Henkel will boost tech, lab infra investments, says CEO

German chemical and consumer goods major Henkel CEO Carsten Knobel has said India remains a strong market and a top investment destination for the adhesives giant.

"India is a key market, and we will continue to make important investments in technology and lab infrastructure," Knobel said recently at the unveiling of the company's new 'Inspiration Centre' in Dusseldorf, Germany. Henkel in India operates two business divisions - adhesives and its consumer hair brand, Schwarzkopf. The company has a customer experience centre and an innovation facility in Mumbai and Pune.

Last year, Henkel opened a technology centre in Bengaluru. Overall, the company has close to 1,000 employees in India. Built at a cost of Euro 130 million, the Inspiration Centre in Dusseldorf has been designed to boost collaborations among customers, suppliers, members of the academia and Henkel's scientists. "The new building gathers all of our technical experts in Dusseldorf under one roof - with lots of space for external collaborators to work side-by-side with our team," the company said in a statement.

The facility is set to boost Henkel's growing e-mobility business. The company develops solutions EV manufacturers use to keep batteries running at optimum temperatures. It has developed high-performance thermally conductive adhesives that not only ensure sufficient thermal management of battery cells, but also the structural integrity of the battery system through a strong adhesion between the cells and the cooling plate.

On India's EV scene, George Kazantzis, Henkel's global head of automotive components, told TOI the country provided exponential growth opportunities in different sectors including two-wheelers and passenger cars.

(The reporter was in Dusseldorf, Germany, at the invitation of Henkel)