Rakon opens state-of-the-art research and manufacturing facility in India

New Zealand-based high-tech manufacturer Rakon recently inaugurated its new research and manufacturing Centre of Excellence, located in Bengaluru, India.

Shri M Sankaran, Director, U R Rao Satellite Centre (India’s lead Centre for satellite design and development) and Graham Rouse, NZ Trade Commissioner & Consul General - India & South Asia, were present to inaugurate the new facility, which replaces Rakon’s former leased sites in Bengaluru and signals the company’s long-term commitment to growing its India operations.

Rakon is a world leader in the design and manufacture of advanced frequency control and timing products, which enable connectivity for thousands of electronic systems worldwide – from 5G networks and satellites, to autonomous vehicles and emergency beacons. The company has been operating in India for over 15 years, and Rakon CEO, Dr Sinan Altug, says the new facility represents an important milestone for the company and will futureproof Rakon’s India operations. “The Centre of Excellence is one of the world’s largest and most sophisticated manufacturing sites for advanced frequency control and timing solutions, and a symbol of Rakon’s long-term commitment to growing and investing in our operations,” says Dr Altug. “’Make in India’ is at the heart of our India operations, and we value our position as a trusted and strategic supplier to the key agencies and leading companies across India’s telecom, aerospace and defence industries.”

Examples of this include the fast-accelerating rollout of 5G network infrastructure, in which India and its network providers are leading the world, which has further increased the demand for Rakon’s industryleading products among the Tier 1 telecom base station manufacturers. Also, in the Space and NewSpace sector, Rakon is proud to be working alongside the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to develop new products for their missions and deep space programs – including: ‘Mars Mission’, ‘Chandrayan’, and ‘Gaganayan’.

Rakon has invested NZ$15m in the land, building and equipment for the Centre of Excellence and currently employs around 500 people in India. Over the next five years, the company intends to invest a further NZ$55 million and expects to add 300 people to its Rakon India team.

“Our Indian operations are a key strategic strength for our company and through the capacity and opportunities generated by our Centre of Excellence, we look forward to a close and long-standing relationship as a ‘Make in India’ partner,” Dr Altug says. “As we continue to invest in building and growing this relationship, we are proud to be a flagship example of a New Zealand company that is succeeding in the Indian market, and contributing to India’s role as a global technology and manufacturing leader.”

The new facility is at the forefront of sustainable building practices around the use of water and energy, and expected to attain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. Energy consumption in the facility is monitored closely, and it will use renewable energy for at least 70%, and potentially up to 100%, of total consumption.