Alfa Laval set to double capacity

Alfa Laval India, the domestic subsidiary of Swedish engineering major Alfa Laval AB, plans to double its manufacturing capacity over the next 2-3 years.

"Alfa Laval India will take the brownfield route for expansion. As much as 80 per cent of the decanters "� an equipment used for separating liquid from solid "� manufactured would be exported to countries in Europe, Americas and Asia. More than 50 per cent of the separators and fluid handling equipment would be exported," said Nish Patel, the newly appointed managing director of Alfa Laval India.

Alfa Laval India manufactures 1,000 heat exchangers, 700 separators and 1 lakh fluid handling equipment at its plants in Pune, Sarole and Satara in Maharashtra. It has already doubled its decanter manufacturing capacity to 800 units.

Industry sources said the company would invest around Rs 200 crore for the expansion plan. Patel, however, declined to elaborate. He attributed good domestic as well as overseas demand for the company's products to the rationale for the proposed expansion plan.

The parent company holds more than 65 per cent in Alfa Laval India. The company manufactures engineering equipment for sectors namely power, metals, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, automobile and construction.