Corning Plans Rs 1000 Crore Investment To Set Up Gorilla Glass Facility In Tamil Nadu (Image: Corning)

Corning Inc, the popular American gorilla glass maker, is reportedly planning to set up a new manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu. The Economic Times reported that Corning, a major supplier of Apple, will invest Rs 1,000 crore to establish the manufacturing facility in the southern state.

The ET report, citing sources, revealed that the factory will be set up at Pillaipakkam near Sriperumbudur on a 25-acre plot. It is worth mentioning that the plot can be expanded if the need arises, and the facility will employ around 300 people. This will be Corning”s first-of-its-kind investment in India. In September, there were reports that Corning had chosen Telangana to set up its gorilla glass manufacturing facility. On that occasion, Telangana Industries Minister KT Rama Rao said that the company will make an investment of Rs 934 crore and will employ 800 people. KT Rama Rao made this announcement through his social media handle after meeting Corning representatives.

However, ET reported that Corning selected Tamil Nadu over Telangana because of the electronics ecosystem available in the state and also because of the proximity to other Apple suppliers. Tamil Nadu hosts major Apple contract manufacturers, including Foxconn and Pegatron. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on this significant initiative is expected to be signed during the Global Investor Meet (GIM) in January. The report also indicated that the construction of the new facility would probably take about a year to complete. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Rajaa told ET that the state is diligently crafting an outstanding electronics ecosystem of international standards. Corning Inc is the maker of gorilla glass, which is widely used in smartphones and tablets.