The phase I and II of the plant, set up investing INR 400 crore, will boost its capabilities to serve customers across sectors including flexible packaging, automotive, agriculture and construction equipment, general industry and metals. The plant which will cater to the local and export markets employs 300 people. The phase III and IV will be launched later at an estimated cost of INR 400 crore.

“India is one of the most important emerging markets with tremendous growth opportunities for our adhesives business,” Jan-Dirk Auris, Member of the Management Board and Executive Vice President, Adhesive Technologies business unit, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, said. “We have application experts across manufacturing industries worldwide and work closely with our customers and partners. Our trusted brands and leading solutions based on our unmatched portfolio of 40 technologies create sustainable value for our customers. With the launch of this state-of-the-art, multi-technology manufacturing facility, we have created capacities to meet the demand for our high impact solutions in this dynamic market. This investment will enable us to further drive profitable growth,” he added.

Momentum in megatrends in the automotive sector will fuel demand for the company’s adhesive products, which help reduce vehicle’s weight. “Electric and connected vehicles need more adhesives than IC engine vehicles. We will continue to bring out products and solutions based on consumer demand and suitable for the new mobility, connectivity and sustainability,” Auris said.

The new plant is part of Henkel’s big bet on the emerging markets. Half of its total sales of USD 20 billion is from them. “India is the largest among the top 3 emerging markets. We believe tremendous demand will come from India for adhesives in the next decade. Henkel’s products are ‘invisible but essential’ and work as enablers for its consumers to improve efficiency and quality. Being a highly impactful solutions supplier, we also need to manage the risks,” he said.

Smart Factory

The Kurkumbh site is equipped with technologies to ensure traceability and transparency by ensuring built-in quality. End-to-end digitalisation of the plant operations has enabled digitised workflows; thus, making manufacturing more efficient. It deploys closed material handling systems and high level of process automation. For the first time, as a global pilot in Henkel, the site has implemented deep integration of process automation with Smart Factory (Industry 4.0).

 The site meets the highest standards of sustainability. It is among the very few chemical manufacturing sites to be awarded the LEED Gold Certificate by the US Green Building Council based on a holistic energy efficiency concept.  About 10 percent of its power consumption comes from captive solar energy and 16 percent of the annual water requirement is met by rainwater harvesting. Air and waste water discharges are monitored online.

Shilip Kumar, President, Henkel India, said, “We will continue to invest in local manufacturing as it gives our Adhesive Technologies business in India a strategic advantage. The Kurkumbh manufacturing site is a very important milestone of Henkel’s journey in India. This site will not only cater to the Indian market but also markets in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. As market leaders in this industry, our focus is to offer high impact solutions to our customers and convert latent market potential into profitable growth.”

Henkel Adhesive Technologies is a global leader in adhesives, sealants and functional coatings. The business unit serves around 130,000 customers in over 800 industrial areas with tailor-made products and technologies used in a wide array of consumer goods and industrial products. (MT)

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Bharatsure, an insurance technology start-up focussing on Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) solution, has raised INR 60 million from Inflection Point Ventures (IPV) and other investors including Capital A and Atrium Angels. The start-up is focusing on providing health security and insurance penetration by partnering with seamless group and embedded insurance distribution solutions firms.

The company has also announced a new partnership with Battery Smart, a leading battery swapping network company focussing on two-wheelers and three-wheelers to provide natural calamity insurance exclusively for its EV station partners. The idea is to provide coverage against incidents such as fires, floods, earthquakes and storms alongside personal accident coverages to individuals.

Bharatsure shared that it has doubled its revenues in FY2025, breaking even at CM3 and is progressing toward EBITDA profitability end-FY206. It is targetting INR 1 billion in revenue by FY2028 and INR 10 billion by FY2034.

Mitesh Shah, Co-founder, IPV, said, “As India moves towards a greener and sustainable future with the widespread adoption of EVs, and the infrastructure that supports it, it is time that we adapt our insurance frameworks to suit the changing needs. Bharatsure’s futuristic mindset and farsight offers financial protection and peace of mind in the face of unexpected events. In a world that doesn’t always go according to plan, insurance doesn’t just offer protection, it also carries the burden of social responsibility.”

Anuj Parekh, Co-Founder & CEO, Bharatsure, said, “These station partners play a frontline role in advancing sustainable mobility, and we’re proud to design coverage that genuinely addresses their needs. The funding allows us to further develop our infrastructure too.” 

Sumi Jain, AVP – Network Strategy and Operations, Battery Smart, said, “Our station partners are at the heart of our operations. This insurance partnership is not just about protecting assets, it’s about empowering the individuals who are driving India’s EV revolution. Together with Bharatsure, we are fortifying the backbone of our network.” 

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JSW Group, a leading business conglomerate in India, is said to have inked a pact with China-based automotive brand Chery Automobile, as per a report by Bloomberg.

The report stated that, as per the agreement, JSW will pay a one-time technology transfer fee and royalties to Chery for its passenger vehicle technology. Furthermore, JSW will utilise the technology and launch a new EV brand in India by 2027.

At present, JSW Group holds 39 percent stake in MG Motor India and has been looking to further raise its stake in the company. It also aims to expand its presence in the automotive industry in not only passenger vehicle and electric vehicle segment, but also enter the commercial vehicle segment.

Bloomberg News further stated that Chery and JSW had disputed the accuracy of the news report but acknowledged that the pact was providing components.

JSW furthermore said that the ‘core technology will be developed in-house with the help of companies such as KPIT Technologies and LTIMindtree.’

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to support startups in the automobile and mobility sectors.

The partnership aims to leverage Maruti Suzuki's industry expertise and infrastructure to help startups recognised under DPIIT's 'Startup India' initiative. Selected startups will gain access to mentorship, business insights and a platform to validate their technologies. They will also be connected with incubators, accelerators and investors to help them scale their solutions.

This collaboration is a significant step towards reinforcing the government’s 'Startup India' and 'Make in India' initiatives.

Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “India is home to a vibrant and growing startup ecosystem. Through this partnership with DPIIT, we will be able to further accelerate our efforts to support promising startups to create technology-led solutions in the automobile manufacturing and mobility space. This collaboration is a step forward in our commitment to the Government’s ‘Startup India’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives. We thank DPIIT for partnering with us in this initiative.”

Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, said, "Maruti Suzuki’s legacy of innovation, scale and deep industry knowledge makes it a vital partner for India’s startup ecosystem. This MoU is a step towards creating a robust platform for startups to transform ideas into market-ready mobility and manufacturing solutions, reinforcing India’s leadership in next-gen industrial innovation."

Md. Alam Ansari, Deputy Director, Startup India, DPIIT, said, "Our partnership with Maruti Suzuki reflects DPIIT’s commitment to nurturing high-impact startup engagement in the mobility and manufacturing space. We look forward to enabling startups with the support they need to succeed at scale, both in India and globally."

Maruti Suzuki has been actively engaged in the startup ecosystem for six years, screening over 5,220 startups and partnering with 28 to date through its various innovation programs.

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Meta Materials Circular Markets (MMCM) has launched what it claims is the world’s first carbon credit methodology for recycling end-of-life vehicles (ELVs)in partnership with global certification body Cercarbono. The methodology was unveiled during the Asia Climate Summit.

The new framework, titled Recovery and Recycling of Materials from End-of-Life Vehicles, enables carbon credit generation through structured dismantling and recycling of materials such as metals, plastics, and glass. The recycled outputs replace virgin raw materials, reducing emissions and promoting circularity within a certified climate finance structure. The formula was unveiled in association with Cercarbono, a leading global environmental project certification standard during the Asia Climate Summit.

MMCM is a joint venture between NCDEX e-Markets (NeML) and MTC Group. The methodology forms part of Cercarbono’s Carbon Programme and covers eligible materials such as aluminium, steel, copper, plastics (ABS, PET, PP, etc.) and container glass cullet.

Nitin Chitkara, CEO, MMCM, said, “his milestone is deeply personal for all of us at MMCM. What started as a bold idea, rooted in Indian innovation was shaped and strengthened by the many hands and minds who believed in its potential. As we converge efforts towards building circular and low-carbon economies, this is a pivotal moment for us to present Made-In-India as a standardised methodology on a global forum, carrying the spirit of collaboration and shared purpose. Our partners, Cercarbona, played a crucial role in refining every layer of the methodology, making it not just technically sound but globally relevant and ready to implement. With the launch of the ‘Recovery and Recycling of Materials from End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs),’ we’re introducing a formula that is a practical, proven path to circularity.”

Yashodhan Ramteke, Carbon BU Head at MMCM, said, “The official release of the ELV Carbon Credit Methodology marks a breakthrough for the automotive industry. These credits are not just high-integrity, they come directly from the OEMs’ own end-of-life vehicle value chain. By enabling measurable emission reductions from the recovery, dismantling and recycling of vehicles, this methodology empowers auto companies to take real ownership of their Scope 3 emissions. It’s a practical, circular and scalable climate solution built for the sector – by the sector.”

Alex Saer, CEO of Cercarbono, said “This methodology delivers a concrete response to the growing challenge of vehicle waste. By enabling carbon finance for regulated recycling systems, we not only reduce emissions but also prevent the environmental harm caused by uncontrolled scrapping practices. It’s a climate solution rooted in circularity and equity.”

The methodology applies to Climate Change Mitigation Projects (CCMPs) operating in Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs) and supports both greenfield and expansion initiatives. It calculates emissions reductions by comparing recycled material emissions with baseline emissions from virgin production. Only materials transformed into chemically and functionally equivalent substitutes are eligible.

It includes conditions for compliance, traceability, monitoring, exclusion of informal-sector practices, and certification under Cercarbono’s EcoRegistry platform.

ELVs are a rising source of industrial waste, often dismantled in informal scrapyards lacking proper infrastructure, which can lead to pollution from hazardous substances. The new approach provides a regulated, accountable alternative.

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