Worldwide: India

Majestic temples, booming megacities – India is a country of dramatic contrasts and one of the world's most dynamic economies. HANSA‑FLEX has been operating there since 2018 with a dedicated team who are writing their own success story.

The HANSA‑FLEX success story in India began with a man of vision: Alistair Wiggins, then working in the British hydraulics industry, was convinced of the potential of the Indian market. Although earlier attempts had failed, his idea of setting up a local subsidiary was welcomed by the HANSA‑FLEX management and supervisory board. The project was launched in 2017, and HANSA‑FLEX India Pvt. Ltd. was officially opened in Pune as early as 2018. The city in western India, known as “Motor City”, offered ideal conditions: a good infrastructure, a tech-savvy environment and highly motivated skilled workers. Today, 383 employees work there in production, logistics and administration. Its special feature is that the proportion of women in the workforce is 30 per cent, well above the national average.

In just a few years, a bold vision has become a fast-growing company – supported by a team that excels in taking the initiative and finding solutions. “We don't rely on rigid structures, but on trust and responsibility,” explains Managing Director Alistair Wiggins. This is not an everyday occurrence in a country that is still strongly influenced by traditional hierarchies and authoritarian management models.

The establishment of fittings production in 2022 is a good example of the high level of motivation within the company: the idea – including a detailed market analysis – came from the Indian team itself, which also drove the implementation forward with a great deal of expertise and commitment. In just six months, a modern production facility with 80 CNC machines, a logistics centre and shipping operations was created.

HANSA‑FLEX India is equally committed to investing in training: over 100 young people are currently completing their apprenticeships in Pune – setting a strong signal for the future. “Namaste. Training and development are at the heart of what we do. Our goal is not just to grow our business, but to cultivate local expertise and nurture the next generation of hydraulics experts,” says Wiggins. “We believe in learning by doing and offer a hands-on, structured environment for growth and innovation.” 

In addition to the Insert & Ferrule Plant (IFP) for fittings production, two other specialised facilities are located in Pune: the SHP (Serial Hose Plant) for the series production of hydraulic hose lines for OEM customers and the MHP (Metal Hose Plant) for metal hoses. All three units work closely together and group their entire production at one location. The advantages are short distances, streamlined processes and close coordination – for maximum efficiency and fast response times. 

This structure also shapes the service approach of HANSA‑FLEX India. Unlike in Europe, mobile workshop vehicles are deliberately not used – long distances, congested traffic and difficult-to-access locations make this impractical in India. Instead, the team focuses on efficient processes, high product availability and personal support for OEM customers who carry out assembly and repair work themselves. To be even closer to regional markets in the future, two branches are planned for Ahmedabad and Chennai.

HANSA‑FLEX India operates in a market that is developing at an enormous pace: India is investing heavily in infrastructure projects, and industries such as wind power, railways, construction and agricultural machinery are booming. Many OEM customers therefore come from these key industries. These companies, many of which operate internationally, are already familiar with HANSA‑FLEX from other countries and value its consistently high product quality and reliability worldwide. The technology sector is also flourishing: data centres and AI applications require powerful cooling systems. For this purpose, HANSA‑FLEX India supplies state-of-the-art silicone hose lines that are used in GPU cooling systems.

At HANSA‑FLEX India, responsibility doesn’t end at the factory gate. With SAVIOUR, the company's own CSR initiative, employees volunteer their time to participate in social and environmental projects, such as educational programmes for disadvantaged children and measures to protect local eco-systems. This commitment comes directly from the team and reflects the strong inner drive that characterises the country organisation as a whole.

At the same time, HANSA‑FLEX India is also thinking beyond its own borders: with the Global Capability Center (GCC), which was founded in 2022, a digital competence facility has been created that will in future provide company-wide support services for the HANSA‑FLEX Group – ranging from technical support and data analysis to digitalisation and customer service. Plans are already underway to expand this into a Business Services Unit, which will also see HANSA‑FLEX India's role in the international network develop further.