Calderys invests in a major single-site greenfield plant in India

Calderys has reached a significant milestone in its global growth strategy with the commencement earlier this year of a project in the state of Odisha, India. This project will be the world's largest single-site greenfield plant dedicated to refractories and steel casting fluxes. It represents a strategic move from Calderys to expand its product range with acidic and basic bricks and overall production capacity in line with the evolving needs of the Indian refractory market, particularly in the eastern and southern regions.

When finished, the 40-acre plant will include five state-of-the-art production lines for acidic and basic bricks, monolithic, ready-shaped products, and steel casting fluxes, as well as the latest quality testing facilities. Construction began five months ago and is making satisfactory progress. Several manufacturing lines will be progressively commissioned starting in Q3 2025.

A commitment to excellence and sustainability

This major investment reaffirms Calderys' commitment to excellence, innovation, and sustainability. The project not only substantially increases the company's production capacities in India but also underscores its dedication to environmental stewardship.

The objective is to establish a cutting-edge factory equipped with the latest production systems while prioritising sustainable development and reducing carbon emissions.

The new plant will benefit from the latest safety management standards and technical innovations during construction and when it is fully operational. This will ensure the project complies with Calderys' stringent safety protocols and Indian regulations at every stage of its life cycle.

 

New jobs and opportunities

The new plant will create 350 jobs by 2026, many of which will be for technically qualified and skilled personnel.

Michel Cornelissen, President and CEO of Calderys, said, "This project is the largest single-site investment in Calderys' history. It demonstrates our commitment to India and is an important step in Calderys' global production strategy. It is further evidence of the Group's solid growth and potential, and we are grateful to the Odisha state for its trust in Calderys."

Ish Mohan Garg, Senior Vice President & Managing Director of the Asia Pacific region of the Group, emphasises, "This landmark project is a strategic move towards broadening our product portfolio to meet the evolving and unprecedented demand of the Indian refractory market. It reaffirms our commitment to giving the best products and possible service to our customers. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the government and the people of Odisha for their valuable support. Our collaboration will accelerate Calderys' growth, but vitally, it will also make a huge contribution to the economic and industrial advancement of the city and the region."