In a major development for Tamil Nadu’s electronics ecosystem, US-based gorilla glass maker Corning, through its India joint venture Bharat Innovative Glass Technologies (BIG Tech), announced the inauguration of its mobile cover glass manufacturing unit in Chennai on Friday.
Corning Incorporated, one of the world’s leading innovators in glass, ceramics, and materials science, has the joint venture with Optiemus Infracom, India’s leading telecommunications and manufacturing enterprise. This ₹1,000 crore state-of-the-art facility will deliver high-quality cover-glass components for the mobile consumer electronics industry.
Corning is reportedly the primary supplier to Apple iPhone and several smartphone brands, including Samsung, Google Pixel and OnePlus.
BIG Tech represents a significant evolution in the cover-glass manufacturing industry in India. Located at Sipcot Pillaipakkam Industrial Park in Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu, the facility will have a capacity of 30 million pieces of cover glass in its first phase of production.
“This facility will allow more consumers in the region to experience the durability and innovation that have made Gorilla Glass a trusted name worldwide,” said Andrew Beck, vice president and general manager, Corning Gorilla Glass. “We are proud to deepen our collaboration with Optiemus Infracom and contribute to India’s expanding supply chain ecosystem for consumer electronics.”
“Our partnership with Corning continues to reinforce our commitment to delivering high-quality products to the market,” said Ashok Gupta, executive chairman, Optiemus Infracom. “Manufacturing finished cover-glass components domestically is a significant evolution for the industry in India. This milestone underlines our commitment to meeting the growing demand for high-quality, advanced mobile cover glass.”
In addition to advancing technological capabilities, the facility will create new employment opportunities and support skills development for the more than 500 people the plant will employ.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the facility was held in June 2024.
“Today’s inauguration of the Corning-Optiemus Bharat Innovative Glass Technologies (BIG Tech) facility marks another proud milestone in Tamil Nadu’s journey as India’s advanced manufacturing hub,” said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. “This investment in high-precision cover glass finishing for mobile consumer electronics will create high-quality jobs, deepen local supply chains, and showcase that world-class innovation can be designed and made in Tamil Nadu for India and the world.”
“Tamil Nadu’s rise in advanced electronics and component manufacturing is clear from projects like this by BIG Tech. When a global leader such as Corning brings high-precision cover-glass manufacturing to our state, it shows that Tamil Nadu is now trusted with some of the most sophisticated processes in the global consumer electronics industry. This aligns with the vision of Honourable Chief Minister Thiru MK Stalin to build a strong component ecosystem and move up the value chain,” said T R B Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotions, and Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu.
Corning’s renowned Gorilla Glass cover material has been designed into more than eight billion devices by over 45 major brands. Visit Corning’s Gorilla Glass page to learn more about Corning’s durable cover-glass portfolio.
 "Gorilla Glass maker Corning's ₹1,000 crore Chennai unit on track")
