American industrial automation giant Rockwell Automation has announced plans to bolster its manufacturing footprint in the Asia Pacific region with the establishment of a new facility in Chennai. This move underscores the company’s commitment to fortifying its supply chain capabilities in the APAC market.
The forthcoming facility, spanning 98,000 square feet, will be situated in Oragadam, a burgeoning industrial hub on the outskirts of Chennai. It will operate alongside Rockwell’s existing CUBIC manufacturing facility, acquired in 2022. CUBIC specializes in modular systems for electrical panel construction and currently has a presence in Chennai.
The investment volume for this expansion initiative remains undisclosed at present. However, Rockwell Automation anticipates the new facility to commence operations in the first half of 2025. It is projected to generate employment opportunities for approximately 230 individuals by the year’s end, with prospects for further workforce expansion in subsequent phases.
Dilip Sawhney, Managing Director of Rockwell Automation India, highlighted the strategic significance of Chennai as the site for this facility. He emphasized the city’s proximity to ports, robust talent pool, and potential synergies with the existing CUBIC unit as key factors driving the decision.
“The primary objective of this investment is to fortify our supply chain across the entire Asia Pacific region,” Sawhney remarked. “The facility will manufacture equipment to world-class standards, catering to global clientele.”
Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation operates in over 100 countries worldwide, with a workforce of around 29,000 employees. The company specializes in providing hardware and software solutions to aid digitization efforts in manufacturing and industrial sectors.
Rockwell Automation commenced its operations in India in 1983 under the banner of Allen-Bradley Control. It currently operates a manufacturing unit in Noida, along with research and development centers in Bengaluru and Pune. Since 2021, the company has witnessed a doubling in its Indian workforce, which now exceeds 4,000 employees.
The announcement of Rockwell Automation’s expansion in Chennai has garnered attention from regional authorities. TN Industries Minister TRB Rajaa, expressing optimism, stated that this development marks the beginning of a series of advancements in advanced manufacturing for Tamil Nadu. He attributed Rockwell’s decision to expand to interactions between the state delegation and global CEO Blake Moret at the TN Pavilion during the Davos summit in January 2024.
The establishment of Rockwell Automation’s new facility in Chennai is poised to contribute significantly to the region’s industrial landscape and augment India’s role in the global automation sector.