Haier Announces Investment Plans To Expand Manufacturing Facility in India-Haier India

Proposed investment of 370 crores as long-term commitment to Indian government’s “Make in India” campaign
Plans to introduce manufacturing for new product lines viz., Refrigerators, Deep Freezers, ACs, Washing Machines, Water Heaters and LEDs

New Delhi May 29, 2015- Haier, the global leader in Home Appliances & Consumer Electronics and World’s Number 1 brand in Major Appliances for the 6th Consecutive Year*, today announced mega investment plans for expansion of the company’s manufacturing facility in the country as part of the Indian government’s ‘Make In India’ agenda. The investment plans to expand Haier’s existing manufacturing facility at Ranjangaon, Pune has resulted after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Govt. of Maharashtra and Haier Group in China. The proposed investment of 370 crores will scale up manufacturing operations of the company in India by introducing production of new product lines like, washing machines, air conditioners, LED panels, water heaters and deep freezers, apart from refrigerators. By 2017, Haier plans to increase the manpower by 120% to 2600 employees, across the country. The expansion will also serve as an additional opportunity for the vendors & OEMs, resulting in an increased 50% vendor employment.

In line with Haier’s global localization policy, the investment will enable the company to strengthen local R & D, to fortify capabilities to manufacture customer inspired product innovations for the Indian consumers. This will eventually enable the company to decrease dependence on imports hence, increasing value for money for consumers while making the distribution network more robust. The existing facility is sprawled over 40 acres of land in Ranjangaon, Pune, out of which 1/3rd area is currently utilized for manufacturing refrigerators at the capacity of 1 million units per year. By 2017, the company aims to utilize the remaining area available and increase the production capacity across product categories.

Commenting on the development, Mr. Eric Braganza, President Haier India said, “The expansion of our current facility in India is a testimony of our commitment to contribute to Indian Government’s flagship agenda ‘Make in India’, through which we will continue to focus on innovating and developing customer inspired products.” He further added, “At Haier Group, localization has been at the core of the business since its inception, which has helped the company to gain market leadership in several countries. We are positive that this expansion opens multiple opportunity areas not just for Haier but also for our consumers, employees, dealers and other key stakeholders.”

The expansion and scaling up of Haier’s manufacturing facility in India will play a significant role in increasing demand, catering to the increasing demand in the local market, increasing export volumes and exploring opportunities to enter new markets as the company will continue to strengthen local manufacturing prowess.

About Haier India

Haier India is a 100 percent subsidiary of Haier Group, which is one of the fastest growing consumer durables companies in the world. Haier is world’s no. 1 brand of Major Appliances* for the 6th consecutive year, as per Euromonitor. Haier is also world’s no.1 brand in Refrigeration appliances, Home Laundry appliances, Freezer and Wine Chillers. The company initiated its commercial operations in January 2004. It offers a wide range of products in all of 7 categories like Panels (LED/LCD TV’s), Water Heaters, Refrigerators, Wine Cellars, Washing Machines, Water Heaters and Deep Freezers. Every Haier product stemmed from innovation and technology and has been inspired and designed keeping the day-to-day customer needs in mind. Haier has its manufacturing facility at Ranjangaon in Pune district of Maharashtra, which has capability to manufacture Refrigerators, CTVs and Washing Machines. Haier is upgrading the new facility with state-of-the-art equipment’ to create a Research & Development facility for refrigerators. Haier is known for introducing innovative products in the country and is best remembered for its revolutionary Bottom Mount Refrigerators, launched for the first time in India followed by the patented Double Drive technology in Washing Machines. LCDs with motion gaming technology, Washing machines with NZP (Near Zero Pressure) technology, 3 door refrigerators with smart convertible space, Water heaters with music functions are examples of continuous innovation at Haier for the Indian market.

About Haier Group

The Haier group was set up in 1984 in Qingdao, China. In just over two decades as per Euromonitor Statistics of 2003, Haier was ranked as the 2nd largest Home Appliances brand in the world. According to Euromonitor statistics of 2008, Haier branded Refrigerators have been ranked as number 1 worldwide. The group has emerged as a top multinational, manufacturing a wide range of home appliances and consumer electronics products with 15 Industrial Parks globally including USA, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and South Asia other than its robust presence in China. Haier’s revenues have shot up fourfold since 2000 with an annual Group turnover of 180.3 billion yuan, US $ 29.5 billion. Haier has 24 industrial parks, 5 R&D centers, 66 trading companies, 143330 sales outlets and more than 70,000 employees around the world.The product range comprises of over 15,100 models in 96 categories. Continuous innovation is the soul of Haier’s corporate culture. Haier has been widely recognized as a leader of nine products in terms of domestic market shares and the 3rd player of three products in the world market and world-class company in the fields of home integration, network appliances, digital and large scale integrated circuits and new materials. Haier has long attached significance to innovation in satisfying the demands of worldwide consumers and realizing win-win performance between Haier and clients. Haier has currently obtained more than 7,000 patented technology certificates and 589 software intellectual property rights. Haier has hosted and taken part in modification of about 100 technological standards. Haier technology of safe care water heaters and dual drive washing machines has been proposed to the IEC Criteria.