Artson Group, a subsidiary of Tata Group, has teamed up with Malabar Cements, a public sector company, to create a joint venture for boat manufacturing in Kerala. The two companies formalized their partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Saturday at the Invest Kerala Global Summit.
The project, valued at Rs 300 crore, will involve the construction of a boat manufacturing facility for vessels weighing less than 100 tonnes. The facility will be built on a seven-acre plot leased by Malabar Cements from the Cochin Port Trust. Artson Group has previously expressed its commitment to supporting industrial growth in Kochi, and this new partnership aligns with that objective.
Shashank Jha, CEO of Artson Group, and Chandra Bose, Managing Director of Malabar Cements, announced that the manufacturing unit is expected to begin operations within six months, following discussions with the government. Initially, the unit will focus on producing boats for the Kochi Water Metro, with plans for potential exports to Europe in the future.
The announcement came during the two-day Invest Kerala Global Summit, which concluded on Saturday. The summit was organized by the Kerala government, supported by various industry bodies. Artson Limited, previously known as Artson Engineering Limited, is a leading engineering, manufacturing, and construction (EMC) contracting company based in Hyderabad, India.
Founded in 1978, Artson became part of Tata Projects Limited in 2007. The company specializes in supplying equipment, steel structures, and mechanical services to industries such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, power, and metallurgy. With manufacturing plants in Nashik and Umred, Artson produces high-quality process equipment such as pressure vessels, heat exchangers, and columns. The company is known for its strong commitment to quality and holds certifications in quality management, environmental management, and occupational health and safety.
Malabar Cements, established in 1978, is a fully owned government company in Kerala. As the state’s only major integrated cement plant, it plays a key role in supplying fresh cement to various parts of Kerala within 12 hours, ensuring the cement’s quality remains intact. The company’s main facility is located in Walayar, Palakkad district, with an annual production capacity of 6.6 lakh tonnes. In 2003, Malabar Cements expanded its operations with the commissioning of a 2-lakh-ton clinker-grinding unit in Cherthala, Alappuzha district, raising its total capacity to 8.6 lakh tonnes. The company is ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certified, reflecting its focus on quality and environmental management. It also plays an important role in the state’s development by supplying essential construction materials and has been recognized for its energy conservation initiatives.
