Steelcase Inc setting up manufacturing facility in Pune

HYDERABAD: Steelcase Inc., the office furniture player, has announced its plans to set up a manufacturing facility in Pune under its expansion plans in the Indian market.

Initially, the 50,000 square feet facility which is scheduled to become operational in September will be an assembly unit as the company will continue to import the raw materials.

It will produce 15 products in the categories of seating and systems, the company officials announced while opening Steelcase Worklife, the first store in Hyderabad and the fourth in India.

Uli Gwinner, president, Steelcase Asia Pacific, said the Pune plant would be the 26th manufacturing facility in the world and the third in Asia after China and Malaysia. Already, Steelcase has its stores in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore.

However, the company has declined to divulge the numbers of stores it plans to open or the investment made in Pune plant.

According to Praveen Rawal, country manager, Steelcase India, the Indian furniture market is pegged to be US $1 billion but we are targeting the high-end market which is USD 150 million to USD 200 million.