Kewaunee Scientific Corporation, global manufacturer and international supplier of laboratory cabinetry and fume hoods has invested Rs 15 crore in India to set up a full-fledged production plant in the country through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) route. The facility which is a Greenfield project is located on the Bommasandra-Jigani Road in Bangalore. It is the company's first state-of-the-art manufacturing plant outside the USA in Bangalore complying with SEFA (Scientific Equipment and Furniture Association) standards.
The plant will manufacture lab infrastructure including fume hoods, lab accessories and bio-safety cabinets. It is also expected to serve as the hub for the supply of Kewaunee products throughout the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the production and export of selected products to the USA. It allows the company to customise solutions to cater to the chemical and pharmaceuticals industry, which includes laboratory layouts, design, detailed mechanical and HVAC designs, gas distribution system, fire suppression systems, information management system, to provide a world-class scientific laboratory.
The company expanded its direct presence in India in 2000 with the establishment of Kewaunee Labway India Pvt Ltd, which is the sales organization covering India, with its central office located in Bangalore. This was followed by the establishment of Kewaunee Scientific Corporation India Pvt Ltd in 2002, which began with an assembly plant operation at the Bommasandra Industrial Area in Bangalore.
A plant in India is an effort of the long-term commitment by the company in the rapidly-growing Asia-Pacific laboratory research market. India was considered as a much preferred location over China because Kewaunee had a base in the country. The huge market opportunity allows the parent company to sustain the investment. For customers here, it not only gives the cost advantage and world class quality access but will allow project completion at a faster pace avoiding import delays, B Sathya Murthy, managing director, Kewaunee Labway India Pvt Ltd, told Pharmabiz.
The company's presence in India witnessed rapid growth. It has a dedicated team of 175 associates across the country, who work closely with customers on all aspects of the laboratory project. With over 800 laboratory projects completed here for Biocon, Dr Reddy's, Cipla and Hikal in the pharma sector, Kewaunee has become the market leader in India to provide turnkey laboratory construction. In addition, the combination of superior service and products has resulted in an enviable 95 per cent client retention record.
William A Shumaker, president and chief executive officer of Kewaunee Scientific Corporation USA who was in India said, "The modern plant in Bangalore provides further assurance to our customers that they will receive the same high quality products whether they are manufactured in India or in the USA. Our objective is to quadruple sales, manpower and investments in India over the next five years."
The North Carolina-based Kewaunee Scientific Corporation was set up in 1906. It is a global leader in design, manufacture, and installation of laboratory furniture products, including steel and wood cabinetry, fume hoods, bio-safety hoods, flexible systems, clean benches, exhaust systems, and work surfaces. Kewaunee Labway Asia Pte. Ltd. was established in Singapore in 1997 to further expand and support sales. Recently the company was recognised by Fortune Small Business Magazine as one of the 100 fastest-growing small public companies in the USA.