Schott AG may make India its global hub

The ¤2-billion German multinational Schott AG, a world leader in pharma pack glass tubing, has plans to make India its global hub for production if the power scenario here turns favourable both in terms of tariff and consistency.

The diversified multinational group, through its Indian subsidiary Schott Glass India, is also investing an additional Rs 40 crore to double the capacity of its pharmaceutical tubing manufacturing plant at Baroda, said Udo Ungeheuer, chairman, Schott AG.

Schott, which develops and manufactures speciality materials, components and systems in the areas of pharma packaging, solar energy and home appliances, has a 6,500 tonne glass tubing manufacturing plant at Baroda. The plan is to hike capacity at this plant to 13000 tonne per annum.

The company is also planning to enter the fast emerging solar energy sector with its photovoltaic modules and also introduce glass ceramic cooktops in the home appliances components sector in India.

The company is currently in talks with a few channel partners in these two areas in India and would make its presence felt in the country by the next year, Ungeheuer said.

"In the solar energy sector, we see huge potential here as the government plans to electrify all villages by 2012. The government's plan to increase the share of energy generated form renewable sources to five per cent by the time too holds promise," he said.

Though Schott Glass India is currently enjoying over 75 per cent market share in the pharma tubing market, 80 per cent of the production at the Baroda plant is currently exported to its parent's markets abroad.