GE Tech on expansion mode

BANGALORE: GE’s John F Welch Technology (JFWT) center in Bangalore is all

ready to increase its operations in terms of space and number of employees.

The third phase of its center in Whitefield is ready for occupation and the

center will have 1000 more employees on the rolls by the year-end. The aircraft

engineering team of about 600 people, housed in ITPL, will also be moved to the

center. Currently there are 700 employees working in the center.

"We have identified the potential of the center and the contribution to

the group’s research and development activities. It is the largest technology

center outside the US. About 161 patents are in the process of disclosure in the

field of Chemistry, Mechanical engineering and materials, to name a few. India

has been looked upon as the expertise in numeric modeling apart from other

areas," said, GE India, president and CEO, Scott R Bayman.

The company has already invested about $ 80 million in the center so far and

is ready to invest more, depending on opportunities. Apart from India, GE has

development centers in China and Mexico.

"The Indian center is fast growing to become one of the major

contributors to the group’s innovation and inventing capabilities. The talent

and skills available in the country has propelled us to make this center grow

fast. We have set up the center with labs equipped with infrastructure

equivalent to the US development center," said, the center’s managing

director, Guillermo Wille.