Henkel has launched a Customer Application Center in Bengaluru, aimed at supporting India’s growing electronics manufacturing sector through co-development, testing and validation of advanced materials. The facility marks a significant application engineering investment for Henkel in the India Middle East and Africa region and addresses the lack of localised testing and validation infrastructure. It enables manufacturers to develop and scale advanced adhesive and thermal management solutions without relying on overseas facilities. India’s electronics manufacturing sector has expanded nearly six-fold over the past decade, driven by growth in data centres, AI computing, 5G infrastructure, electric vehicle systems, industrial automation and medical devices. These sectors require high-performance materials and faster, localised engineering support. “India's electronics manufacturing ecosystem is at an inflection point, and Bengaluru is at the center of it,” said S. Sunil Kumar, Country President – India, Henkel. “What manufacturers across our focus sectors increasingly need is not just world-class materials, but a local partner who can co-develop, test, and validate those materials under real production conditions, and help them move from concept to market faster. That is precisely what this center is designed to do. It is our most tangible expression yet of Henkel's long-term commitment to India's electronics future.” The 5,000 sq ft facility includes around 2,400 sq ft of laboratory and testing space designed to replicate manufacturing conditions. It supports sectors such as telecom, data centres, EV systems, industrial automation and medical electronics, with capabilities spanning thermal testing, dispensing systems, electrical characterisation and rapid curing. The centre is expected to enable localised application engineering, process optimisation and validation, reducing development timelines and supporting India’s manufacturing initiatives.Photo caption: Advanced electronics lab bridging materials and applications at Henkel Adhesive Technologies’ Customer Application Center in Bengaluru