Rockwell Automation is considering expanding its workforce and establishing additional factories in India to bolster manufacturing operations, as revealed by a senior executive on Wednesday. This decision comes shortly after the announcement of plans to construct a plant in Tamil Nadu, underscoring the company’s commitment to strengthening its presence in the region.
Having completed 40 years in India in 2023, Rockwell Automation boasts a clientele that includes prominent manufacturing giants like Reliance Industries, Mahindra Group, and MRF. Scott Wooldridge, Rockwell’s Asia Pacific Regional President, emphasized India’s potential as a technology hub for the company’s present and future endeavors in product development, encompassing both hardware and software solutions.
Currently, Rockwell employs 4,500 individuals, with a significant portion of its tech workforce stationed in Noida, Pune, and Bengaluru. The company intends to amplify its focus on hardware and software product development by augmenting its workforce in these technology centers. Wooldridge outlined plans for continued expansion akin to the significant growth experienced over the past five or six years, during which Rockwell’s workforce expanded from 500 to 3,500 employees.
Rockwell Automation’s initiative coincides with a period where major Indian IT firms are exercising caution in hiring due to clients reducing expenditures and delaying projects amidst macroeconomic challenges.
Additionally, Rockwell recently disclosed its intention to establish a factory in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, extending its manufacturing capabilities in India. This move aligns with the trend of global manufacturers diversifying their production bases beyond China, with Rockwell eyeing further expansion in India. Wooldridge emphasized the Chennai plant as the initial phase of a broader manufacturing campus strategy, indicating plans for additional manufacturing facilities in the future.
