Mumbai: Larsen & Toubro, Indian multinational engaged in EPC Projects, Hi-Tech Manufacturing and Services, honoured its Chairman Mr. A.M. Naik by renaming its manufacturing facility in Hazira, Surat as A. M. Naik Heavy Engineering Complex.

Mr. S.N. Subrahmanyan (SNS), CEO & MD, L&T, said: “L&T’s Board of Directors have unanimously decided to honour the Chairman Mr. A.M. Naik for the role he has played in setting up this large facility at Hazira, near Surat, by naming it ‘A.M. Naik Heavy Engineering Complex’.”

A brief function was held at the facility on December 1st, 2021, in the presence of senior L&T executives and government officials. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Naik said: “I am overwhelmed at this gesture by the Company’s leadership team. I feel it is a wonderful acknowledgement of the contribution in transforming a marshland into a complex that can today be described as the pride of the nation. Hazira is an affirmation that L&T will manufacture equipment for critical sectors of the economy and continue to ‘make the things that make India proud.’”

Three decades ago, the site near the mouth of the river Tapi on which the facility is located was once a swampy wasteland that used to be inundated during high tides. Mr. Naik, who was then heading the Heavy Engineering and EPC projects businesses of L&T, envisioned in this marshland the water-front complex that would meet the Company’s long-term aspirations to manufacture over-dimensioned and complex reactors and pressure vessels.

Mr. Naik later also drove the change that led to a multi-phased expansion of the facility to incorporate a modular fabrication yard, and manufacturing of supercritical power plant equipment, nuclear forgings and a unique Armoured Systems Complex. It took single-minded determination to achieve all this. This 750-acre facility with a 1.6 km long waterfront has the distinction of exporting large and sophisticated equipment to countries around the world including the U.S., Canada, and France.

Over the years, Hazira has set multiple global benchmarks including manufacturing the world’s biggest reactors for several refineries and petrochemical plants, oil & gas platforms and critical equipment for defence. A highlight of the defence equipment programme was the manufacture of howitzers – the K9 Vajra – which have since been inducted into the Indian Army.

Alongside L&T’s other major manufacturing facilities, the A.M. Naik Heavy Engineering Complex has seen continuous process improvements and the induction of automation and robotics to enhance accuracies and speed.