Pilkington auto unit to go on stream in Nov

Visakhapatnam: The construction of Pilkington Automotive’s new project in Visakhapatnam district is well advanced and the unit is likely to go on stream in November, according to Mr Pat Zito, President of Pilkington Automotive Worldwide and Executive Director of the NSG Group.

At a press meet, he said the plant with capacity to produce 5 lakh vehicle windscreens a year was being set up in the vicinity of the Atchuthapuram Special Economic Zone in Visakhapatnam district at a cost of Rs 80 crore in the first phase. Initially, 350 jobs would be generated.

He said the ongoing project in India “demonstrates the NSG Group’s commitment to expanding business in the country and it is a key element in the overall strategy to be the world’s number one glass manufacturer”.

Mr Pat Zito said that in the second phase, Rs 120 crore would be invested and in the third Rs 500 crore.

After the completion of the project, 1,500 jobs would be generated. Initially, 13 acres for the first phase and 12 acres for the second had been acquired. For the third phase, 71 acres would be needed.

He said it was registered as an export-oriented unit, but it could sell part of the output in the domestic market too.

The initial output would, however, be exported and only in the second and third phases the company would concentrate on the Indian market, he explained.

He added that the flat glass business of the NSG Group, trading under the Pilkington brand, was one of the world’s largest, with operations in 29 countries.

Mr Vito Sassenelli, Vice-President (Manufacturing), Pilkington Automotive Worldwide; Mr Stephan Rosebrock, Director and Indian project head, and Mr G.S.V. Raja, Head (HR), also spoke.