Pune to host 'automation city'

Pune-based Precision Automation and Robotics India (PARI) is all set to launch its mega project, PARI Automation City (PAC), on the Pune-Bangalore National Highway.

The 'automation city' project is for the development, promotion and deployment of automated manufacturing technologies for the Indian as well as the global markets.

Ranjit Date, President, PARI, announced investment of Rs 258 crore being planned for the PARI Automation City.

"We plan to launch our first unit by March next year and the project is expected to be ready in fours years," Date told reporters.

PARI has acquired 73 acres for the project at Shirval town near Pune and has already entered into joint ventures with two global corporations. It has already been recognised as a mega project by the Government of Maharashtra.

"We have entered into a joint venture agreement with a French manufacturing company Cenetic to work on the final vehicle assembly solution. A Canadian company, Valient, has also entered into a joint venture with us for another project," Date added.

PARI, which logged revenues of Rs 107 crore during the last financial year (2006-07), aims to increase its topline to Rs 200 crore this year.

"We are already catering to automobile giants like Tata Motors, Mahindra International, Bajaj Auto, Hero Honda, TVS, General Motors and Ashok Leyland. We work with the companies to provide them solutions and develop manufacturing mechanisms for them," said Govind Jha, Director, PARI.

The automation city will recruit 1,200 people in addition to the 700 existing employees of PARI.