Optiemus Infracom, a technology firm, launched India’s first tempered glass factory in Noida, marking a significant milestone for the electronics manufacturing ecosystem. The facility is part of a ₹870 crore investment plan, aimed at building domestic capabilities and reducing reliance on imports.
Phase-Wise Expansion and Job Creation
In Phase I, Optiemus has invested ₹70 crore, establishing a manufacturing capacity of 25 million units per annum. Under Phase II, the company plans to scale production to 200 million units annually for both domestic and international markets. The expansion will require an additional ₹800 crore investment and is expected to create 4,500 more direct job opportunities, Optiemus said in a statement.
Strategic Partnership with Corning
Optiemus has partnered with US-based materials technology giant Corning to produce high-quality tempered glass at the Noida facility. Speaking at the inauguration, Ashwini Vaishnaw, minister of Electronics and IT, urged Optiemus to expand its research team from 40 to 400 professionals, underlining the importance of R&D in making India a global electronics manufacturing hub. “Optiemus is the new gem in India’s fast-growing electronics manufacturing ecosystem. By the end of this year, production of covered glass from Corning will also commence,” Vaishnaw said.
Electronics Manufacturing Industry on a Growth Trajectory
Vaishnaw emphasized that India’s electronics manufacturing sector has grown sixfold in the past 11 years, now valued at ₹11.5 lakh crore, with exports contributing ₹3.5 lakh crore. The industry currently supports 25 lakh jobs, and the government’s goal is to manufacture every mobile component in India, including semiconductors in the near future. “Just as tempered glass production has started today, soon we will see ‘Made in India’ chips,” the Minister added.
Massive Market Opportunity for Tempered Glass
The domestic market for tempered glass exceeds 500 million pieces, valued at around ₹20,000 crore, while the global market is worth over $60 billion, according to Ashok Kumar Gupta, Chairman, Optiemus Infracom. “This is a landmark moment for the Indian electronics manufacturing industry and the Make in India vision. Despite being one of the world’s largest mobile phone markets, India relied on imports for tempered glass. With this initiative, we aim to build global-scale capabilities to support both Indian and international markets,” Gupta said.
World-Class Manufacturing Capabilities
The Noida facility incorporates end-to-end manufacturing processes, including:
*Scribing and shaping/chamfering
*Polishing and dual-stage rinsing
*Chemical tempering
*Coating, printing, and lamination
As reported by thehindubusinessline.com, every stage undergoes stringent quality inspections, ensuring standardized, BIS-certified tempered glass for Indian consumers. “Our aspiration is that every Indian mobile user should have a Made in India tempered glass with BIS certification and fog marking to protect their screen,” Gupta added.
