Eastman to expand

Eastman Cast and Forge Ltd, part of the Rs 300-crore Ludhiana-based Eastman group, is expanding. By 2009, the company will set up a power tools manufacturing plant at Ludhiana with an initial investment of Rs 5 crore.

This plant will be set up keeping in mind the real estate and infrastructure boom in Punjab and the country. Thirty-seven different models of power tools will be manufactured at the unit.

Speaking to Business Standard, Company Director Ranjodh Singh said: "At present, our company is selling 37 models (32 regular and 5 professional models) of power tools in the country. Five of them are manufactured at our Ludhiana plant and 32 of them are imported from Taiwan. Research and development of power tools takes some extra time because for manufacturing a power tool, almost 300 different parts are used. Once our plant gets operational, all the power tools will be manufactured here."

He said the company will also be covering wood-work, industrial, garage, fabrication and electrician segments.