Global resistance materials producer Kanthal has inaugurated a new wire manufacturing facility at its Hosur plant in India.
The facility will optimise production capacity globally and to offer shorter lead times across Asia.
The investment lays the foundation for capturing growth in emerging local markets and driving operational improvements through increased automation.
With the new 1,980 square meter facility, Kanthal will more than triple its production capacity at the Hosur plant.
Kanthal is a world-leading supplier of products for industrial heating technology and resistance materials with fine dimension wire being one of the core offerings since the company’s establishment in 1931.
The expansion in Hosur will enable the unit to cater to local markets in India as well as Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Korea, Japan, and China, and selected parts of Europe.
Customer benefits include significantly faster lead times and lower minimum order quantity, according to Kanthal president, Robert Stål.
“This strategic investment enables us to meet the growing demand for fine dimension wire with fast lead times in Asia,” Stål said.
The president of Business Unit Heating Materials at Kanthal, Linda Johansson, said the company forecasts strong growth in India, not only in its historical core segments, but also in emerging areas such as load banks and electronic components.
“This expansion supports our aim to grow in these strategic areas,” she said.
In 1988, Kanthal established its operation in Hosur. Since then, the company’s activities in the country have expanded and today, with India as one of Kanthal’s key geographical areas, the Hosur manufacturing facility has grown in importance.
The new production line includes advanced automated processes and is designed to enable comprehensive end-to-end capability for high-quality appliance wire production, advanced die maintenance, and fully automated spooling operations.
The integration of state-of-the-art quality control and material handling systems will position Kanthal to meet the global demand for automated spooling solutions.
Moreover, the investment lays the foundation for Industry 4.0-level process control and data integration, ensuring scalability and alignment with next-generation manufacturing standards.
Kanthal was established based on the development of the iron-chrome-aluminum (FeCrAl) electric resistance alloy, also known as Kanthal A-1.
This alloy could reach substantially higher temperatures than the existing nickel-chrome (NiCr) alloys, while also providing superior resistivity and corrosion resistance at high temperatures. More than 90 years later, the alloy is still the best choice for many applications such as home appliances and electronics.