German scientific instrument maker, Carl Zeiss India plans to build its largest spectacle lens production facility in Bangalore, with an investment of over 250 million euros. The land for the facility was acquired two years ago and construction will begin next month. The completion of the Bangalore Vision Factory by October 2024 will mark a significant milestone for the company.
Miguel Gonzalez Diaz, managing director of the Zeiss group, said that once the facility is operational, it will be able to manufacture metrology solutions as well as 260,000 lenses every day – a six-fold increase from its current production capacity in the country. It will cater to both domestic and overseas markets. This expansion aligns with Carl Zeiss’ global strategy and recognizes the pivotal role of India in achieving its objectives.
Currently, in India Carl Zeiss makes spectacle blank (unfinished lenses used in the production of eyeglasses) and prescription lenses. Three-fourths of the production is exported to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and the rest is used to meet domestic demand.
Carl Zeiss employs 1,400 people in India. It plans to increase its workforce in both production and research and development with a focus on hiring software engineers for the latter. With the planned expansion, the workforce is expected to increase to 2,000.
