With a ₹700 million investment, India’s first tempered glass plant for mobiles opens in Noida, with Optiemus-Corning partnership and plans for global-scale expansion.
On Saturday, Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated India’s first tempered glass manufacturing facility for mobile devices in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
The plant, set up by Optiemus Electronics in collaboration with US-based Corning Incorporated, will produce high-quality screen protectors under the brand Engineered by Corning. The products are intended for both domestic and export markets.
Speaking at the launch, Vaishnaw said the development marked a significant milestone in the ‘Make-in-India’ programme.
With an initial investment of ₹700 million, the Noida unit will produce 25 million units a year, employing 600 people. A second phase, requiring ₹8 billion, will expand capacity to 200 million units and create over 4500 jobs.
The minister further noted that India’s electronics production has multiplied sixfold in the past 11 years, reaching ₹11.5 trillion, with exports crossing ₹3 trillion. The sector, he said, already supports 2.5 million jobs.
“Step by step, we plan to manufacture every component used in mobile devices right here in India in the near future. We also encourage research and development to take place in India and are working toward becoming a global player,” he said.
“Despite being one of the world’s largest mobile phone markets, India has relied on imports for tempered glass. With this initiative, we are looking at building global-scale capabilities to support the Indian and international markets with the best quality products,” said Optiemus Chairman Ashok Kumar Gupta.
Commenting on the matter, ICEA Chairman Pankaj Mahindroo said the labour-intensive process would generate large-scale employment and help position India as a hub for electronics accessories.
The domestic tempered glass market is estimated at 500 million units annually, worth around ₹200 billion. The global market stands at over $60 billion.
