Auto interior component maker IAC opens global engineering center in Pune

Center to focus on application development engineering to support Indian & global customers programs

IAC officials at the new global engineering center in Pune

Rakesh Rao Mumbai

Last Updated : Jun 16 2017 | 2:47 PM IST

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Luxembourg-headquartered automotive interior components supplier International Automotive Components (IAC) has opened a regional and global engineering center in Pune. The new facility will focus on application development engineering to support the vehicle interior needs of domestic and global customer programs. This opening increases IAC’s presence in India to six locations throughout the country and 28 design, technical, and commercial centers around the world.

“The newest IAC facility in Pune will further enhance our global integrated engineering solutions focused on the development of exceptional automotive interiors,” said Gajanan Gandhe, senior vice president of Asia operations, IAC.

With the ability to accommodate up to 150 employees, the dedicated engineering facility will provide design engineering and application development support to domestic vehicle manufacturing programs for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), such as Mahindra and Tata, as well as to IAC locations worldwide.

The facility opening frees up approximately 650 square meters (7,000 square feet) of space at IAC’s existing Chaklan II (Punjab) facility, which will be repurposed to expand its manufacturing operations providing additional production capacity and product offerings.

“IAC’s efforts in India align with our global strategy of providing customers with the regional program support needed, but also allows our North American, European and Asian engineering teams to work around the clock on customer projects,” said Terry Gohl, chief operating officer, IAC.

Over the past 12 months, IAC has been on a global expansion mission. In addition to the new engineering facility in Pune, IAC broke ground on a manufacturing plant in Poland in February 2017, began production at a new Czech Republic plant in July 2016, and entered the South American market with a new plant in Brazil in June 2016.

International Automotive Components is one of the leading global suppliers of automotive components and systems, including interior and exterior trim. The company, which registered sales of $6 billion in 2016, operates 77 manufacturing facilities in 18 countries.