Saint-Gobain makes float glass, abrasives, construction chemicals, gypsum and insulation products in India. It runs more than 20 manufacturing sites, including a large glass complex at Sriperumbudur near Chennai.
Ownership and structure
Saint-Gobain runs its glass, gypsum and building products business through its subsidiary Saint-Gobain India Private Limited. It also controls the listed abrasives maker Grindwell Norton, where the promoter group holds 58.03 percent as of March 2025. Grindwell Norton Limited is listed on the NSE and BSE under the symbol GRINDWELL.
What India does for Saint-Gobain
India is a major manufacturing and sales base for Saint-Gobain, with nearly 10,000 employees, more than 20 manufacturing sites and a research centre in Chennai.
Investment and deals
Saint-Gobain India planned in 2023 to invest Rs 8,000 crore over four to five years, mostly in capital expenditure with some acquisitions.
Saint-Gobain's India business
Saint-Gobain entered India in 1996 by acquiring a majority stake in Grindwell Norton. It opened its own glass plant at Sriperumbudur near Chennai in 2000 and expanded it in 2018, taking Indian glass output to about 3,850 tonnes a day.
The group had nearly 10,000 employees and more than 20 manufacturing sites in India in 2024. Recent acquisitions include Twiga Fiberglass in 2023 and FOSROC in 2024.
Key moves in India
- 1996: Saint-Gobain entered India by acquiring a majority stake in Grindwell Norton.
- 2000: Saint-Gobain commissioned its first float glass plant at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu.
- 2005: Saint-Gobain acquired the Indian business of British Plaster Board, bringing in the Gyproc brand.
- 2011: Saint-Gobain acquired a float glass plant near Bharuch in Gujarat from Sezal Architecture Glass.
- 2012: Saint-Gobain established Saint-Gobain Research India in Chennai.
- 2019: The float line at the World Glass Complex in Rajasthan was launched after an investment of more than 185 million dollars.
- 2024: Saint-Gobain acquired construction chemicals maker FOSROC.
Where it operates
Saint-Gobain has a presence in Sriperumbudur and Bhiwadi.
At a glance
- Home country: France
- Global headquarters: Courbevoie
- Sector: Manufacturing & Supply Chains
- Business: Industrial
- Role of India: Sales market, Manufacturing base, R&D and engineering hub
- India entity: Saint-Gobain India Private Limited
- Listed in India: Grindwell Norton Limited (GRINDWELL)
- India offices: Sriperumbudur, Bhiwadi
- India headcount: 10,000+ (2024)
- In India since: 1996
© 2026 The Narrative Republic
See every foreign company we track in our Foreign Companies in India directory.
