Electronics cluster to have SMT assembly line, manufacturing Printed Circuit Boards in Aurangabad made possible, infrastructure, testing, R and D facilities in Rs 28.58 crore project

YOGESH GOLE

Aurangabad, July 22: The proposed Deogiri Electronics Cluster (DEC) in the Shendra MIDC will have Surface-mount Technology (SMT) assembly line paving the way for Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturing in the region. Currently, PCBs are either imported from abroad or sourced from other destinations in India.

The Rs 28.58 crore (See box for details) project of the union Electronics and Information Technology (IT) ministry also aims at developing common facilities which small entrepreneurs cannot afford to raise on their own.

Speaking to Lokmat Times, DEC chairman Suresh Todkar said, “Aurangabad got the project in 2017. Eighteen members of the DEC, all Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), have invested a lot of money and time over the last four years. With active support of both State and Central Governments, the building is ready and by September 15 orders will be issued for machines. Hopefully, the cluster will become operational by March 31, 2022.”

Currently, a minuscule percentage of electronics industries in the city have their own products as majority are vendors providing products to big industries on demand. When an entrepreneur thinks of starting an electronics unit, he faces problems like funds, land, manpower, Research and Development unit and machines. The DEC is developing facilities so that entrepreneurs can devote their time in turning their idea into their own commercial product and not remain just a vendor, the chairman added.

DEC expects that manufacturing of products like consumer electronics, domestic appliances, level controllers, LED lamps, biomedical instruments, parts needed for railway and defence will get impetus in Aurangabad due to facilities like PCB manufacturing.

Electronics industry is expected to grow at 28 per cent per annum. Electronics products, many of which face import ban, are required in vehicles, domestics appliances and robotics. Demand has also been spurred by Internet of Things (IOT) era. Many electronics chips are currently not available. Against this backdrop, DEC is expected to fuel growth of electronics industry Aurangabad.

Milind Kank, member DEC and former president CMIA.

Investment break-up

Central government - Rs 20.58 crore

State government - Rs 2.72 crore

Local entrepreneurs - Rs 5.28 crore

Building in Shendra MIDC

A two-storey (Ground plus one) building has come up on the 2 acres land provided by the State Government. Total 50,000 square feet construction made.

Facilities planned at DEC

*Electronics product designing, prototyping, testing to be made possible

*SMT assembly line

*CNC machines for PCB enclosure manufacturing

*Chamber having testing facilities where electronics products will be subjected to scrutiny to find out whether they will withstand field conditions.

*Pilot batch manufacturing: A start-up can right away start manufacturing products using DEC infrastructure sparing him rigours a new industry faces.