Corning Invests in Chennai Vicinity for Precision iPhone Glass Production

In a significant move, American Corning Incorporated has aligned with Indian manufacturing partners, under the aegis of the Tamil Nadu government, for an ambitious project. They inked a memorandum of understanding, heralding the construction of a new factory near Chennai. This facility, primarily focusing on iPhone cover glass, marks another substantial stride by Apple in Tamil Nadu, the southern Indian state.
Bharat Innovative Glass Technologies, a collaborative venture between Corning and India's Optiemus, spearheads this project. The investment is hefty – about 10 billion Indian rupees (around US$120.4 million). The site? SIPCOT Industrial Park in Pillaipakkam, just a stone's throw from Chennai.
A joint statement by the parties involved sheds light on the factory's core mission: to produce high-precision front cover glass through diverse processes. This output is destined for local display panel and mobile phone manufacturers in India. This venture does more than just boost local production and job opportunities. It introduces, for the first time in India, advanced glass processing technology.
Industry insiders have let slip that this new facility will cater to various smartphones, iPhones included. Approximately 840 jobs are anticipated, with potential expansion in response to increasing market demands. Corning's move complements Apple's strategy to escalate iPhone production in India, a country currently responsible for about 10% of iPhone's global output.

Initially, Corning considered Telangana but ultimately settled on Tamil Nadu. This decision was influenced by Tamil Nadu's robust electronics ecosystem and its proximity to other Apple suppliers. Apple's 2022 supplier list features 14 Indian suppliers, with 7 in Tamil Nadu alone – including giants like Flextronics, Foxconn, ON Semiconductor, Pegatron, and Zhiding Technology.
In a parallel development this January, Pegatron also signed with the Tamil Nadu government, planning a 10 billion rupee investment for a second factory. Moreover, Tata Electronics is pouring 120.8 billion rupees into Tamil Nadu for mobile phone assembly, following its acquisition of Wistron India's assets. These investments collectively elevate India's stature in the global smartphone manufacturing arena.

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