Intel partners with contract manufacturers to make laptops in India

Intel on Friday announced its collaboration with eight electronics manufacturing services (EMS)companies and original design manufacturers (ODMs) to boost laptop manufacturing in India. Intel will share its expertise and help facilitate production of entry-level laptops in the country, it said in a release.

Intel made the agreement with Dixon Technologies, Bhagwati Products, Kaynes Technology, Optiemus Electronics, Panache Digilife, Smile Electronics, Syrma SGS Technology and VVDN Technologies.

The company will also leverage its state-of-the-art surface mount technology (SMT) lines, as well as help them set up quality control process for components and benchmark finished goods.
“I am very pleased that global organisations like Intel are partnering with India, helping to build and catalyse the electronics manufacturing ecosystem for laptops and compute,” said Rajeev Chandrasekhar, minister of state for electronics and IT.

According to Chandrasekhar, collaborations with companies like Intel will help Indian electronic manufacturers expand their footprint as trusted players in the global value chains.

For certain Indian contract manufacturing companies who are entering the business of laptop manufacturing, partnership with Intel is crucial to understand the space better. Further, a lot of these players have also submitted their applications for the IT Hardware PLI scheme.

“By enabling the laptop manufacturing process – from surface mount technology assembly to finished product – we are not only meeting the demands of the Make in India initiative but also contributing to the technological progress of the nation,” said Santhosh Viswanathan, VP & MD of Intel India.

In May, the government announced the revised IT Hardware PLI 2.0, with an outlay of Rs 17,000 crore, to boost local manufacturing in India. This scheme is expected to create Rs 4.7 trillion incremental production over a period of 6 years.

A total of 40 companies had applied for the scheme. The government is yet to announce the list of approved applicants.