Corning to Set Up Glass Manufacturing Plant in TN, Invest Rs. 1,003 Cr

Corning, best known to tech enthusiasts as a manufacturer of the toughened glass that many smartphones use to improve durability, will invest Rs. 1,003 Crore (US$ 120 million) to build a manufacturing unit in Pillaipakkam, Tamil Nadu. This will be Corning’s first manufacturing facility in India, and will create an estimated 840 jobs. This could be a major boost to Indian electronics manufacturing, as it would simplify the supply chain and boost local production. 

The new plant will be operated under the name Bharat Innovative Glass Technologies Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between the US-based Corning and Indian telecom and manufacturing major Optiemus Infracom formed in September 2023. The companies have also worked together to licence Corning’s tempered glass for screen protectors sold under Optiemus’ Rhinotech brand. A memorandum of understanding has been signed with the Government of Tamil Nadu, although earlier reports had suggested the plant would be built in Telangana.

BIG Tech’s facility will manufacture glass using new precision processing technology, for use in smartphones, tablets, as well as other electronic devices. The chosen location places it near manufacturing plants owned by Foxconn, Tata Electronics (formerly Wistron), Luxshare, Pegatron, and others. 

Electronics manufacturing in India is becoming more attractive to global players as they aim to diversify sourcing, which has long been concentrated in China. The government of India’s production-linked incentive schemes have incentivised multiple global firms, most notably Apple, to manufacture products in India for the local market as well as exports.