"Century Plyboards Announces ₹2,000 Crore Investment Commitment in Andhra Pradesh"

In a major development, Century Plyboards (India) Ltd, a prominent player in the wood panel and decorative products manufacturing sector, has inaugurated its state-of-the-art integrated wood panel manufacturing plant in Badvel, YSR Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, with an initial investment of ₹1,000 crore. The company has also outlined plans for an additional ₹1,000 crore investment in the region.

The grand inauguration ceremony, held on Saturday, saw the presence of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Spanning over 100 acres, this newly established facility marks Century Plyboards' largest integrated wood panel production complex. Prior to this, the company's most significant greenfield project was located in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, involving a capital expenditure of ₹325 crore.

Speaking about the strategic choice of location, Keshav Bhajanka, Executive Director of Century PlyBoards (India) Ltd, highlighted the advantageous positioning of the Badvel facility. He stated, "South India itself is a huge market for MDF (medium density fibre), and availability of raw material is very good in Nellore and adjoining districts. The location of the plant is very conclusive as it is very well connected by road network to most parts of the country, particularly the South and East where we are looking to grow our business. Also, port connectivity will help us grow the laminates business. Overall, we chose this place due to the market, raw material security, and the strong government support by way of a dedicated water pipeline and electricity."

The company's substantial investment of nearly ₹1,000 crore in this greenfield project encompasses the expansion of capacities for laminate, MDF, and PVC. The first production phase includes two large-size presses for laminates, already operational, while the MDF and PVC units are in the advanced stage of commissioning.

This new facility is set to boost the company's production capacity in the MDF plant by an impressive 950 cubic meters, effectively doubling its footprint in the MDF segment. Bhajanka revealed the company's future plans, stating, "We have planned more investments in this location. In the second phase, we will invest another ₹1,000 crore in further capacity expansion." The commitment to ongoing expansion underscores Century Plyboards' strategic vision and commitment to robust growth in the region."

HBL