Netherlands’ Rockwool opens Rs144-cr plant in Dahej
16 May 2011
The Netherlands-based Rockwool, one of the world's largest makers of stone wool products for insulation applications, has opened a greenfield factory in Dahej in Gujarat for manufacturing such products, with an investment of about Rs144 crore.
The factory has the capacity to produce 30,000 tonnes per annum of stone wool, and plans to employ 200 people once in full production. It also claims green technology that will save 1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year.
The company will produce a wide range of high quality stone wool insulation products for the insulation of industrial plants and buildings at such plants. Each of these products is developed for its specific application and offers thermal, fire, and acoustic protection, with sustainable performance.
Talking about the new plant, Ian Russell, business unit director for export and the UK, Rockwool Technical Insulation, said, "Rockwool stone wool products reach all parts of the globe. While Europe is still the strongest region in our operations, sales and production activities in Asia – and especially in India - are growing significantly every year.''
He added, ''Moreover, this new plant opens opportunities for export to the Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which are also big markets for technical insulation."
Samson Suresh, general manager of the Rockwool sales office in Mumbai, said, "We see India as a high potential market, as industry is well aware of the need to lower both costs and environmental impact by saving energy and reducing CO2 emissions.''
Effective insulation in the building and construction and in industry can save millions of tonnes of CO2 emissions, helping to protect the environment, while at the same time saving operators millions of rupees. Investing in insulation can be extremely profitable, with annual returns on investment reaching 100 per cent, the company says.
Rockwool has installed insulation for technical installations around the world in one year that will save nearly 4,000 million tonnes of CO2 in its lifetime.