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The site will house two primary 28,000 square meter factories—one dedicated to net manufacturing and the other to net lofting for farming and fishery
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Hampiðjan Accelerates Global Expansion with Strategic Multi-Million Dollar Industrial Development in Auric
AURIC – In a move that signals a major shift in the global aquaculture and fishing gear supply chain, the Icelandic industry leader Hampiðjan has broken ground on a sprawling new production complex in Auric , near Aurangabad . This expansion follows the company's recent acquisition of the Indian firm Kohinoor and marks a significant pivot toward high-capacity, cost-effective manufacturing.
Hampiðjan has begun extensive development at a new industrial site in Auric, near Aurangabad in India, following the company's acquisition of the Indian firm Kohinoor.
The development is situated on a massive 120,000 square meter plot, with a first-phase footprint totaling 59,200 square meters . The site will house two primary 28,000 square meter factories—one dedicated to net manufacturing and the other to net lofting for fish farming and fishing gear. Complementing these industrial units will be a 2,000 square meter office building and a 1,200 square meter employee service and canteen facility.
The construction site at the new industrial area in Auric, India
Unprecedented Scale and Speed
The project has been awarded to SCON , a construction powerhouse employing 6,000 staff, including 1,200 engineers . The pace of development is intense; at the height of construction, approximately 500 workers will be on-site simultaneously to meet a rigorous timeline:
July: Completion of the first factory building.
August: Completion of the second factory.
October: Office and service facilities finalized.
November: Completion of all site infrastructure, including roads and landscaping.
The financial efficiency of the project is a standout feature. Construction costs are hovering around $249 ( €234 ) per square meter. Total investment for the buildings is estimated at $14.7 million ( €13.8 million ), with an additional $5.1 million ( €4.8 million ) invested in the land.
A Strategic Labor Advantage
Once fully operational, the workforce is expected to reach 750 employees . The CEO of Hampiðjan , Hjörtur Erlendsson , emphasized that the move is driven by the need for operational flexibility and the competitive nature of the Indian labor market.
“This development is an important step in strengthening our production capacity while improving efficiency and operational flexibility. With facilities in Auric, we can combine the knowledge and experience of Kohinoor and Hampiðjan to build a strong production base for both aquaculture and fishing gear in the long term. Production and labor costs in India are highly competitive compared to Lithuania, where we currently operate two large net lofts and a technologically advanced rope factory producing high-performance ropes and lifting slings from advanced materials. This year will be largely devoted to construction and commissioning, and we therefore expect to begin realizing efficiency gains next winter, and even more so the following year," said Erlendsson .
Specialized Production and Synergies
The Auric facility will specialize in labor-intensive products, specifically aquaculture cages made from rigid polyethylene netting. Due to the material's stiffness, these must be hand-sewn, making the Indian labor market an ideal fit. Simultaneously, Kohinoor is initiating production of cages from softer fibers like nylon and high-performance materials while training a new specialized workforce.
The location was chosen not only for its infrastructure but for its proximity to Kohinoor’s existing operations in Jalna and Selu . This proximity is expected to create vital operational synergies, allowing Hampiðjan to scale its aquaculture net production starting in September , when the first machinery installations are scheduled to begin.
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Once fully operational, the workforce is expected to reach 750 employees . The CEO of Hampiðjan , Hjörtur Erlendsson , emphasized that the move is driven by the need for operational flexibility and the competitive nature of the Indian labor market.
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