LAPP is aiding Industry 4.0 with connectivity solutions: Uphar Srivastava

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LAPP is aiding Industry 4.0 with connectivity solutions: Uphar Srivastava

LAPP is aiding Industry 4.0 with connectivity solutions: Uphar Srivastava

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Jul 27,26

In this interview with Rakesh Rao, Uphar Srivastava, VP, LAPP India, discusses Industry 4.0 trends, market opportunities, and the company’s growth strategy in India.

LAPP is aiding Industry 4.0 with connectivity solutions: Uphar Srivastava

With Industry 4.0 adoption gaining momentum, manufacturers are increasingly focusing on automation, digitalisation, and smart solutions. This presents significant opportunities for companies like LAPP to provide reliable connectivity solutions that support modern industrial operations. In this interview with Rakesh Rao, Uphar Srivastava, Vice President, LAPP India, discusses Industry 4.0 trends, market opportunities, and the company’s growth strategy in India.

How is LAPP contributing to India’s industrial automation journey?

In any industrial automation environment, systems such as Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) or Distributed Control Systems (DCS) act as the central intelligence of the plant. Field devices generate critical data and inputs, which are transmitted to these systems for processing and decision-making.

This is where LAPP plays an important role by providing reliable connectivity solutions between field devices and control systems. As manufacturing plants become increasingly dependent on automation and digitalisation, connectivity has become a critical factor in ensuring operational reliability. Our focus is on delivering dependable cable, connector, and connectivity solutions while also increasing localisation to provide cost-effective solutions for customers in India.

How many manufacturing facilities does LAPP operate in India?

LAPP currently operates three manufacturing facilities in India. Our first and primary plant was established at Jigani, Bengaluru. We subsequently expanded with a facility at Pilukhedi in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, followed by another plant at Dharuhera, Haryana. These facilities enable us to strengthen our local manufacturing capabilities and support the growing requirements of Indian industries.

What is the extent of localisation in your manufacturing operations?

Our manufacturing strategy in India has increasingly focused on localisation. Over the past five years, we have significantly enhanced our domestic production capabilities. Earlier, approximately 50 per cent of our products were manufactured locally. Today, local production accounts for nearly 80 per cent of our portfolio. We continue to identify products with strong business potential and consistent demand for localisation in India.

How will the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) benefit LAPP’s business?

The India-EU FTA is expected to create additional opportunities, particularly because our parent company is headquartered in Germany. Currently, around 20 per cent of our products are imported from Germany. The agreement could make these imports more economical, enabling us to pass on cost benefits to customers and improve our competitiveness in the Indian market. We also cater to export markets from India, supplying products to South Asian and Southeast Asian countries. Strengthening our manufacturing base in India will further support our global supply chain strategy.

Which industries are key growth drivers for LAPP India?

LAPP serves a wide range of industries across multiple sectors. Automotive remains one of our key markets, along with food and beverage, infrastructure, and industrial automation. We are also witnessing strong opportunities in emerging sectors such as data centres, electric mobility, and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). These industries require reliable connectivity solutions to support automation, digitalisation, and efficient operations.

What are the key industry trends influencing your growth strategy?

Traditional sectors such as automotive, food and beverage, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals continue to experience steady growth, supported by India’s focus on manufacturing expansion and localisation. The global shift towards supply chain diversification and increasing emphasis on domestic manufacturing are creating new opportunities for Indian companies. We see these developments as a positive catalyst for localisation and growth.

Alongside established industries, emerging sectors such as electric mobility, data centres, and BESS are becoming important growth areas for LAPP India.

What solutions is LAPP developing for data centres?

Customers today are looking beyond individual products and are increasingly seeking complete solutions. Reliability and performance have become key priorities, particularly in sectors such as data centres where operational downtime can have significant consequences. For data centres, we provide customised harnessing solutions, including complete cable and connector assemblies, helping customers simplify installation and improve system reliability.

What are LAPP India’s future growth plans?

Our key focus areas include developing and localising products for high-growth sectors such as electric mobility, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), data centres, and semiconductors. India is witnessing significant investments across these sectors, with numerous projects being announced. Data centres, in particular, are experiencing rapid expansion, while semiconductor manufacturing is emerging as another strategic opportunity.

We expect these new focus areas to make a significant contribution to our overall business growth in the coming years. Along with localisation, we will continue investing in product development and solutions tailored to customer requirements.