Haworth to establish new manufacturing plant in Chennai

Haworth, a leading global office furniture manufacturer, is investing $8 to $10 million to establish a new manufacturing plant in Chennai, India. This new facility will be the company's second plant in the country, situated near its existing factory in Sriperumbudur. Spanning twice the size of the current plant, which covers an area of 7,000 square meters, the new facility aims to meet the growing demand for office furniture in both the domestic market and for exports to West Asia and Southeast Asia. Haworth's president, Henning Figge, stated in an interview that the majority of the combined production from both plants will still be allocated to the Indian market. The new manufacturing facility is expected to commence operations within the next two years, and it is anticipated to double the current workforce of approximately 250 employees.Within the Asia-Pacific region, Haworth currently manufactures its products in China and India, focusing on premium furniture offerings in India. Figge mentioned that the Indian market for premium office furniture is valued at approximately $300 million and is experiencing faster growth compared to the overall furniture industry. This growth is primarily driven by two factors: the increasing demand and significance of office spaces, as well as the competition for top talent where companies strive to attract skilled employees with better pay and working conditions.Interestingly, Haworth's most sought-after office chairs in India are also its highest-priced models, namely Zody and Fern. The company has showrooms in five Indian cities, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, and has plans to expand to additional markets such as Ahmedabad, Indore, Kolkata, and Guwahati.