Dell Commences Manufacturing In India

Dell announced the commencement of production at its new manufacturing facility at Sriperumbudur near Chennai. The ceremony was marked by the handing over of the first ‘Made in India' desktop computer system to Infosys, one of Dell's largest customers in the country. Rajan Anandan, Vice President & GM – Dell India, formally presented the first desktop to Group Captain Deepak Sinha, VP-CCD and RN Koushik, AVP-CCD of Infosys, in the presence of Kip Thompson, Vice President – Worldwide Facilities, and KY Yong, GM, Manufacturing Operations.

Speaking at the event, Anandan said, "It is a truly significant day for Dell and we are thrilled that our first Made in India computer is being received by Infosys. The success of our business has always been about being close to and understanding and meeting the needs of customers better than anyone. Current and future customers in India are the real beneficiaries of this manufacturing plant as we help simplify information technology for them." He added, "The Chennai operation reaffirms the strategic importance of India to Dell, providing significant impetus to our growth plans and prospects here, where we are already among the fastest growing computer systems suppliers."

After formally selecting the Chennai site in September 2006, Dell commenced work on the project three months later. The facility marks an important beginning not just in Dell's local manufacturing, but in attracting companies that make up the supply base which typically follows the company to new locations. Sriperumbudur is the company's third manufacturing location in its Asia-Pacific and Japan region, joining Penang, Malaysia, and Xiamen, China, and is part of Dell's global network of manufacturing facilities. Earlier this year, Dell commenced manufacturing at a new facility in Brazil, and another will open in Poland later this year.

Speaking at the event Kip Thompson said, "We are very appreciative of the forward looking and pro-business approach of the government, both in the state administration and in the Union IT ministry. Reaching this milestone in just eight months is both a credit to the people of Dell and to the state and local officials of the Government of Tamil Nadu, and the Union IT Ministry."

Located on a 50-acre site with a planned five-year investment of about $ 30 million, Dell expects initial capacity for the Chennai operation of 400,000 desktop computers per annum.

Besides being one of the fastest growing computer-systems companies in India, Dell has consistently been the systems provider to large corporate customers. Recently, it has made significant forays into serving small and medium-sized businesses, as well as government and Banking and Financial Services customers in India The company has also introduced expanded ranges of exciting new products under its Inspiron, XPS and Vostro brands.

Globally, the company currently manufactures its computer systems in eight locations: Austin, Texas; Nashville, Tenn.; and Winston-Salem, NC, in the US; Eldorado do Sul and Hortolando, both in Brazil (Americas); Limerick, Ireland (Europe, Middle East and Africa); and Penang, Xiamen and now Chennai (Asia-Pacific and Japan).

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