On Monday, the aerospace unit of Wipro Infrastructure Engineering (WIN) inaugurated a second facility spanning 25,000 sq ft to produce precision parts for aerospace applications at the Aerospace Special Economic Zone situated near the Bengaluru International Airport. The newly established plant, which will produce aerospace-grade parts requiring surface treatments and metal platings, will be located adjacent to the firm's existing unit, where it makes landing gear parts and hydraulic actuators. The development will assist in bringing in new capabilities for Wipro’s aerospace business, which will help it better serve its customers, involving Boeing. Pratik Kumar, CEO at Wipro Infrastructure Engineering, told the media that once they get all the customer qualifications, this plant will not only help their internal requirements but will additionally help the needs of other aerospace elements and system players in this area. Availability of surface treatment capability and capacity is among the essential drivers to boost aerospace production in India. WIN told the media that the new plant would grow its manufacturing footprint for aerospace applications to 300,000 sq ft across India, the US and Israel, comprising the recent purchase of the manufacturing plant of Boeing Supplier TECT Aerospace’s Washington unit. Wipro’s aerospace business was procuring TECT Aerospace’s manufacturing plant in Washington for $31 million, having proposed the only qualified tender after being selected as a “stalking horse” bidder by debtors of the bankrupt Boeing supplier. Wipro and Boeing had entered into a separate contract for the deal to obtain the manufacturing facility, which supplied parts for the Boeing 737 Max aircraft. WIN said that in the first phase, the new plant will provide special processes needed for making actuators and landing gear parts, comprising passivation, titanium etching, nital etching, chrome plating, cadmium plating and zinc-nickel plating. It added that the plant is likely to obtain National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (Nadcap) certification by December or January, followed by customer certifications in the first quarter of FY23. The firm said that the new plant positions Wipro as a one-stop shop for actuator and landing system components. Image Source