AT&S breaks ground for new Indian plant

NANJANGUD, INDIA: AT&S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Aktiengesellschaft (AT&S) celebrated the ground breaking of its second plant in Nanjangud.

With this, Europe’s leading and technically most advanced producer of printed circuit boards (PCBs) continues its consequent growth strategy and hence strengthens its leading position in the Indian market. Production will start ramping-up during calendar Q3/2009 and will focus on multilayer PCBs.

“This addition to capacity provides a basis to successfully carrying on with our continuous and sustainable expansion. The capacity of the existing factory is currently very well-utilised and customer demand for standard multilayer and double-sided PCBs is clearly increasing. The new plant enables to strengthen our leading position. Moreover, we actively provide the basis for future growth,” highlighted Harald Sommerer, CEO of AT&S, on the occasion of the ground breaking of the new Indian plant.

The investments for this project will amount to EUR 37 million in fiscal years 2008/09 and 2009/10. Construction is scheduled to be completed in July 2009.

“From the new plant, we expect first time revenue contributions of around EUR 18 million in 2009/10 and, thereafter, as soon as the capacities will have been fully built-up, annual revenues of approximately EUR 37 million,” stated Sommerer. Being located right next to the already existing plant, the new factory will technologically specialise in multilayer printed circuit boards for automotive, medical, and industrial applications.

In January 1999, AT&S Group started operating in India by acquiring the largest Indian printed circuit board manufacturer, Indal Electronics. Along with its expansion into the Asian market, AT&S increased its Indian capacities, and production volume was increased by 50 percent in 2003.