Smart Factory specialist YJ Link said on the 19th that it held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new SMT (surface-mount technology) equipment plant in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
YJ Link aims to establish a global four-pillar production system with the construction of the India plant, following Korea, Vietnam and Mexico. Once the new plant is completed, the company's monthly SMT equipment production capacity will expand to a total of 1,500 units.
About $20 million (about 28 billion won) will be invested in the new India plant. The total floor area, including the manufacturing plant and logistics center, is 18,181 square meters (about 5,500 pyeong). The plant's monthly production capacity is 500 units, and YJ Link is targeting completion in Dec. this year. YJ Link currently operates production bases at its Korea headquarters (200 units per month), its Vietnam plant (500 units) and its Mexico plant (300 units).
YJ Link is also considering building a PCB (printed circuit board) production line at the new India plant. India is regarded as a key logistics hub connecting Europe, the Middle East, Africa and East Asia. In particular, with the Indian government set to sharply raise tariffs on imported machinery starting in 2027 to boost manufacturing, the strategic value of local production is rising. YJ Link plans to shorten lead times through local assembly and testing and maximize the benefits of the "Make in India" policy.
Bengaluru is also called India's Silicon Valley. It offers the three advantages of logistics, demand and tax benefits, and global EMS (electronics manufacturing services) companies such as Foxconn, Jabil and Pegatron—potential customers for YJ Link's SMT equipment—have entered the area in large numbers. Based on its local production base, YJ Link can provide rapid after-sales service and technical support to these corporations.
YJ Link is also eyeing orders for SMT equipment for automotive electronics. It sees potential for collaboration with global automotive electronics corporations such as Continental, Bosch and Denso, as well as Tata Group affiliate "Tata Autocomp Systems." Tata Autocomp is already a YJ Link customer and is a key corporation in India with a high share of automotive electronics. In the Indian market, the penetration of electronic components, including in-vehicle infotainment systems and ADAS (advanced driver-assistance systems), is rising rapidly.
Chief Executive Park Sun-il of YJ Link said, "The Indian electronics market is a land of opportunity growing more than 20% every year," adding, "We will strengthen market dominance by going beyond simple equipment manufacturing to consider entering local PCB production lines, and we will resolve global supply chain risks to raise shareholder value."