Hero Honda inaugurates Haridwar plant

Hero Honda Motors Ltd. (HHML) third manufacturing plant located in Haridwar, Uttaranchal, has commenced production. Titled as the 'Shrine of Technology', this state of the art plant will further enhance Hero Honda's capacity and help sustain its position as the world's number one motorcycle manufacturer.

Spread across 275 acres in Haridwar's SIDCUL area, Hero Honda has also earmarked special parks for over 100 ancillary companies. It is the largest Hero Honda plant till date and has an initial installed capacity of 500,000 units which will be scaled up to a 1,000,000 units by the end of 2008 and this figure will go up to 1,500,000 units by 2010. The company has invested approximately Rs 450 Crore so far and a further Rs 150 Crore is expected to be invested by the end of 2008.

Speaking on the occasion, Pawan Munjal, MD and CEO, HHML, said, "This plant is Haridwar is designed to be our masterpiece.  We have imbibed our experiential learnings and contemporary practices in this plant.  We have set new benchmarks in terms of lay-outs, processes, supply chain management, human resource management and most importantly environmental consciousness."

The Haridwar plant is the most technologically advanced plant out of the three facilities owned by the company. The entire shop floor is under one roof, the layout is such that there is unidirectional flow of material, which increases efficiencies of scale as well as adds to the overall safety. Further to this, there is the direct-on-line system that feeds the components directly to the production line through a well networked conveyor system. The aim to be highly efficient and technologically superior is what prevails through this facility.

Not to leave out the environment, Hero Honda has taken special care to make their new facility a 'green' facility.  About 70 per cent of the overall area is open green spaces.  As Pawan Munjal pointed out, even 45,000 sq ft of plant roof area will be green, with actual grass and plants growing there.  In addition to this, the plant has its own landfill and water recycling unit.

Looking at contributing to the state, Hero Honda is also looking at setting up residential areas, schools, hospitals and entertainment areas (malls, cineplexes, etc.) in Haridwar through a group company.