Pune : Haier, the global leader in home appliances and consumer electronics and world’s number one brand in Major Appliances for the seventh consecutive year, today announced the initiation of the expansion of their manufacturing facility in Pune by hosting an official ground breaking ceremony conducted in the factory premises in Ranjangaon.
The new development aims to boost the employment opportunities at Haier by 167 percent by the end of 2017. The event was addressed by Eric Braganza, President Haier Appliances India and Song Yujun, Managing Director, Haier Group.
Zheng Xiyuan, the Consul General of the Chinese Consulate General in Mumbai, was the guest of honour at the event.
The event was conducted to initiate the expansion of Haier’s manufacturing facility in Pune, Maharashtra, after the company signed an MoU last year with the Maharashtra Government to invest Rs. 490 crore in line with the Central Government’s “Make in India” initiative.
The investment is aimed to scale up the production capacity of existing categories in the factory like refrigerators, while also introducing manufacturing operations for new product lines like, washing machines, air conditioners, LED panels, and water heaters.
With this development, the company also plans to generate employment opportunities in the state and increase the existing workforce from 1100 to 2900. Further, the company will also set up a Research and Development center in the city to enhance the innovation and production excellence in the country articulating the brand’s philosophy of ‘inspired living’. The expansion will likewise serve as an open door for the vendors and OEMs, bringing about an expanded business with increased local production and lesser imports of products.
The company also won the prestigious ‘Make in India Awards for Excellence’ under the consumer durable category in the year 2015 for contribution to the growth of the country’s economy.
Commenting on the occasion, Eric Braganza, President Haier India, said, “It is a moment of great pride for the company to officially expand the 1st manufacturing facility of the brand in the country by hosting the Groundbreaking Ceremony. Focusing on the company’s commitment to begin manufacturing in the country in alignment with the Make in India stance, products across all categories will be manufactured at the factory. Further, continuing the legacy of making innovative and revolutionary products and in accordance with the expansion of the manufacturing facility, Haier aims to gradually reduce the dependence on imports and increase exports from the country to aggressively contribute to the growth of the Indian economy. ”
Yujun, MD, Haier India, being optimistic on the growth in India said, “Globally, Haier Group has been a pioneer in home solutions and appliances technology and has enjoyed a great market share across the world. The growth demonstrated by Haier India in the recent few years has been phenomenal and we’re really optimistic about the company’s position in the country. The expansion of Haier’s manufacturing facility in Pune further strengthens the group’s focus on India.”
Initiated in January 2004, Haier Appliances (India) P. Ltd is a 100 percent subsidiary of Haier Group. Headquartered in New Delhi, Haier India has 33 operations spread from Bombay, Bangalore, Chennai to Calcutta and a complete distribution network throughout the country as well as a manufacturing facility in Pune. Haier India employs 540 staff (On Pay Rolls), among which 272 of them are with the sales team while the other 268 are front-line employees.
Products offerings of Haier India range from refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, TVs, water heaters, freezers to microwave ovens, with a special focus on local needs. For example, washing machines that work at nearly Zero Water Pressure help solve the biggest challenge that Indian consumers face in their daily lives, while Haier BMR refrigerators have also been well received by Indian consumers due to its large refrigeration capacity which caters to local people’s dietary habits. A larger refrigeration capacity means consumers can store more vegetables while the refrigerator also makes people’s lives easier by placing the refrigerating chamber at the top of the machine.
Haier is the world’s leading home appliance provider, with global revenues amounting to US$ 30.3 billion and profits of US$ 2.89 billion in 2015. Its mission is to create innovative products according to the demands of our customers. Haier has been named the number one global home appliance brand every year for the last seven years by Euromonitor International, a world leader in strategy research for consumer markets, and in 2012 the Boston Consulting Group named Haier one of the ten most innovative companies in the world as well as the most innovative company in the consumer and retail category. Its global headquarters are based in the Chinese city of Qingdao and it also has regional headquarters in Paris, New York and Tokyo to serve its clients in Europe, America and Asia.
Haier also has five R&D centers, 66 trading companies and 21 industrial parks worldwide. Haier Electronics Group Co., Ltd. a subsidiary of the Haier Group, is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKG: 1169). By drawing on its competitive strengths in marketing, the Internet, logistics and services, Haier Electronics Group aims to provide an integrated and unrivalled consumer experience. Qingdao Haier Co., also a subsidiary of Haier Group, is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SHA: 600690) and focuses on driving innovation in smart home technologies. (ANI)