Mobile phone Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are keenly observing Corning's investment strategies and initiatives in India, according to Andrew Beck, Vice President and General Manager of Corning's Gorilla Glass division. Beck noted that these companies are paying close attention to developments in the region, especially considering the shifting global trade policies.
Corning's interest in India aligns with emerging market trends, particularly in the telecommunications sector. The company's Optical Communications business has been instrumental in India's telecom growth, providing optical fiber, cable, and connectivity solutions. Corning has been involved in India's optical fiber deployment since the 1980s and currently delivers enterprise network solutions to data centers.
More recently, Corning has committed significant investments to manufacturing in India. In September 2023, Corning announced plans to establish a Gorilla Glass manufacturing facility in Telangana with an investment of $113 million, expected to generate 800 jobs. In June 2024, Corning partnered with Optiemus Infracom Limited to invest ₹1,003 crore in a new production unit in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. This facility, named Bharat Innovative Glass Technologies (BIG Tech), will be India's first to produce high-quality, finished cover-glass parts for mobile consumer electronics.
In September 2024, Corning announced further investments, including a borosilicate glass unit in Hyderabad for producing vials and tubes for the life sciences sector, with an initial investment of ₹500 crore. This Hyderabad plant is expected to be operational in the first half of 2025, while the BIG Technologies plant is slated for the second half of the year. The BIG Tech plant is projected to create 500-1,000 jobs, and the SGD Corning facility in Hyderabad will employ around 500 people.
Corning's approach involves blending its established emission-control technologies with innovative glass and fiber solutions for connected, lightweight cars. Taliaferro emphasized that the need for lighter, more connected cars is universal, irrespective of the powertrain type. While acknowledging that India's transition to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) might be slower due to cost and infrastructure challenges, Corning is preparing for the next wave of emission standards.
Currently, the automotive and optical fiber businesses are the most significant revenue contributors for Corning in India, while mobile consumer electronics and life sciences are expected to be the fastest-growing verticals. Corning also inaugurated a Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Pune with a capacity of 100 people.
Corning initially entered the Indian market in the late 1980s, producing cathode ray tube (CRT) glass for the television industry. In 2012, Corning invested over $100 million to establish an optical fiber manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune. Corning's materials and process expertise have contributed to clean air initiatives in India for over 25 years, providing emission control technology to the automotive industry. Furthermore, Corning provides drug discovery tools to support Indian biotechnology researchers and bioprocessing tools to help Indian biopharma companies develop and produce vaccines.
