Shibaura Machine India Pvt. Ltd. (SMI) has expanded its facility in Chennai by inaugurating Unit 2 at Chembarambakkam, with an investment of ₹225 crore and an additional ₹50 crore for land acquisition. Shibaura Machine Group President Shigetomo Sakamoto highlighted India as a key investment destination for the company, noting the growing market and the opportunity to utilize SMI’s expertise.
Shibaura Machine India Pvt. Ltd. (SMI) aims to double its exports and increase revenue nearly four-fold within the next five years by expanding its facility in Chennai, according to Managing Director M. Kumar. “Today, we inaugurated the Unit 2 factory at Chembarambakkam, built with an investment of ₹225 crore, plus an additional ₹50 crore for land acquisition,” Mr. Kumar stated during a press interaction.
He explained that the company’s manufacturing capacity will increase gradually, from 1,200 to 4,000 machines over the next three to five years. Currently, 90% of the production serves domestic firms, with the remaining 10% exported to over 45 countries. SMI plans to raise its export share to 25% by resuming exports to the U.S. and EU countries, targeting ₹2,000 crore in revenue within five years.
The expansion will create new jobs and increase the team size over the next three to four years. Additionally, SMI plans to develop 50 new MSME vendors to support this growth, adding to its current base of 150 vendors. Currently holding a 20% market share in India, SMI aims to maintain or slightly increase this share with the expanded capacity.
SMI, a fully owned subsidiary of Japan-based Shibaura Machine, is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-precision injection moulding machines and reported a turnover of ₹500 crore last fiscal year. The company entered India in 2012 by acquiring L&T Plastics Machinery Ltd., later renamed Toshiba Machine Chennai Pvt. Ltd., and in 2020 it became Shibaura Machine India Pvt. Ltd.
