Premji unveils Wipro-Kawasaki plant near Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 18 (IANS) IT czar and Wipro Chairman Azim Premji on Monday unveiled the new plant of Wipro-Kawasaki joint venture to manufacture hydraulic pumps and motors for the construction machinery at Bidadi, about 40 km from Bengaluru.

"The new facility, where production will commence in April, will double our capacity to make hydraulic products to 40,000 units a year," said the company in a statement here.

The six-year-old Indo-Japanese venture is focused on meeting the rising demand for hydraulic excavators from its second plant and also its first plant in the city.

"Rapid growth in infrastructure across the country will drive the demand for construction machinery. The facility will expand the capacity and complements Wipro Infrastructure Engineering's eminence in the country," said the company's arm Chief Executive, Pratik Kumar, in the statement.

The move reflects Kawasaki's commitment to meet the demand for hydraulic equipment from local construction machinery manufacturers and generate new demand.

"The enhanced production capability will enable us to respond flexibly to its customers production volumes," said Kawasaki Precision Machinery Division General Manager Hidehiko Shimamura on the occasion.

Investment growth in local infrastructure such as expressways, railway networks and ports have been on the rise owing to demand from the construction machinery.

Annual demand for hydraulic excavator is set to reach 40,000-50,000 units in fiscal 2025 across the country, which will follow the footsteps of China for rapid growth in infrastructure investment.

"To enhance customer experience, Kawasaki will focus on bolstering its production capabilities and further its efforts to develop and deliver products and provide after-sales services in the growing hydraulic equipment sector," added the statement.