In line with its strategy to expand the company’s industrial footprint in India, Royal Philips Electronics has commenced operations at its first greenfield manufacturing facility for imaging systems in the country. Based in Chakan, near Pune, the Philips Development and Manufacturing Centre will locally develop and produce products and solutions that help improve access to healthcare for people in India and other growth geographies.
The facility will focus on diagnostic and interventional imaging solutions, initially developed for the Indian market and then for global markets. These solutions will primarily target cardiology (catheterisation lab) and radiology (general X-ray) applications. The first products to be manufactured in the facility will be diagnostic X-Ray systems and the Allura FC – Philips’ first India developed catheterisation lab which is used in the diagnosis and minimally-invasive treatment of cardiovascular disease. Both products are aimed at the value segment in India and abroad.
“This plant is an example of how Philips can combine its technology strengths and market knowledge to manufacture products for a healthier India,” said Rajeev Chopra, Managing Director and Vice Chairman, Philips India. “The Pune facility is producing X-ray and cath-lab equipment backed by Philips quality that is affordable for tier-two and tier-three towns and rural markets.”
The Pune facility was specifically designed with manufacturing flexibility in mind so that it can quickly adapt to changing market and product needs. Many of the products and components developed in Pune can also serve the needs of mature markets looking to replace or upgrade entry-level diagnostic devices.
Philips’ in-depth research to understand the on-the-ground requirements in India indicated that several factors, including low operating costs, energy-efficiency, easy serviceability and support for high patient volumes, are critical to increasing healthcare access in India and thereby improving patient outcomes. The Pune facility intends to deliver this type of ‘designed for India’ product, enabling healthcare providers in the country to provide care to those communities who have not had access to high-quality healthcare in the past.
EH News Bureau