Atlas Copco to make compressors at Chakan

Atlas Copco (India) Limited, which celebrated its silver jubilee celebration last year, is setting up a new facility at Chakan, Pune to roll out stationary industrial compressors and portable compressors. The Indian arm of the Stockholm-based firm has earmarked Rs. 100 crore for the greenfield unit, which will be commissioned by the second half of 2012. However, Atlas Copco's existing plant in Dapodi, Pune will focus on the production of oil-free compressors. "The outlook for India's economic development remains good and we now have an excellent opportunity to significantly increase production capacity in the country, with a modern facility and efficient logistics," says Stephan Kuhn, Business Area President, Atlas Copco Compressor Technique. Atlas Copco foresees strong growth in compressors in all industries where it is present, including oil and gas, power generation, heavy industries (such as cement and steel), infrastructure, chemical and pharmaceutical industry, along with broad general manufacturing industrial sector. Atlas Copco, which employs about 2300 people in India, currently manufactures compressed air equipment at one plant in Pune-Dapodi, while construction and mining equipment are manufactured in Nasik and Hyderabad. The Group also has engineering centers located in Pune and in Bangalore, supporting the development of products in India and globally.