Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has inaugurated India’s first tempered glass manufacturing plant, set up by Optiemus Infracom in collaboration with US technology major Corning. The facility, located in Noida, will produce protective tempered glass for mobile phone screens.
Factory Launch and Production Plans
The Noida unit has been established with an initial investment of ₹70 crore. It will begin with an annual installed capacity of 2.5 crore units and generate over 600 direct jobs. In its second phase, Optiemus plans to significantly expand output to 20 crore units annually, catering to both domestic and export markets.
The company has committed to investing ₹800 crore in the next 12 months to expand tempered glass production. As part of this expansion, Optiemus will set up another factory in Noida with a 10-crore-unit capacity and a southern facility with a 15-crore-unit capacity. Together, these projects are expected to create nearly 16,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Government Push for Electronics Manufacturing
Highlighting the industry’s growth, Vaishnaw noted that India’s electronics manufacturing sector has grown sixfold in the last 11 years, reaching a production value of ₹11.5 lakh crore, with exports crossing ₹3 lakh crore and providing employment to around 25 lakh people.
He urged Optiemus to expand its research team from 40 members to 400, stressing that innovation and product design would be vital to the sector’s long-term success.
Optiemus and Corning Partnership
Optiemus Chairman Ashok Kumar Gupta said the company will launch its Made-in-India tempered glass under the RhinoTech brand in September, offering a one-year warranty with unlimited replacement. He expressed confidence that stricter government rules against non-compliant imports would support market demand.
In addition to the Noida plant, Optiemus and Corning are setting up a joint venture in Chennai to produce cover glass for mobile displays, with production expected to begin by the end of the year.
Source: TOI | Image Source: Google | Image Credit: Respective Owner
