Sapa is experiencing high growth in India, both in automotive and in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) industry.

Sapa investing in aluminium tubing production in IndiaIn automotive, with more than 3.6 million vehicles produced annually and forecasts calling for 6 million vehicles by 2020, India is one of the areas with major growth. Sapa is aiming to take the lead in India’s automotive market for aluminium-based heat transfer solutions and fluid lines, following the strong leadership position that it has achieved worldwide.

In HVAC&R, the substitution of copper by aluminium is occurring at a fast pace. More customers are choosing aluminium over high-priced copper in their heat transfer applications.

Sapa currently serves multi-port extrusion (MPE) and tubing customers in India from the company’s plant in Suzhou, China. The new capacity will be directed specifically toward these customers.

“Having a local presence in India is in line with our business area strategy. We are following our customers,” says Salvador Biosca, executive vice president responsible for Sapa’s Precision Tubing business area.

Local capacity

The new operation will have annual capacity of 6,000 metric tons and will offer value-adding services such as drawing, level winding, and cut-to-length capabilities. Production will begin in late 2014.

Sapa is already established in India with activities for aluminium building systems, general extrusions and welded tubes. The new press for aluminium tubing is being installed on the same site as the extrusion plant, in Kuppam, about 100 kilometers from Bangalore in India’s southeastern region.

“Not only will the new unit benefit from our global expertise in applications development, we expect the solutions we develop with our partners in India to ultimately benefit customers all over the world,” says Biosca.