Otter Controls India, a joint venture with UK-based Otter Controls Limited, inaugurated its state-of-the-art fourth manufacturing facility in the Chakan-Pune region. The facility represents a significant commitment to Indian manufacturing, backed by a $4.5 million investment. It was officially opened by the Chief Guest Avnish Malhotra, India Lead - Future Mobility Department for Business & Trade, and Head of the British Trade Office in Pune. 

The facility is set to scale up the company’s operations, increasing production capacity by 75 per cent and creating 1,000 new jobs in the Chakan-Pune industrial hub. 

Strategic Investment and Commitment to 'Make in India' 

The expansive new plant covers 96,000 sq ft of floor space and is central to Otter Controls India’s strategy of strengthening the local supply chain, in firm alignment with the 'Make in India' philosophy. The company was previously honoured with the National Productivity & Innovation Award under this initiative. 

"This new manufacturing facility is a true reflection of our belief in the resilience and potential of the Indian manufacturing sector," said Ulhas K Joshi, Managing Director, Otter Controls India Private Limited. "By investing in capacity and creating 1,000 new jobs here in Pune, we are not just scaling our business; we are investing in the community and helping to build a more robust, self-reliant domestic supply chain." 

Technology and Vision for Future Mobility 

The 96,000 sq ft facility is equipped with advanced technology, including a Clean Room Facility ISO 8 / Class 100,000. This technological leap allows the company to enter the highly specialised EMS & SMT vertical (Electronics Manufacturing Services and Surface Mount Technology) for both the automotive and non-automotive sectors. The new facility will also contribute to enhancing its offering of high-precision components such as Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) moulded components and niche wire harnesses. 

Dr. David Smith, Chairman, Otter Group & Alex Nijhoff, Managing Director & CEO, Otter Group, commented on the inauguration, "This investment in Pune is a key strategic decision for the global Otter Group. It underscores our commitment to providing world-class technology and quality, benchmarking our processes against leading international standards. The launch of this facility, especially its capacity to develop next-generation solutions like EMS Manufacturing and Relay Manufacturing for Defence Sectors, solidifies our position as a future-ready engineering partner in the Asia-Pacific region." 

The company's future focus will include the introduction of EMS Manufacturing, in-house commercial stamping, railway switchgears, and relay manufacturing for the defence sectors. 

Otter Controls India is an Indo-British joint venture initiative aimed at bringing High Quality Engineering Products and Services to various automotive & non-automotive customers in India and abroad. Otter Controls India specializes in the manufacturing and supply of high-precision automotive engineering components, including electrical connectors, socket assemblies, switches, wiring harnesses, liquid level sensors, injection-moulded parts, and Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) moulded components, and railway switchgear. Otter Controls Ltd UK is a multinational company engaged in the manufacture & supply of high-precision automotive as well as non-automotive engineering components. The broader Otter Group is spread across Europe, China, India, and Latin America.