Motion plastics manufacturer, Igus India expanded its footprint in the country by inaugurating a new manufacturing plant spanning 92,000 square feet in Bengaluru Thursday. 

The state-of-the-art plant in Mandur near Budigere in Bengaluru comes at a point when the company prepares to focus on new divisions dedicated to the semi-conductor and renewable energy sectors, areas poised for substantial growth. The expansion is part of Igus’s long-term strategy to enhance its operational capabilities and support its extensive customer base in India.

The newly inaugurated facility is a testament to the company’s long-term commitment to India, involving an investment of over INR 1 billion. This financial outlay reflects the company’s dedication to maintaining its competitive edge through innovation and cutting-edge technology. 

Of the total investment, INR 200 million have been allocated for setting up the factory, INR 400 million for advanced injection moulding machines and INR 200 million for enhancing the manufacturing process. The plant’s infrastructure is designed to meet the high standards of motion plastics production, ensuring that Igus India continues to deliver world-class products tailored to the unique demands of the Indian market.

Since its establishment as a wholly-owned subsidiary in 2000, Igus India has become a prominent player in the motion plastics industry, catering to over 19,000 customers across the country. The company’s extensive product catalogue boasts 125,000 parts, which are used in a variety of customer-driven assemblies, many of which are customized and assembled locally. This vast array of products underscores Igus’s commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, with over 200 new products introduced annually. The company’s ability to adapt to the evolving needs of its customers has been a key driver of its success in the competitive Indian market.

Looking ahead, Igus India has ambitious plans to further strengthen its operational capabilities and market presence. The company is eyeing significant revenue growth, with expectations of reaching INR 3.4 billion in revenue this year. To support this growth and enhance its logistical efficiency, Igus India plans to establish new logistics and assembly centres in Pune, Gurugram and Noida. These new facilities will enable Igus to better serve its customers across India, reducing lead times and improving overall service delivery.

The focus on emerging industries like semi-conductors and renewable energy is a strategic move by Igus India to align itself with sectors that are poised for substantial growth in the coming years. As India continues to invest in its semi-conductor manufacturing capabilities and renewable energy infrastructure, the demand for high-quality motion plastics is expected to rise. Igus India’s expansion positions the company to capitalise on these opportunities, offering innovative solutions that meet the specific needs of these rapidly growing industries.

The opening of the new manufacturing facility in Bengaluru marks a significant milestone for Igus India, reinforcing its position as a leader in the motion plastics industry. With a strong commitment to innovation, customer satisfaction and market expansion, Igus India is well-positioned to achieve its growth objectives and continue delivering value to its customers across the country. 

Emphasising the strategic importance of this expansion, Igus India Managing Director Deepak Paul stated, “The Indian market presents tremendous potential for Igus as demonstrated by our continued growth and investment here. Our objective is to deliver cutting-edge products and solutions not only to our customers in India but also on a global scale. Igus’s global focus on cost-sensitive and sustainable solutions, encapsulated in our motto ‘Tech up, cost down,’ is perfectly aligned with the Indian approach to technology and innovation. This alignment has been a key driver of our significant growth in the country. As we look forward, our plans include expanding beyond Bengaluru, with logistics and assembly centres set to be established in Pune, Gurugram, and Noida.”

 Igus India is currently the 6th largest subsidiary among Igus’s 38 global subsidiaries, a position that reflects its strong performance and growth potential. Over the past two years, Igus India has doubled its market growth, with revenue figures climbing from INR 1.99 billion to INR 3.13 billion. The company expects this upward trajectory to continue. Additionally, Igus India has invested in a clean room testing facility in Germany and plans to establish a similar setup in India, further enhancing its product development and quality assurance capabilities.

Commenting on the occasion, Country Manager and Director Santhosh Jacob said, “Technology and innovation are at the core of everything we do at Igus. With a catalogue of 125,000 parts and 247 new products introduced this year, we are constantly inspired by our customers’ needs to push the boundaries of what is possible. Our ongoing expansion of the motion plastics product world, coupled with the integration of digitalization and AI, is a testament to our long-term corporate strategy. We are making significant progress in embedding digitalization as a key technology at Igus, which will play a crucial role in our future growth and success.”

American computer technology company Sandisk has introduced what it claims is industry's first automotive grade UFS4.1 interface device – Sandisk iNAND AT EU752 UFS4.1 Embedded Flash Drive (EFD).

This not only strengthens its product portfolio but also supports the automotive industry by enabling faster and secure access to data.

The company's solution will support the requirements of Software Defined Vehicles (SDV), which use high volumes of data along with more frequent over-the-air (OTA) updates. The UFS4.1 interface enables software updates to happen faster.

The new solution is said to provide 2x the performance of Sandisk’s UFS3.1 device and double the capacity previously available in the market. The Sandisk iNAND AT EU752 UFS4.1 is available with upto 1TB of storage space.

Key features of the product include – health status reporting to prevent potential system failures while the vehicle is operating; fast boot replaces the need for a separate NOR device; the fast boot is also critical for safety systems such as rearview camera systems that need to be operational within two seconds.

The UFS4.1 has a claimed write speed of upto 3,900 MBPS and 4,200 MBPS of read speed.

Representational image courtesy: Erik Mclean/Pexels 

Uber, one of India’s leading ride-hailing platforms, is introducing pet-friendly (dogs, cats and other pets) ride options for customers in Delhi and Mumbai under ‘Uber Pet’.

The company first introduced the Uber Pet option in Bengaluru last year, which is now being extended to two more cities. This will allow customers who wish to travel with their pets to book a cab on-demand or reserve a ride in advance. Uber has also partnered with Heads Up for Tails, a pet care brand, to provide special discounts for customers booking their rides to the store.

Shweta Mantri, Head, Rider Verticals, Uber India and South Asia, said, “We’re excited to bring Uber Pet to Delhi and Mumbai, offering even more flexibility for pet owners to travel with their furry friends. After listening to the feedback from pet parents, we’re now offering the option to book Uber Pet on-demand, making travel with your pets easier than ever. Our collaboration with Heads Up for Tails ensures that pet parents have an even more enjoyable experience, with great perks at HUFT stores. Together, we’re making travel with pets not just easier, but more fun too!”

Rashi Sanon Narang, Founder, Heads Up For Tails, added, “At Heads Up For Tails, we’ve always believed that pets are family, and every pet parent deserves a seamless, joyful experience when stepping out with their furry family. We’re delighted to join forces with Uber Pet to bring pet-friendly travel to new heights in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Our partnership is all about enhancing the pet parent experience – from seamless rides with Uber Pet to exclusive in-store perks that make every journey more rewarding. Together, we're committed to making every adventure with your pets safe, fun, and effortless!”

Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers in the country, has partnered Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and Utkrisht Society for Safe Haryana (a society belonging to Haryana State Police) to implement an Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) in Gurugram.

This move is part of the automakers' Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, which will see Maruti Suzuki India install and maintain ITMS at 23 junctions across 4 road stretches covering 40 km in Gurugram.

The system will be supported by approximately 400 cameras and radar systems integrated with GMDA system.

Shyamal Misra, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority, said, “With the rapid development of Gurugram, the challenges associated with traffic have increased multi-fold in the city. I am sure that Maruti Suzuki’s initiative will be helpful in effectively detecting traffic violations, improving law enforcement, and enhancing road safety.”

Vikas Arora, IPS, Police Commissioner, Gurugram, said, “The stretches identified as part of this initiative have high traffic density and proportionately high traffic violations. The advanced technology solution by Maruti Suzuki will help us digitally capture the violations and eliminate subjectivity. This will help enhance surveillance on these road stretches and improve road safety in Gurugram. In addition, it will also be useful in detection and prevention of crimes.”

Rahul Bharti, Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India, added, “We thank GMDA and Gurugram police for entrusting us with this responsibility to strengthen the traffic enforcement process in Gurugram. Our initiative will support the Gurugram Police to promote road safety and create a culture of compliance and safe driving.”

“Road accident is an area of grave concern in India. Over 1.7 lakh lives were lost in road accidents in 2023 in the country. This translates to one death every three minutes. Human errors are a prominent cause of road accident fatalities. Electronic traffic surveillance and subsequent enforcement of road safety regulations will discourage dangerous driving and traffic violations. Over time, this will lead to improved compliance in the city,” added Bharti.

Pearl Academy, one of India’s leading creative education institutions, conducted its first-ever live masterclass on the Metaverse campus, which was led by legendary car designer Maurizio Corbi.

The masterclass, held simultaneously on the Pearl 2.0 Metaverse Campus and on-ground at Pearl Academy’s Delhi West Campus, showcased the institution’s innovative approach to blending technology with education.

Corbi has over three decades in the automotive design industry and has played a key role under Pininfarina’s banner and has also been behind the design of Ferrari models such as the F355, 456, 550 and Ferrari California.

The automotive industry veteran shared with students the intricate process of car design, providing insights from his decades of experience.

He mentioned his love for sketching on paper but also highlighted the transformative role of AI in modern design. “Today, the new frontier is AI –  you don’t need paper or markers anymore. Technology is reshaping how we create, but the passion and vision behind the design remain timeless,” he explained.

“Product design, especially in the automotive industry, is driven by passion – a passion that must come from within. To all the talented students at Pearl Academy, I say that your potential is immense, and the future is bright. India’s automotive industry is growing rapidly, and with it comes countless opportunities for young designers to make their mark. It was a wonderful experience visiting Pearl Academy and interacting with such passionate and creative students,” said Corbi.

Aditi Srivastava, President, Pearl Academy, said, “At Pearl Academy, we believe that design is not just about creating products—it’s about shaping lifestyles. We are honoured to welcome the legendary Maurizio Corbi, whose work with Ferrari has defined luxury, innovation and timeless design. Ferrari is more than a car; it is a global lifestyle that represents passion, precision and excellence. This masterclass is even more special as it marks our first-ever session in the Metaverse, reinforcing our commitment to pushing creative boundaries and embracing the future of education. By bringing industry legends like Maurizio Corbi into immersive learning spaces, we continue to inspire our students to think beyond convention and design for the future.”