TE Connectivity has big plans for India

TE Connectivity, a $14-billion manufacturer of connectors for electric, electronic and internet systems, is establishing an integrated manufacturing facility in Bangalore at an investment of ₹300 crore.

The plant, one of the first in the Aerospace Park here, is expected to be ready by the end of 2014.

The centre will address the next generation connectivity solutions to multiple industry verticals. It will support the growing local market and exports. The plant, measuring 280,000 sq feet, will create jobs in areas of assembly, packaging, molding, stamping, tooling machine components, cable processes, etc. At present, the technology-focussed TE Connectivity has nearly 300 design engineers (80 per cent in Bangalore) in India, addressing various sectors such as automotive, defence and aerospace, renewable energy, telecom and railways. The company with seven manufacturing plants—five in Bangalore and two in Pune—employs up to 4,000 people and has a turnover of nearly ₹1,500 crore in India. It also has two joint ventures—one with the RPG Group for power and energy products, and the other with Kochi-based CII Guardian to make relays for defence and allied applications.

The MNC, which has been present in India for 20 years now, designs and manufactures approximately 500,000 products such as electronic connectors, components and systems that connect and protect the flow of power and data inside myriad products that touch every aspect of our life.

The Switzerland-based company, is betting big on four broad areas to spur growth in automotive and telecom; renewable energy; defence and aerospace; and national manufacturing policy.

“We are positive on the rising demands of the Indian middle class for automobiles, communication gadgets, smart devices, etc, which will fuel growth and we can meet the needs,” Sanjay Handu, Director, Aerospace, Defence and Marine at TE, told Business Line recently.

The Government’s defence procurement policy and the high foreign direct investment cap in the segment also hold out promise of boosting our contributions in the defence and aerospace sectors.

In the solar energy area, the company is working with Indian manufacturers of solar photovoltaics. Solar energy is becoming competitive and the Government subsidies and mission programmes are giving it the right push for growth, Handu said.

On collaborative work, he said with the Indian Institute of Sciences, the company is working on sensors. An incubation centre has been established in RV College of Engineering in Bangalore with focus on electronics and mechanical.

This would be replicated with other engineering colleges. The long-term objective is to design, buy and help in localisation of manufacturing, Handu added.

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