Genrobotics opens defence and space robotics facility in Kerala

Genrobotics has inaugurated a dedicated production facility in Thiruvananthapuram to manufacture robotics systems for defence and space applications, moving beyond the sanitation sector that earned it national recognition with the 'Bandicoot' robot.

New facility targets strategic sectors

Additional Chief Secretary (Industries) A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish opened the unit at KINFRA, Menamkulam, near Thumba on Thursday. The Kerala-based company said the facility is designed for research and development-led production, with a focus on robotics for defence and space applications.

The expansion marks a strategic pivot for Genrobotics, which built its reputation on sanitation and medical robotics. To bolster its aerospace capabilities, the company has recently recruited senior personnel from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), according to a statement.

Three-facility expansion underway

The Menamkulam unit is part of a broader manufacturing expansion across Kerala. Genrobotics' largest production facility at Palakkad, dedicated to sanitation and medical technologies, is nearing completion. A third site, a headquarters-cum-R&D facility, is under development at Chanthavila in Thiruvananthapuram.

With these three facilities in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad, the company aims to anchor its next growth phase around a larger manufacturing base in the state, the statement said.

From sewers to space

Co-founder and CEO Vimal Govind described the company's trajectory as a journey "from sanitation to space". "We began by going where no one else would: into the sewers. Today, we're headed where few dare to dream: into space," he said in the statement.

The 'Bandicoot' robot gained prominence for eliminating the need for manual scavenging, preventing humans from physically entering manholes and sewers for cleaning. Balagopal Chandrashekar, Chairman of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, and Santhosh Koshy Thomas, Managing Director of KINFRA, attended the inauguration.

Source: The Hindu