Kasaragod: Key components for the Vande Bharat train coaches, including floors, toilet doors, and berths, will now be manufactured in Kasaragod. Magnus Plywood, a company based in Khanna, Punjab, is establishing a new plant at the Ananthapuram Industrial Park in Kasaragod, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Industries.
Two other North Indian companies specialising in particle board production are also starting operations in Ananthapuram.
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Magnus Plywood has been in business for 30 years, supplying materials to the interior, construction, industrial, and transportation sectors. The company produces various plywood products, including partition panels, coach floorboards, and toilet boards, which are sent to the Railway's Coach Factory in Kapurthala and the Modern Coach Factory in Rae Bareli.
As the Vande Bharat trains are being upgraded from chair cars to sleeper coaches, there is an increasing demand for sturdy plywood boards, particularly for berths. Mahesh Gupta, one of the directors of Magnus Plywood, stated that the boards will be shipped from Kasaragod to the coach factory in Chennai.
The plywood produced will include comprag plywood, known for their durability and resistance to fire and chemicals, pre-laminated sheets, LP sheets, and acoustic boards. Beyond the railway sector, the plywood will also be supplied to companies like Tata Motors, the Border Security Force (BSF), and the Gujarat Road Transport Corporation.
Jobs for more than 100 people; investment of Rs 100 crore
The new factory in Ananthapuram is expected to create over 100 jobs and will involve an investment of around 100 crores, including working capital, said Mahesh Gupta. He also said that the plywood boards will primarily cater to the Chennai Coach Factory.
He added that the decision to expand to Kasaragod was strategic, given Kerala's proximity and its potential for plywood exports.
Published: 28 Oct 2024, 08:24 am IST
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