French engineering group Alstom has inaugurated a hydro bearing production factory in Vadodara in the Indian state of Gujarat.

The facility will manufacture bearings for medium to large size hydropower projects, including large turbine and generator thrust bearings, guide bearings and shaft seals to cater to the hydropower sector both in India and abroad.

With an area of over 6150 square metres, the factory will reach a full production capacity of 40 sets of bearings and shaft seals per year by 2012-2013.

Alstom said that the facility’s energy-efficient characteristics include heat-insulated panels, a fume extraction system, underwater plasma cutting machines to reduce noise pollution, a rainwater recycling system, and a liquefied petroleum gas heated furnace to ensure zero pollution.