Deputy Prime Minister Inaugurates new Group Rhodes Indian facility
A new Group Rhodes purpose build facility in Bangalore, India will be officially inaugurated today (27 th August 2014) by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.
Group Rhodes is one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of special purpose machinery for advanced applications in aerospace, metalforming, heavy ceramics, composites, environmental and deep-sea oil and gas sectors, and currently operates from 4 factories in the north of England.
Speaking on the new venture, Group Rhodes Managing Director, Mark Ridgway OBE commented,
It is a great honour that the Deputy Prime Minister has agreed to inaugurate the Rhodes India facility in Bangalore. Government has been very supportive of the Advanced Engineering Sector in the UK, and in particular has encouraged international trade through a number of new initiatives including UK Export Finance. We are confident that this investment by Group Rhodes in India will create new jobs and growth both at home and abroad.
Group Rhodes investigated several potential locations for its base in India, but settled on Bangalore for reasons of skills, aerospace activity and strong international connectivity. It is also a city that works well as a central location for our heavy ceramics division, tapping into the huge potential for clay preparation machinery used in the production of bricks and clay pipes for infrastructure projects.
It is also important to emphasise that Rhodes is not investing in India for reasons of low labour and overhead costs. That time has gone. Our focus today is on servicing the great opportunity that this market offers across a number of advanced engineering sectors. India’s potential is truly phenomenal.
Our factory in Bangalore will improve our support for Indian aerospace clients, including Hindustan Aeronautics, and create a competitive base from which to develop our heavy ceramics operations throughout the region and beyond.”
The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, is currently on a three-day visit to India with a 40-strong trade delegation to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the new Indian government’s focus on economic growth. He will be joined by Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. It is the first high-level trade mission to India since Prime Minister Narendra Modi was elected in May.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg MP lit a ceremonial candle and unveiled a plaque to commemorate the Rhodes India inauguration. Mr Clegg congratulated Group Rhodes on their investment in Bangalore and wished them every success in India.
Group Rhodes Managing Director, Mark Ridgway OBE, DL is also in the photograph.