To accommodate business growth and a consequent increase in production and supply chain needs, Novozymes has obtained land on a long-term lease in the Patalganga Industrial Area near Mumbai. With an initial investment of approximately DKK 300 million (Rs. 300 crores) the company plans to set up a new enzyme production and supply chain facility. Expected to be ready for operation in 2018 it will employ 150 people in the first phase.
“We see a big opportunity in India and South-East Asia where knowledge-based innovations in the field of industrial enzymes can effectively replace polluting chemical processes and deliver environmental sustainability,” says Thomas Videbæk, Executive Vice President & COO, Research, Innovation & Supply at Novozymes. “Our business in the region has been growing strongly for years, to a point where we have outgrown the current facilities and need to expand for the future. We have chosen the new area for its size, proximity to customers, future business opportunities and good accessibility to ports, airports, highways and other industrial infrastructure.”
The new plant will produce enzymes using solid state fermentation and will also formulate enzymes imported from Novozymes’ production sites outside India. At present, the key business areas for Novozymes in India are the household care, textiles, food & beverages, oil & fats, baking, and beverage alcohol markets.
Two sites in India going forward
Novozymes has been present in India since 1983 and currently has three sites in Bangalore. The solid state fermentation and supply chain operations for the region will now move to the new production site near Mumbai, while all other functions will remain in Bangalore, including Novozymes’ Indian head office, Research & Development Center and the service centers that provide support to global operations.
“We will maintain some of our key functions in Bangalore, which has proven to be a great base for pushing sustainable, biological solutions to India and beyond,” continues Videbæk. “From now on, we will have two main sites in the country, and as we discover more Asian opportunities for our solutions, we look forward to developing our presence both in Bangalore and Mumbai.”