Ever since India has flung open its
door to the wind of globalisation, more and more international players
are setting their sails to reach its golden shores. 
One
of the latest of these is Hampson Industries PLC, the UK-based, international
precision engineering group. The Group has recently established a state-of-the-art
manufacturing facility in Bangalore. Inaugurated by the Deputy British
High Commissioner, this new facility marks Hampson’s first investment
in India and the first outside the UK and US. With operations now spanning
three continents, Hampson’s business philosophy combines extensive
investment in process capability, with innovative manufacturing and
supply chain strategies. The Group has always focussed on creating global
competitive advantage for its key customers and the new facility in
Bangalore will be a foundation stone of this strategy in India. Commenting
on the importance of the new facility, Hampson Group Chief Executive,
Kim Ward, said, “We are tremendously proud of this new facility
which will become a showcase for our manufacturing and engineering expertise
as well as the focal point for our strategy to provide competitive advantage
to our customers.” Leading the way Speaking at the inauguration
ceremony, the Deputy High Commissioner said,“UK investment and
expertise combined with India’s engineering skills and abilities
are a great partnership that will tap into the rapidly growing domestic
and Asian markets.” President of Hampson’s Precision Automotive
Division, responsible for this first wave investment, Roger Mackrill,
further commented,“Hampson is already a global leader in the manufacture
and supply of small, close tolerance components and assemblies for the
turbocharger industry. As we look to expand our manufacturing capacity
with the progressively increasing demand of our global customers, our
new facility will service not only export markets, but will also manufacture
products for rising domestic and South East Asia demand.”
Why India? But what makes India so
attractive to a group like Hampson? Mr Mackrill replies, “What
brings Hampson to India is its (India’s) ability to provide highly
skilled and intellectually sound human resources, with high flexibility
and ability to learn quickly with low manufacturing cost base with the
application of lean Business practices. The growing market in India
with GDP 8.5 per cent, manufacturing growth at 12.1 per cent and Indian
automotivecomponents sector growth at 22.5 per cent yoy makes it very
attractive. This combines with the strategic positioning of the facility
to service Asia as well as Europe and Americas.”The fact is Asia
– and particularly India – is emerging as the favourite destination
for the automotive industry and to some extent for the aerospace industry.
Most of the global giants from these sectors have already established
their presence or are in the process of doing so in the region. And
many of them are Hampson’s customers.Mr Mackrill says, “Each
of our existing major customers has set-up operations in Asia and we
look forward, as a locally-based partner, to establishing a new paradigm
in manufacturing quality, cost and delivery to support their own considerable
growth and
....CONTD
