OREANDA-NEWS. April 08, 2016. Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502), a world leader in advanced electrical equipment for locomotives and rolling stock, today announced that it will establish a new production facility for electrical equipment for railway systems in Hyderabad, India for expanding its commitment to India and its ability to supply international markets.

The new unit will manufacture power conversion systems and train control systems that provide overall operation management. It will be built by Toshiba Transmission & Distribution Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd. (TTDI), which will establish a new, dedicated railway systems division to promote the business. Production is planned to start in April 2017, and will be expanded to match demand. TTDI expects the plant to have over 100 employees by 2020.

Locating production in India will allow Toshiba and TTDI to better understand and meet local market requirements, improve parts supply and maintenance capabilities, and also win cost benefits that will increase competitiveness, both in India and wider markets. Looking to the future, TTDI expects the new facility to grow as a manufacturing base that also meets demand in the Middle East and African markets.

Commenting on the decision, Dr. Katsutoshi Toda, Chairman & Managing Director, TTDI, said: “We are delighted to step forward and add a new and promising business to our portfolio. India is an exciting, growing market that is committed to robust, long-term investment, especially in electricity and transportation infrastructure, and we are strongly committed to the country across our business lines. We will grow the new manufacturing base with investments that, I hope, will provide employment and contribute to“Make in India” for India’s industrial development. We will also endeavor to enhance our global competitiveness.”

India has long relied on railways to knit together the country, and its current high economic growth is stimulating demand for modernization. Demand for railway transportation is increasing rapidly, led by government-led construction of dedicated freight corridors and an ever expanding reliance on subway systems in major cities.

By establishing a new manufacturing base, Toshiba considers India as one of the important markets with significant growth potential. The company looks forward to accelerating global expansion of its railway systems business through its highly reliable technology and service offerings.