last 12 months, Metso Minerals is pumping in a fresh €30 million in developing a 49-acre multi-functional industrial facility called Metso Park in Alwar over the next couple of years.

“India is a key strategic market for Metso and accounted for 20 per cent of our global investments last year… India ranks high in Metso’s strategy that focuses on increasing our global presence and the proposed investment in Metso Park is a step in that direction,” Mr Matti Kahkonen, President, Metso Minerals, told Business Line.

Helsinki-based Metso, which serves customers in the pulp and paper industry, rock and minerals processing, construction aggregate, power generation and automation sectors, has been operating in India since 1993 through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Metso Minerals India Pvt Ltd.

Metso currently has manufacturing facilities at Bawal in Haryana and Ahmedabad in Gujarat, both of which are in expansion mode.

While till recently, much of the company’s business in India came from the road sector and iron and coal processing business, it has now made inroads into the paper industry and the energy and petrochemical segments, he said.

With the proposed Metso Park, which is slated to host both Metso’s own operations and that of select key suppliers, kicking off, Metso aims to enhance its logistics, inventory control, operational quality and productivity as well as supplier relationships.

Operations at Metso Park are expected to commence in the second half of 2009.

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