Food processing, packaging and weighing equipment manufacturer Heat and Control has opened a new manufacturing facility in Chennai, India, which has a manufacturing area of more than 11,800m2.
Building on a foundation of 35 years supporting the India market, Heat and Control has invested in a new, purpose built facility at Mahindra World City.
The company first established a sales office in Chennai 20 years ago but our growing team and customer base, and decision to begin local manufacture necessitated a larger site.
Tony Caridis – President, Heat and Control, said: “Heat and Control’s global strategy is to grow our business in areas where we will make a positive difference to our customers. Our recent operational investment in India reinforces the local facility and represents a strong commitment to provide direct access to our manufactured equipment, expertise, and support. I congratulate the amazing Heat and Control team that has worked hard to make this project a reality."
Built in the Mahindra World City – a new purpose-built business hub just 65km from the center of Chennai – the facility encompasses a modern technical center and office space of 2500m2. Mahindra World City, Chennai is India's first operational Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and India's first Integrated Business City.
Built on the model of sustainable urbanization Mahindra World City has grown from a bed of business, infrastructure and sustainable practices before evolving into a completely integrated city and is now a mature business district with leading companies such as Infosys, BMW, Braun, Renault-Nissan, Lincoln Electric, among others having set up within its premises.
“We are extremely excited about the opening of our new manufacturing and office facility in Chennai,” says Manoj Paul – General Manager, South Asia. “This facility is outfitted with the same cutting-edge technology as all Heat and Control manufacturing sites, and it is well positioned to service our existing and new customers with advanced manufacturing equipment and techniques.”
The facility, which has the latest manufacturing equipment such as laser cutting technology, sheet metal machinery and bead blasting technology, incorporates energy efficiency standards replicated from Heat and Control’s global manufacturing facilities.
The technical canter, which will be operational by the end of 2017, and will cover an area of over 750m2, allowing customers to test new products and production techniques with guidance from on-site food technologists and engineers. To showcase the workmanship and quality, the technical center will have equipment manufactured in the new facility.
A showroom will also display a range of Heat and Control equipment. Both the technical center and showroom will be operational from 2017.
First off the manufacturing line at the new Chennai facility will be a range of snack processing equipment. “We already have orders for Namkeen lines and potato chip production lines, which incorporate our HeatWave® Fryer and Mastermatic® range of fryers,” says Manoj. “And the pipeline of projects looks very promising. We will be servicing a very wide region, which not only covers the Indian subcontinent but also extends across Asia. This will position Heat and Control with an even greater foothold in the global food production market.”
Around 100 people from a range of departments, including sales, service, manufacturing and engineering will be located at the new site, with capacity to increase to around 200 personnel in the future.
Jim Strang, Chief Executive Officer of Heat and Control's International operations, sees the new facility as a way to serve the ever-increasing developing markets in the region, whilst also supporting the company’s other manufacturing operations in the USA, Australia and China. “We are continuously growing and moving into new markets. Our customers are constantly developing new products to cater for evolving consumer tastes and trends. This facility will allow us to align ourselves with our increasing customer base in Asia and will also allow collaboration on projects with our International teams.”
Heat and Control’s Chennai facility is easily accessible by air and road, with Chennai International Airport only 35km away and a highway which connects the business district with the center of Chennai. The Chennai port is a distance of 55km away.
