India's largest building materials maker Saint-Gobain India and part of the French multinational Saint-Gobain, has started new manufacturing facilities at its World Glass Complex at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. The Glass Complex at Sriperumbudur is Saint Gobain's largest investment at a single manufacturing destination globally, with a cumulative investment of over ₹3,750 crore.
A new float glass plant, an integrated windows line and a major social forestry project investing ₹500 crore was inaugurated yesterday by Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin, in the presence of Benoit Bazin, CEO of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain and B.Santhanam, CEO, Asia Pacific & India Region, Saint-Gobain.
"Our experience in India has been extremely good and have sustained high growth rates for a long period and have leadership positions in building materials (glass & glass solutions, gypsum, mortars, insulation and construction chemicals). We are today the No.1 company in light and sustainable construction in India," said Benoit Bazin.
Santhanam said Saint Gobain has made investments close to ₹4,700 crore in Tamil Nadu across 15 plants in four locations. A R Unnikrishnan, managing director of Saint-Gobain India's Glass Business said the company has over 50% of India's float glass manufacturing capacity and 60% of its float glass investments are in Tamil Nadu in the World Glass Complex.
In a recent interview with Fortune India, Santanam had said the company was targeting to triple its revenues to over ₹30,000 crore within the next decade and was planning to invest ₹2,500 crore in next two years. About 85% of its ₹10,000 crore revenues come from building construction solutions and nearly 95% of the products sold in India are made in India at various locations. The French multinational has so far invested over ₹8,000 crore in India.