Panasonic to put up largest Indian plant

Panasonic India has laid the foundation stone of its largest manufacturing unit in India at Jhajjar, Haryana. The construction of the manufacturing unit will commence in April 2011 and expected to be completed by April 2012. It will house facilities that can manufacture an estimated 25,000 sets of welding and cutting machines including 1,000,000 sets of air conditioners, 400,000 sets of washing machines and per annum with an investment of about US$200 million (about Rs. 908 crores) over a period of five years. Mass production will start in August 2012. The products are catered to the domestic market and the manufacturing unit will be providing employment to about 3,500 staff once it is fully developed and operational.

Mr. Daizo Ito, president, Panasonic India, said, “This manufacturing unit will be part of our consolidation in India. We have a growing confidence in the Indian market, and the response from our consumers. India is a very important market; especially for the global Panasonic direction. This manufacturing unit is definitely an important part of our business strategy in India. The manufacturing unit, which is spread over 76 acres, will be Panasonic’s first ‘eco ideas’ factory in India. Panasonic aims to be the world’s No. 1 Green Innovation Company in the electronics industry by 2018 and the company is moving towards this direction. The unit will target to reduce CO2 emissions, waste generation and promote eco communication.