Henkel Adhesives Technologies India Private Limited (Henkel India) has announced the completion of Phase III of its manufacturing facility in Kurkumbh, near Pune, Maharashtra. The Kurkumbh site, which was launched in 2020, serves the growing demand of Indian industries for high-performance solutions in adhesives, sealants, and surface treatment products. The new Loctite plant, named after Henkel's brand Loctite, was inaugurated by Mark Dorn, executive vice president, Henkel Adhesive Technologies, along with other senior management members of the company.

Henkel Adhesive Technologies entered the Indian market in 1996 and is a significant growth driver for this business today. Henkel has been expanding its presence in the country through consistent strategic investments to meet the rapid growth. The company has a strong footprint in India and operates five manufacturing sites, two innovation centres, a customer experience centre, a packaging academy, and an application centre for the footwear industry.

The new Loctite plant in the Kurkumbh manufacturing site reflects Henkel's vision to drive growth in the Indian market. The plant will serve Indian businesses, further localise the product portfolio, and thus, reduce dependence on imports. It will also help address the supply-demand gap of high-performance adhesive solutions for the manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), and automotive components sectors. Henkel Adhesive Technologies is well-positioned to meet the demand arising in these fast-growing market sectors.

"India has emerged as a focus market for Henkel globally. The new Loctite plant highlights our vision to emerge in the country as a self-reliant global market player with a strong local presence. With continued investments, efficient supply chains, and customer-focused solutions, Henkel is committed to driving growth in India and building ecosystems of innovative and sustainable solutions with our partners and customers,” Mark Dorn, executive vice president at Henkel Adhesive Technologies, said.

The Kurkumbh site also showcases Henkel's dedication to the local community as a responsible corporate citizen. It meets the highest standards of sustainability and is LEED Gold certified, a rare feature among chemical plants. In addition, Henkel aims to achieve carbon-neutrality in Kurkumbh for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030. To support this ambition, the site has signed a green electrical energy Power Purchase agreement and installed on-site solar panels, the company said in a press release.

"The expansion of our manufacturing footprint reinforces Henkel's sustained commitment to making India a manufacturing hub for advanced and high-performance adhesive, sealant, and functional coating solutions. A key highlight of the new Loctite plant is the Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS), which enables fast execution of material storage and retrieval. The plant will leverage Industry 4.0, optimise production efficiency, and further drive profitable, organic growth for Henkel India, while continuing to contribute to the 'Make in India' initiative of the Indian government,” S Sunil Kumar, country president of Henkel India, said.