NIDEC Elevator Motors Establishes New Factory in India

I. Grand Opening – Another World-Class Advanced Production Base Lands in India

1.1 Overview of the New Manufacturing Center

In November 2025, Nidec held a grand inauguration ceremony in Hubli-Dharwad, Karnataka, India, announcing the official launch of its new manufacturing hub — The Orchard Hub Campus.Spanning over 200,000 square meters, the campus will include six modern factories and an interactive experience center. It is the largest and most technologically advanced manufacturing base of Nidec in India covering multiple product lines of the Motion & Energy business.

Figure 1 Orchard Park

Figure 2 Interior of the Park

Figure 3 Group Photo of Some Employees from the New Elevator Motor Factory

1.2 Inauguration Ceremony

The inauguration ceremony was attended by representatives from the Government of India, the Government of Karnataka, and senior executives of the Nidec Group.

Representatives from Nidec included：

1. Chairman of the Nidec: Mr. Hiroshi Kobe

2. President of Nidec Motion & Energy: Mr. Michael Briggs

3. Vice President of Nidec Elevator: Mr.David Molnar

4. Overseas Sales Director of KDS: Ms. Norma Tuble

Figure 4 Group Photo of Attending Senior Executives, with Hiroshi Kobe (Center), Michael Briggs (9th from the Right), and David Molnar (2nd from the Right)

More than 180 representatives from partners, customers, and suppliers were also present the ceremony including leading companies from the Indian elevator industry.

Figure 5 Group Photo of Visiting Customers with David Molnar (4th from the Right in the Second Row) and Norma Tuble (2nd from the Left in the First Row)

Figure 6 Over 180 Representatives from All Sectors Participated in the On-site Ceremony

At the ceremony, Mr. Hiroshi Kobe, Chairman of Nidec stated, “The Orchard Hub is a powerful testament to Nidec’s global vision taking shape in India. As we expand our footprint, our investment goes beyond infrastructure - it encompasses talent, advanced technologies, and long-term partnerships. This facility reflects Nidec’s enduring commitment to India, not only as a vital domestic market but as a strategic center for global innovation and manufacturing excellence. The Orchard Hub showcases the strength of Nidec’s global capabilities and the immense potential of India’s industrial ecosystem. By combining Japanese precision and innovation with Indian engineering excellence, we are creating a world-class platform to serve customers across the globe.”

Figure 7 Mr. Hiroshi Kobe, Director of NIDEC, Delivering a Speech at the Opening Ceremony

Mr.David Molnar, vice president of Nidec Elevator added: “The launch of Elevator facility at The Orchard Hub Campus marks a defining moment for Nidec Elevator. This investment reflects our commitment to making India a global hub for advanced elevator technologies. With cutting-edge automation, robust quality systems, and a customer-centric approach, we are poised to deliver world-class solutions that meet the evolving needs of urban mobility - both in India and across the globe.”

Figure 8 Mr. David Molnar, Vice President of NIDEC Elevator, Addressing the Ceremony

The presence of government leaders highlights the support and recognition of Nidec’s investment.

Figure 9 Group Photo of Representatives from All Parties

二、Nidec Elevator — A Leading Force Among Six Business Segments

Among Nidec’s six major business segments, Nidec Elevator serves as a key growth power in both the Indian and global markets.

The new elevator motor plant builds upon the success of the Phase I facility in Hubli with comprehensive upgrades in scale, workforce, capacity, production lines, and delivery capability. The Phase II plant at The Orchard Hub Campus will have an annual capacity of 30,000 units producing a wide range of elevator traction machines, including ultra-slim outer-rotor machines, inner-rotor barrel type machines, and high-performance, high-speed heavy-duty 500 series machines designed for the North American market. The product covers applications from small residential elevators to heavy-duty freight elevators (250 kg to 10,000 kg) with speeds ranging from 0.4 m/s to 12 m/s, meeting diverse application scenarios.

Figure 10 Guests at the Factory Opening Ceremony Visiting Main Engine Prototypes

These products are widely used in residential buildings, commercial facilities (including hotels and hospitals), metro systems, and high-rise buildings. The new factory incorporates advanced automation technologies such as robotic welding, automatic winding, and impregnation processes, ensuring high precision and superior quality.

Figure 11 KDS Main Engine Family 1

Figure 12 KDS Main Engine Family 2

The new plant will operate based on a product platform aligned with KDS, enabling consistent product structure and technical standards. It will gradually manufacture multiple KDS elevator traction machine models that have been widely recognized in the Chinese market and extensively applied globally including but not limited to:

KDS WJC-T Ultra-Slim series：

 Ultra-slim design enhances flexibility and space utilization, reducing construction costs

 Radial magnetic field design eliminates unbalanced magnetic force, ensuring stable and quiet operation

 Block-type brake with low noise and compact structure, facilitating installation

 Special mechanical structure improves bearing life and simplifies encoder replacement

Figure 13 WJC-T Main Engine

KDS WJC 2500–5500 kg Heavy-Duty Freight Elevator Traction Machine：

 Gearless permanent magnet synchronous design with low starting current and high efficiency

 The maximum capacity up to 5,500kg and the maximum speed can reach 3 mps. Different traction ratio cover the load requirements from 2,500 kg to 5,500 kg.

 Block brake and dual-support structure with shaft load up to 15 tons ensuring high reliability. Applicable for industrial hub and heavy-duty transport applications.

Figure 14 WJC Main Engine

三、The Critical Role of KDS — Enabling the Successful Launch of the Indian Plant

The successful commissioning of the new plant is made possible by the comprehensive support of Nidec KDS, including:：

 Hardware support: production line design, layout optimization, and establishment of testing and validation capabilities

 Hardware support: production line design, layout optimization, and establishment of testing and validation capabilities

 Reliable supply chain ensuring stable supply of key materials and core components

 Cross-border collaboration between China and India teams all along.  

These efforts ensured the rapid realization of the plant from initial setup to mass production within a very short timeframe while maintaining the same high-quality standards as KDS.

With KDS’s support, customers in India benefit from ：

 Proven, standardized, and high-quality product systems

 Localized sales and technical support with faster response and less communication barriers

 Shorter lead times and better supply chain flexibility.

This creates a strong synergy of “China Manufacturing + India Manufacturing” delivering better experience to local customers.

Figure 15 Experimental Station of the New Elevator Motor Factory

四、Future Outlook — Nidec’s Long-Term Strategy in India

The campus will provide reliable, high-quality products that meet international standards through advanced automation and lean manufacturing. It will support India’s infrastructure development while serving global markets including North America, the Middle East, and Europe by exportation.

Figure 16 Interior of the New Elevator Motor Factory

For Nidec, the launch of The Orchard Hub Campus represents a major milestone in its global strategy in India. It reflects the company’s vision in sustainable manufacturing, energy transition, and electrification, as well as its long-term commitment to the Indian market.

Completed in less than two years, the establishment of this modern, multi-business manufacturing campus demonstrates Nidec’s strong capabilities in global operations, project execution, and resource integration.

Figure 17 Equipment of the New Elevator Motor Factory

Looking ahead, as the campus reaches full operation and further expansion continues across India, Nidec is well positioned to play a key role in advancing green energy, industrial modernization, and electrified mobility in India—while unlocking new growth opportunities for the company.

Figure 18 Workshop of the New Elevator Motor Factory