Wienerberger Brick Industry Pvt. Ltd, the world's largest producer of clay hollow bricks and No.2 in the clay roof tiles market in Europe, announced its foray into India with an initial investment of Rs 90 crore. The first investment by the company in Asia will be utilised for setting up a manufacturing plant in Kunigal, Karnataka. The project has been approved by the state high level clearance committee.
The Kunigal plant, which spreads over 30 acres of land, will have an output of 100,000 tonnes per annum in phase I. The capacity is likely to be doubled subsequently.
"The demand for eco-friendly building materials is on the rise globally. In India, the birthplace of clay brick architecture, clay is still the most preferred building material," Ingo Hofmaier, Managing Director, Commercial, Wienerberger Brick Industry Pvt. Ltd, said. "Wienerberger has a long-term interest in the Indian building material market and our endeavour to provide high quality clay hollow blocks, facing bricks, clay pavers and clay tiles in the most cost effective manner has led to this investment."
Commercial production will start by the end of 2008 and will focus on hollow clay blocks under the brand name Porotherm and an exclusive range of Terca facing bricks. However, Koramic clay roof tiles and Argeton façade tiles are imported from plants in Belgium, France, Germany, and The Netherlands.
Wienerberger group, headquartered in Vienna, Austria, also holds leading position in pavers in Europe. With a total of 263 plants in 26 countries and five export markets, Wienerberger achieved revenues of €2.48 billion in 2007. Wienerberger, with a global workforce of more than 15,000, focuses on products for wall (Porotherm), façade (Terca and ArGeTon), roof (Koramic) and surface (Terca clay pavers). The company believes in clay as a natural building material that creates sustainable living spaces.

Contact: Wienerberger Brick Industry Pvt. Ltd, 35/1, Yellappa Chetty Cross Road, Halasuru Road, Bangalore, Karnataka 560042. Tel: 080-41491682-6; Fax: 080-41491687; E-mail: office@wienerberger.com