Haworth, a 2.5 billion US dollar company, offering premium global workspace solutions, is all set to expand and strengthen its footprint in India. The company is investing $8 - $10 million, in setting up its second state-of-the-art factory, doubling the space of its current plant totalling to 113,000 sq. ft. Haworth also inaugurated its brand-new 26,000 sq. ft. largest showroom in Chennai.
Haworth has witnessed exceptional growth in the Indian market in the recent years and now focusses on strengthening its presence in the country. Haworth is setting up its second state-of-the-art factory in Sriperumbudur, with the aim of further increasing its footprint in the Asia-Pacific region. The factory will produce some of the key Haworth products such as the Zody, Fern, Aloha, HAT, Intuity, Riverbend, IQ commercial, Pebble, Tibas, Shift and Poppy and Cabana (soon to be launched) range of products. This allows the company to leverage the promising market prospects and meet the growing demand for its premium workspace solutions in the country.
In addition to meeting the needs of the domestic market furniture and components produced at the factory will also be exported to North America and Europe. Haworth has its presence across 150+ countries, employing over 8,000 professionals worldwide. In India, Haworth has 5 showrooms and offices employing over 300 employees and has also established a global Shared Services Centre (SSC) in Chennai as part of the company’s bestshoring initiative.
“The decision to expand our operations in Chennai stems from our commitment to meeting the growing demands of our customers and seizing new opportunities in the market. The increasing demand for our products, coupled with the region's strategic significance as an industrial hub, makes Chennai the perfect location for our new factory. The manufacturing facility will play a pivotal role in crafting products destined for export to North America and Europe, in addition to meeting the demands of our domestic market," said Henning Figge, President of Haworth International.
Praveen Rawal, Vice President Sales, Haworth APAC, said, "The new factory will significantly contribute towards production of collaborative products as also high-end ergonomic seatings including the development of an agile portfolio of products enabling us to serve a wider customer base and meet diverse market needs. This expansion aligns with our commitment to continue to deliver excellence across various sectors where we are eager to make a curious lasting impact."
“The size of the performance workspace solutions market is around $300 million in India. There is a lot of demand in the Indian market with IT companies looking to set up their offices in tier 2 cities for their employees. We cater to a wide range of industry sectors, from IT to healthcare, hospitality and education. We are thrilled to announce that we are launching new products, these additions to our product line, underlines our relentless pursuit towards innovation and customer-centric solutions,” further added, Praveen.
“The Chennai showroom and office will serve as a hub for creativity and collaboration, offering a variety of functions that redefine the concept of workspaces: inspiring interior, café, seating, desk and flexible meeting room; accessories, natural lighting are among others. The workspace has been designed to embody a harmonious blend of inspiration, aesthetics, functionality, and workstyles. At Haworth we understand the importance of creating adaptable spaces that can be easily reconfigured to accommodate various activities-based working, offering a mix of focus work, open workstations, meeting rooms, cafe areas whilst integrating biophilic and hybrid workspaces design. The furniture and fixtures are predominantly Haworth and Haworth Collection products, showcasing the company's commitment to own innovative solutions,” added Papun Sen Choudhury, Managing Director, Haworth India.
The company has also made significant commitments, including reducing their carbon footprint in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and prioritizing sustainable packaging. Additionally, employees contribute over 14,000 paid volunteer hours annually, highlighting Haworth's strong commitment to social responsibility.
Furthermore, Haworth's CSR initiatives make a tangible difference in local communities. In partnership with Sevalaya, a renowned NGO, the company has contributed to the establishment of a medical centre in Kiloy village near Chennai. This centre serves four neighbouring villages, previously without access to healthcare, offering daily outpatient services to underserved communities. Haworth's investments in education are evident through its support for building smart classrooms, further empowering students in these communities.
