Indian textile company joins the precast concrete industry

Weckenmann is delivering a plant for the production of facade and wall elements in India.

The subsidiary of the Indian textile manufacturer and retailer The Chennai Silks (TCS) is relying on the competence and technology provided by Weckenmann. The plant engineers are delivering a plant for the production of facade and wall elements. This includes a battery mould, numerous tilting tables, an extremely flexible concrete spreader, a bucket conveyor, a concrete shuttle for the production of hollow core slabs as well as a great deal of manufacturing skills. Assembly is due for completion in December 2011, so production can begin this year.

The Chennai Silks has been producing and selling textiles and clothing for approx. 50 years - with great success. What began as a weaving and selling business in the cities of Tirupur and Madurai in the 1960s, developed to become an international family-owned company with 18,000 staff, a close-knit network of subsidaries in India as well as the production of clothing for renowned clothing firms worldwide.

"Entry into the production of precast concrete parts is completely new to TCS and its subsidiary Teemage Precast In", explained Managing Director Nandhagopal. This is why the company has placed their trust in the technical and consulting skills offered by Weckenmann. Weckenmann is delivering a plant which is exactly tailored to the particular requirements of Teemage Precast In. The specialists for the planning and furnishing of precast concrete parts is further supporting Teemage Precast In in plant logistics and the selection of the correct components as well as accompanying the young company during the first weeks of production. "Decisive for our cooperation with Weckenmann was the high product quality which we could see ourselves in Europe. In addition to this, Weckenmann represents a company philosophy close to that of our own family-owned company", continued Nandhagopal.

The reasons for TCS's decision to enter into the precast concrete industry are multifold. Chief Operating Officer Hariharasudhan explained:

"First of all there are our own showrooms. TCS is planning a continual expansion of its network of subsidiaries. Instead of relying on local building companies, our company is planning to build our own showrooms in the future - with precast concrete elements made by ourselves. In addition, precast concrete elements promise to become a growing business, in particular with regard to social housing estates as well as the production of commercial and public buildings. Alongside a reduction of building times, construction using precast concrete elements offers architectural possibilities that have scarely been tapped in India so far."

As a market entrant, Teemage Precast In consciously decided to opt for a plant for stationary production: Investment costs are manageable at the beginning, at the same time, an extention of production is easily possible in the future. As there is a scarcity of experienced personnel in the precast concrete industry in India, great emphasis is placed on production processes which are easy to control in the inital phase. "It was our goal to adapt German skills in precast concrete to the local conditions in India", commented Hariharasudhan, concluding " We are convinced that our decision has made this possible."