Wipro set for an expanded role in defence, aerospace segment

For the purpose, Wipro unveiled first-ever aerospace actuator manufacturing facility at Devanahalli

Wipro Infrastructure Engineering, the  hydraulics business of Wipro Limited, On Tuesday said that is embarking on an expansion plan in the defence and aerospace  segment.

“Our vision is to build a significant presence in the Aerospace and Defense market, leveraging on our experience and competence in precision engineering and machining space. Going forward, we see significant opportunities from this business,” said Pratik Kumar, President, Wipro Infrastructure Engineering.

Wipro as part of this strategy unveiled India’s first-ever aerospace actuator manufacturing facility at the Devanahalli Special Economic Zone near Bengaluru International Airport.

In the first phase, the plant set up in a 7.2 acre campus with an initial investment of Rs 65 crore million, will have an initial capacity to produce 2,000 actuators a year. The existing infrastructure allows for expansion of the capacity up to 8,000 actuators per annum.

Industry estimates put the global actuator systems market at $3 billion. Aerospace actuators have various applications in an aircraft, including landing gear, flight control systems, engines and utilities.

In May 2011, Wipro Infrastructure Engineering signed an agreement with Spanish company CESA (Compania Espanola de Sistemas Aeronauticos S A), a subsidiary of the global Aerospace and Defence Corporation, EADS, for the manufacture of precision engineering components.

The pact involves transfer of technology as well as manufacturing aerospace actuators and related precision engineering components by Wipro for CESA.

Wipro Infrastructure Engineering plans to double the initial investment over the next six years to expand capacity and add new product lines in precision manufactured components.

“We have ambitious plans for this business and are in talks with several players to develop multiple product lines. Our facility, with end-to-end capabilities from product development, manufacturing to testing, is well positioned to partner global OEMs/tier-Is, who are looking to extend their supply chains to  cost-competitive countries like India and also to meet their Offset obligations,” said  Sunil Rajagopalan, Business Head for Wipro Infrastructure Engineering–Aerospace and Defence.