In a major boost for the ‘Make in India’ initiative, contract manufacturing firm Zetwerk has officially partnered with Bengaluru-based electronics manufacturing services company, Smile Electronics, to set up three new IT hardware production facilities in India. This collaboration aims to strengthen local manufacturing capabilities and meet the growing demand for advanced electronics in the country.

The first factory, located in Devanahalli near Bengaluru, is equipped with fully automated production lines for assembling, testing, and packing various products, including desktops, laptops, energy meters, and remote controls. The other two factories will be established in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, expanding production capacity across the nation.

Harish Kohli, Managing Director of Acer India, inaugurated the Devanahalli facility and highlighted the alignment of this partnership with the 'Make in India' initiative. Kohli stressed the importance of local manufacturing and innovation in achieving the initiative's objectives.

Zetwerk has committed Rs 1,000 crore to develop Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) capabilities in India. The company will utilize cutting-edge technology, such as automated screen-printing and placement machines, to achieve an efficient production rate of 0.75 million components per hour.

Mukesh Gupta, Chairman of Smile Electronics, mentioned that their team of 750 skilled professionals manages a broad portfolio, addressing both high-volume, low-mix and low-volume, high-mix production needs. Smile has also benefited from the government’s IT hardware Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes 1.0 and 2.0.

Rahul Sharma, Co-Founder of Zetwerk, lauded the partnership as evidence of the supportive business environment fostered by progressive government policies. Zetwerk operates four factories in northern India, focusing on mobile phones, telecom devices, and other electronics. Josh Foulger, President of Zetwerk Electronics, noted that the new facilities will enhance Smile’s expertise in key sectors such as aerospace, defense, automotive, and consumer electronics.