RHI at a Glance

Press release - RHI doubles production capacity at its plant in India – largest importer of refractory products   10/01/2008

RHI AG, the world market leader in refractories, has been present in India since 2006. In order to meet the soaring demand for high-grade refractory solutions worldwide, RHI has now opened a second production line in Venkatapuram, India, doubling capacity to approx. 50,000 annual tonnes. A single-digit-million investment was made in this extension.

In December 2006, the refractories plant RHI Clasil Ltd. in Venkatapuram, some 50 km south west of the largest East Indian harbour Vishakhapatnam, was commissioned within the framework of a 51 % joint venture. The plant manufactures bricks and mixes made of alumina raw materials (corundum, bauxite, fireclay) and prefabricated building parts and slide gates primarily for the steel and cement industries. Due to the continuously increasing global demand for refractory products, especially by the steel and cement industries, a second production line has now been opened. This enables the company to double production to a total capacity of some 50,000 annual tonnes of refractory products. The production line was opened in the presence of RHI CEO Andreas Meier and the joint venture partner.

The objective is to conquer the glass, nonferrous metals and environment, energy and chemicals market segments in India with the extended capacity, and to expand the position as one of the most important local suppliers of the cement and steel industries. RHI is already the largest importer of refractory products in India, with the imports coming from RHI’s plants in Austria, Germany and China. In order to provide optimum service for the customers in this emerging market, it is important for RHI Clasil to increase its presence and to offer complete solutions also from local production.