Unnikrishnan AR, Managing Director-Glass Business, Saint-Gobain India

27 Aug 2021 CW Team

A product is often valued for its versatility and ability to lend itself to diverse applications. Saint- Gobain's genesis dates back to 1665 when King Louis XIV of France commissioned it to make glass for the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles. Since then, there has been no looking back for one of the world's largest manufacturers of glass, among several lines of businesses.With a presence in 70 countries, Saint-Gobain's journey in India began in 1996 and continues successfully, with the company gaining leadership position in all its major businesses.

Saint-Gobain’s glass operations were initiated in India in 2000 with the commissioning of its first float glass plant in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. Housed in a 177-acre campus, the World Glass Complex is one of the biggest investments by the group in a single location. Along with its other plants in Jhagadia, Gujarat, and Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, the glass business has made Saint- Gobain a market leader, pioneering innovations across products, marketing, manufacturing, applications and human resources. Today, glass is a material considered for value addition and more than just a commodity. Unnikrishnan AR, Managing Director-Glass Business, Saint- Gobain India, who has also been the chair representing various forums in sustainability and regulations drafting key policy structure frameworks for the Indian construction industry, speaks about sustainability, the company’s initiatives and more, in conversation with SERAPHINA D’SOUZA.

Click here to know more…

Infrastructure Transport

30 May 2026

Chembur Metro to Boost East Mumbai Links

MMRDA is advancing eastern Mumbai’s urban mobility network, with the upcoming Chembur Metro Station set to emerge as a key interchange and the Mumbai Monorail preparing for relaunch.Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, conducted a site visit to Chembur Metro Station along with Kanhuraj Bagate, Managing Director, MMMOCL. He also visited the nearby VN Purav Monorail Station to review system preparedness and ease of interconnectivity.Once operational, the interchange is expected to offer commuters across the eastern suburbs quicker access, smoother transfers and seamless conne..

Herrenknecht TBMs Drive Thane–Borivali Tunnel Progress

Herrenknecht India has supplied two of the four tunnel boring machines (TBMs) required for the 11-km Thane–Borivali Twin Tunnel Project being developed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The project is expected to reduce travel time between Thane and Borivali from 60–90 minutes to around 15 minutes while easing congestion across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.The first two Single Shield TBMs, named Nayak and Arjuna, feature 13.34-m cutterhead diameters and are designed for hard-rock excavation. They will be deployed to tunnel through the challenging geological..

KBL Launches Smart Skid Mounted Fire Pump Set

Kirloskar Brothers (KBL) has launched its Smart Skid Mounted Fire Pump Set, an integrated fire protection solution designed to improve operational efficiency, remote monitoring and installation flexibility. The system was inaugurated by Ms Madhuritai Misal, Hon. Minister of State for Urban Development, Government of Maharashtra.The Smart Skid Mounted Fire Pump Set is a factory-tested, pre-packaged solution that combines FM/UL-certified motor and engine pump sets with IoT-enabled remote monitoring. Designed to deliver a flow rate of 170 m³/hr at a head of 100 metres, the system aims to provide..