Legrand to source metals, appliances from India

Legrand, the euro 3 billion French electrical appliances company, is planning to source raw materials such as steel, copper, ABS (plastic used in making appliances) and DMC, a component for electric circuit breakers, from India. Subsidiary, Legrand India, will help its parent in selecting the vendors.

"India would offer us metals and raw materials at a cheaper rate. The company is also impressed about Indian engineering and manufacturing skills," said Benoit Lecuyer, managing director, Legrand India.

Legrand will also source wiring devices such as switches, sockets and plugs. Further, the French major is planning to make India the information technology support centre for its global operations.

Meanwhile, Legrand India is also looking at penetrating the domestic wiring devices market. Legrand controls about 5-6 per cent of the domestic market. Players such as Anchor and Havells are its closest competitors.

Legrand, which has been operating in the country since 1995, registered a turnover of Rs 180 crore for the year ended December 2005.

"We would be targeting mass housing, hotels, airports and information technology and business process outsourcing establishments," said Lecuyer. Legrand operates in 60 countries with sales in over 160 countries.

The firm has a share of 6 per cent in the worldwide market, with 18 per cent in switches and sockets and 15 per cent in cable management systems.