RENOLIT expands: New plant for geomembranes in India
Karsten Jänicke 
RENOLIT is investing in India: a new plant for high-quality geomembranes is being built in Pune. In this article, I report on my trip to the “ground-breaking ceremony”, the opportunities in a dynamic market - and why global expansion and a strong connection to our home country belong together for us.
Our expansion into India
RENOLIT continues to grow - and is consciously breaking new ground. With the construction of a new plant in Pune, India, we are expanding our international presence to include an important future market. We are creating a production facility there for high-quality geomembranes, which are used in the construction of large pumped storage power plants, among other things.
On site first-hand: My impressions from Pune and Pinnapuram
A project like this is quickly described on paper. But you can only feel what it means in reality when you are on site. That's why it was important for me to travel to India in person to accompany the launch of our new plant in Pune and take in my first impressions.
The trip was intense and full of formative experiences. The dedication of the property itself was a special moment: a traditional Ganesha ceremony, with monks chanting and praying in Sanskrit, gave the occasion a depth and dignity that went far beyond the purely commercial.
The visit to the construction site in Pinnapuram - several hundred kilometers away - was also particularly impressive. A gigantic pumped-storage power plant has been built there, with geomembranes from our plant in Sant Celoni being used in the reservoir and the canal connecting them - a strong sign of the role RENOLIT plays in such large-scale projects.
Why India is so important today
Anyone who has been there and experienced the dynamics immediately understands why India plays such a major role today. The country is growing rapidly, investing in energy, water and infrastructure projects at an unprecedented pace and driving its economic development forward with enormous vigor.
For RENOLIT, this means that we can apply our technology precisely where innovation and quality are needed - in projects that are crucial for the sustainable development of an entire country.
At the same time, India is also becoming increasingly important for Germany and Europe: as a trading partner, as an industrial location and as a driving force for a globally networked, sustainable economy. Our local involvement is therefore more than just a new market - it is part of a future that we want to actively help shape.
That is why we produce locally
But why are we producing locally - and not simply using our existing capacities at our plant in Sant Celoni?
The answer is clear: projects like the one in India require customized solutions and partners who can act quickly, flexibly and reliably. Our Indian clients explicitly expect local production - not only because of the short distances, but also because they consciously want to promote local value creation.
With our new plant in Pune, we can meet exactly these requirements. We produce high-quality geomembranes directly where they are needed, guarantee the highest quality standards and support our customers' projects even more closely.
A strong partnership as the key to success
A project of this size cannot be managed alone. In India, we therefore work closely with Carpi - a company that is specialized in the implementation of large infrastructure projects worldwide.
Carpi implements these projects on site and also relies on the quality of our products. When Carpi was looking for a producer who could manufacture geomembranes directly in India at the required quality level, we were the only ones who could meet this requirement and were willing to take on the challenge in India.
This cooperation on an equal footing combines two strengths: Carpi's experience in project implementation and RENOLIT's innovative strength in material technology.
Expansion and a sense of home: no contradiction
Those who invest in new markets are sometimes asked whether this is at the expense of their home location. For me, the answer is clear: no. On the contrary.
Our commitment in India complements our strategy in Germany. With the project “Aufbruch”, we are investing over 130 million euros in Worms and Frankenthal - a clear commitment to the future of our company here in Germany.
For me, a global presence and a commitment to our home country are not opposites. They belong together. When we grow internationally, we also strengthen our locations in Europe - because we open up new markets, drive innovation and secure our long-term competitiveness.
That is why our expansion into India is a further step towards positioning RENOLIT as a whole for the future - in Worms, in Pune and at all other locations worldwide.
My conclusion
The trip to India showed how important it is to think globally and strengthen our roots at the same time. With the new plant in Pune, we are expanding our international presence in a targeted manner - without losing sight of our clear commitment to Germany as a business location. One thing is clear to me: the future is created where we live innovation, quality and responsibility together - in India as well as in Worms.
