Dura-Line India opened its fourth manufacturing facility — this time in Hyderabad to serve customers in the southern part of the country, provide a base for exports to Southeast Asia, and go after new business in the region.
The 54,000-square foot plant will produce high density polyethylene ducts for the water, datacom and gas markets pending receipt of a license from Indian government authorities, according to company spokeswoman, Tanya Kanczuzewski
The Knoxville, Tenn.-based company also has two facilities near Goa and one in Neemrana, which is near Delhi. Dura-Line India makes HDPE pipes and ducts in the range of 7 to 1,000 millimeters. About 25 percent of the products are exported to Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Pacific region, Kanczuzewski said in an email.
Dura-Line Corp. was acquired last year by Mexichem SAB de CV for $630 million to advance the PVC pipe and specialty chemical maker's plans to become a global, vertically integrated company. At the time, Dura-Line CEO Paresh Chari said he expected to see support for more growth under the umbrella of the publicly traded company.
“Dura-Line will continue to expand its presence in Asia, Africa and the Middle East with Mexichem's long-term commitment and backing,” Chari said in a May 19 news release about the latest plant opening. “The location of the new plant in Hyderabad allows Dura-Line to better serve customers in South India and is strategically positioned for exports to Southeast Asia, as well as to capture new business opportunities in the region.”
It took Dura-Line India nine months to complete renovations of the leased facility and get full government clearance to start production, Kanczuzewski said.
“Through better logistics and reduced cost we expect to provide better service to our customers,” she added.
With $475 million in sales, Dura-Line is the No. 8 pipe, profile and tubing extruder in North America, according to the most recent rankings by Plastics News. Its other manufacturing facilities are in the United States, Mexico, Oman, Europe and South Africa.
Mexico City-based Mexichem reported that its sales increased 9 percent to $1.4 billion in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the start of 2014. However, profit was down 61.5 percent from the prior year to $18.9 million because of hits from the currency exchange and restructuring operations.
