Initial Manufacturing Milestone Achieved (Image Credits: Pexels)
For engineers and technicians in Tamil Nadu’s manufacturing heartland, Larsen & Toubro’s recent push into industrial electronics opens fresh opportunities amid India’s drive for domestic tech production. The engineering giant launched L&T Electronic Products & Systems last week, commissioning two production lines at its Coimbatore campus to assemble printed circuit boards for power converters.[1][2] This initiative leverages the company’s precision engineering expertise to address gaps in secure hardware for critical applications, from electric vehicles to defense systems.
Initial Manufacturing Milestone Achieved
The Coimbatore facility began operations with two PCB assembly lines producing DC-DC and AC-DC converters used in chargers. Orders have already flowed in, including from a sister L&T unit, signaling early market traction.[1] Prashant Chiranjive Jain, Head of Corporate Centre at L&T, highlighted this start during a recent interview.
Staffed with about 400 employees, the unit focuses on electronics manufacturing services for both domestic and international clients. The setup draws on Coimbatore’s established strengths in defense and precision manufacturing, positioning it as a strategic base.[2]
Phased Expansion to Full Value Chain
L&T plans to erect a ground-plus-three building spanning roughly 20,000 square feet on the campus by year’s end. This structure will enable meaningful production scale-up by early 2027, according to Jain.[1] Longer-term, the company envisions transforming a 40-acre zone into a comprehensive hub covering research, design, contract manufacturing, sourcing, testing, and validation.
Such development will create an integrated ecosystem, reducing reliance on external supply chains. The phased approach allows for steady investment while building capabilities in high-value areas.[3]
Core Focus Areas and Product Innovations
LTEPS targets power electronics for battery storage and grid systems, automotive components like EV motor control units, and industrial robotics. One early offering is a motor-control platform for electric vehicles, available in variants from 60 to 300 kilowatts suited for commercial three- and four-wheelers.[1] Jain noted positive feedback and an anchor customer for this product.
Other domains include strategic electronics for defense applications such as radars and missiles, alongside communication platforms and full-stack electronics system design. The business emphasizes IP-led innovation over low-margin assembly.[4]
- Power electronics: Inverters, converters, energy storage
- Automotive: EV drivetrains, ADAS systems
- Robotics and automation: Industrial systems
- Defense: Radar, fire control
- ESDM: Design and manufacturing services
Leadership Vision and Strategic Fit
S N Subrahmanyan, L&T’s Chairman and Managing Director, framed the launch as key to the company’s Lakshya 2031 goals. “The foray into industrial electronics is an important step towards our Lakshya 2031 aspiration of deepening technology leadership and enhancing India’s self-reliance in critical manufacturing,” he stated.[2] Jain echoed this, saying, “The idea is to provide robust and secure hardware and software for the country’s electronics needs.”[1]
Synergies with L&T Technology Services for design and L&T Semiconductor for chip development strengthen the vertical. Headquartered in Bengaluru, it combines in-house R&D with partnerships to deliver tested solutions.[5] Workforce expansion to around 800 will support ramp-up.
Outlook Amid Talent and Supply Hurdles
While the venture promises growth, securing specialized R&D talent and nurturing local suppliers around Coimbatore remain challenges. Product qualification across standards could take up to two years.[1]
Success here could ripple through India’s electronics sector, aiding sectors like mobility and defense while creating skilled jobs in the region. For Coimbatore’s workforce, this scale-up represents a pathway to high-tech employment in a diversifying economy.
