Top 15 Manufacturing Companies in Chennai to Know (2025)

How do you get a city going? You get to know about the beach, the food, the culture but a major slice of the pulse of Chennai is its massive manufacturing industry. It is known as the Detroit of India due to the numerous car plants here but it is just a small part of a larger and more exciting story. Imagine Chennai to be a huge workshop. Rather than a single product rolling out of the factory, it is automobiles, cell phones, pharmaceuticals and ice cream. This city constructs, designs and energizes a lot of our everyday lives.

This paper is going to be a friendly tour of the manufacturing world in Chennai. We will not be lost in business jargon or in deep technical jargon. We are not going to do that, however. We will find out what makes this city such a hotbed of making, examine the primary industries that are flourishing here, and most importantly, become acquainted with 15 manufacturing companies in Chennai that are doing great work. They are not faceless corporations, but local heroes who have come up with the city, giving employment to people and placing Chennai on the world map.

Well, put on your filter coffee, sit back and relax and we will explore the varied and vibrant manufacturing sector of Chennai.

Why Chennai is a Prime Location for Manufacturing

Chennai is a suitable location to establish a manufacturing firm since it possesses a number of vital advantages.

• Good Sea Connections: Chennai is well connected to the seas with two major sea ports, the Chennai port and the Kamarajar port at Ennore. These ports serve as the huge gates that import raw products of other nations and export finished products to other nations. This assists trade a lot.
• Lots of Talented Individuals: There are numerous good engineering colleges and technical training institutions in the city and its environs. They provide a constant flow of intelligent, talented labor-force- the engineers who design the products to the factory technicians. The companies are aware that they can get the right talent here.
• Good Infrastructure: Manufacturing companies in Chennai require good infrastructure. There is a well connected road network in Chennai, with the Golden Quadrilateral highway connecting Chennai with the other major cities of India. It also boasts of special industrial parks like the ones in Sriperumbudur, Oragadam and Guindy. Factory owners are provided with land, electricity, and water in these parks.
• Favorable Government: The government of Tamil Nadu has never been against industries. It extends support, incentives and a business friendly environment through organizations such as SIPCOT (State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu) and TIDCO (Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation) which makes the companies feel welcome.
• Ready-to-Go Support System: Manufacturing companies in Chennai has been taking place in Chennai over a long period and therefore, an entire ecosystem of support businesses has developed around it. They are smaller firms that produce nuts and bolts, package, offer logistics and transport, and all the other small things that a large factory requires to operate with ease. This renders everything more efficient.

Comparison Table

Here’s a quick snapshot of the 15 local manufacturing companies in Chennai:

Name	Founded	Key Products	Approx. Team Size
TVS Sundram Fasteners Ltd.	1962	Fasteners, Radiator Caps, Powertrain Components	15,000+
Rane Madras Ltd.	1929	Steering and Suspension Systems	3,000+
Brakes India Pvt. Ltd.	1962	Braking Systems, Foundry Castings	10,000+
India Pistons Ltd.	1949	Pistons, Rings, Cylinders, Gudgeon Pins	3,000+
TAFE Ltd.	1960	Tractors, Farm Machinery	10,000+
Syrma SGS Technology Ltd.	2004	PCBs, RFID, Magnetic and Electronic Components	5,000+
Salcomp Manufacturing India	1973 (Global)	Mobile Phone Chargers and Adapters	12,000+
Manali Petrochemicals Ltd.	1986	Propylene Glycol, Polyols	500+
Tamilnadu Petroproducts Ltd.	1984	Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB), Caustic Soda	400+
Orchid Pharma Ltd.	1992	Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs)	2,500+
Fourrts (India) Labs Pvt. Ltd.	1977	Formulations, Neutraceuticals	2,000+
Hatsun Agro Product Ltd.	1970	Milk, Curd, Ice Cream, Dairy Products	10,000+
Aachi Masala Foods Pvt. Ltd.	1995	Spice Powders, Masalas, Ready-to-Cook Mixes	3,000+
The Sanmar Group	1972	PVC Resins, Chemicals, Steel Castings	5,000+
Tube Investments of India Ltd.	1900	Bicycles, Steel Tubes, Metal Formed Products	8,000+

List of Top 15 Manufacturing Companies in Chennai

Now, let’s get to know these companies a little better.

1. TVS Sundram Fasteners Limited

• Industry served: Automotive & Industrial
• Best for: High-tensile and critical automotive components.
• Website: https://www.sundram.com

Sundram Fasteners is a company within TVS Group and one of the most successful manufacturing companies in India. It is headquartered in Chennai but produces goods to customers across the globe. As one of the top manufacturing companies in Chennai, the company was started in 1962 and deals in the manufacture of parts that lock, secure and hold other parts together with a lot of precision. The numerous tiny nuts, bolts and screws you see in a car engine or the car chassis are most likely to be of this origin. 

They are not mere nuts and bolts but are designed pieces, which are important to the safety as well as the performance of any vehicle. Sundram Fasteners has even extended its competencies to manufacture intricate components like powertrain, pumps, and radiator caps. The company has received the prestigious Deming Prize of quality, and this demonstrates how much it is geared towards perfection. It demonstrates that a company with its headquarters in Chennai is able to compete and perform on the global scale.

2. Rane Madras Limited

• Industry served: Automotive
• Best for: Steering and suspension components.
• Website: https://www.ranegroup.com/rane-madras-limited/

By rotating the steering wheel of your car you rotate a complex system which turns the wheels. Rane Madras manufactured a big portion of that system or its components. Rane Madras is the leading company of the Rane Group and the group has been operating since 1929. As one of the prominent automobile manufacturing companies in Chennai, it has strong engineering capabilities and it is ever innovation oriented. The Rane engineers strive to lighten, strengthen and improve efficiency of their parts. This enhances fuel consumption and provides the passengers and the driver with a smooth ride. Rane products are used by almost all the major vehicle manufacturers in India and they are sold worldwide.

3. Brakes India Private Limited

• Industry served: Automotive
• Best for: Braking systems and foundry products.
• Website: https://www.brakesindia.com

Brakes India is a manufacturer of brakes. This is an Indian brake manufacturer and the largest in the country owned by the TVS Group. As one of the top manufacturing companies in Chennai, its components halt both small and large vehicles including personal cars and giant trucks. Their primary objective is safety and individuals rely on them to deliver good and reliable products. It also owns a huge foundry where metal is melted and poured into a mould. Out of those molds are formed iron castings that Brakes India utilizes in its brakes and sells to other people. These castings are sold to areas such as wind energy and railways demonstrating how well rounded their manufacturing capabilities are.

4. India Pistons Limited

• Industry served: Automotive
• Best for: Piston assemblies for internal combustion engines.
• Website: http://www.indiapistons.com/

Any petrol or diesel engine contains a piston. This moving component moves up and down thousands of times a minute to convert energy to power. India Pistons Limited (IPL), one of the key automobile manufacturing companies in Chennai, has been perfecting this major component. The company manufactures the whole piston assembly including piston, piston rings, piston pins, and cylinder liners.

These are the components which are required to work under very high pressure and temperature, thus they should be as precise as possible and manufactured of the strongest materials. This was first done by IPL in India and it now provides pistons to nearly all major carmakers in India. The heart of the engine is strong and reliable due to its long history of consistent technical development.

5. TAFE – Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited

• Industry served: Agriculture & Farm Equipment
• Best for: Durable and reliable tractors for farmers.
• Website: https://www.tafe.com

TAFE is a term that is equated with cars by many people. Nevertheless, the company is primarily committed to empowering farmers. TAFE is a tractor manufacturing firm based in Chennai and is among the biggest in terms of volume production in the world. Counted among the top manufacturing companies in Chennai, the tractor models of Massey Ferguson and Eicher brands are widely seen in the fields of India and over 100 other countries. The philosophy of TAFE is not just to sell a machine; the company would like to offer a total farming solution.

TAFE manufactures tractors that are hardy, fuel-efficient, and simple to maintain, which makes them just ideal to the challenging environment of Indian farming. The company has been successful because it knows the needs of the farmer very well. TAFE contributes directly to agricultural productivity and livelihoods of millions of people in the farming community through the supply of reliable farm equipment..

6. Syrma SGS Technology Limited

• Industry served: Electronics
• Best for: Custom-designed electronics manufacturing services (EMS).
• Website: https://www.syrmasgs.com

Changing gears to high-tech, Syrma SGS is the Chennai high-flyer in the electronics manufacturing companies in Chennai space. They do not have their own branded products; they are the magic behind the curtains of many other companies. They are an Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) company, which implies that they assemble the electronic innards of goods in many sectors such as automotive, healthcare, and consumer goods.

This involves the assembly of complex Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) which are the brains of any electronic gadget and are green in color. They are also well versed with newer technologies such as RFID tags (tracking) and magnetics. Syrma SGS is one of the most impressive examples of a contemporary Indian producer that lives in the world of technical knowledge, design partnership, and high-precision assembly and makes other brands realize their innovative ideas.

7. Salcomp Manufacturing India Pvt. Ltd.

• Industry served: Consumer Electronics
• Best for: High-volume manufacturing of mobile phone chargers.
• Website: https://www.salcomp.com

There is a likelihood that when you insert your smartphone, then the charger was manufactured in Chennai by Salcomp. Although Salcomp is a Finnish corporation, its plant in the Sriperumbudur SEZ is one of the largest charger factories worldwide and a major component of Chennai electronics industry. Salcomp leads the market in the manufacturing of chargers and power adapters of mobile phones and other smart gadgets. They manufacture massive quantities of these goods with the best efficiency and quality control.

Due to Salcomp, other electronics giants such as Apple and most of its suppliers have moved to Chennai making it a complete supply chain of mobile phone manufacturing. Salcomp is a company that hires thousands of workers, particularly a large number of women, and has made Chennai a world centre of electronics.

8. Manali Petrochemicals Limited (MPL)

• Industry served: Chemical
• Best for: Propylene Oxide and its derivatives like Polyols.
• Website: https://www.manalipetro.com

This firm is located in the Manali industrial estate of Chennai, which is a major petrochemical hub in India. It is one of the key chemical manufacturing companies in Chennai and a major industrial actor in the petrochemical industry of India. Propylene Glycol and Polyols are the primary products of this company. These terms might appear technical, but the products are used in everyday life. The major product made using polyols is polyurethane foam that can be found in mattresses, furniture cushions, car seats, and building insulation.

Propylene Glycol is applied in food, cosmetics, antifreeze, and paints. Propylene Glycol is manufactured in the country by MPL and thus it is a strategic company to the country. It is an old-fashioned business-to-business manufacturer, and its products are the basic raw materials to hundreds of other industries that keep us comfortable and convenient in our everyday lives, without making a lot of noise about it.

9. Tamilnadu Petroproducts Limited (TPL)

• Industry served: Chemical
• Best for: Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB) for the detergent industry.
• Website: https://www.tnpetro.com

When we wash our clothes, the cleaning detergent forms foam due to the presence of one key ingredient, which is Linear Alkyl Benzene also known as LAB. Tamilnadu Petroproducts Limited is the leading LAB manufacturer in India. It was launched in 1984 and forms a large part of the Chennai-based Manali chemical belt. Its principal product, LAB, is sold to all the major detergent manufacturers in India.

Other important chemicals produced by TPL include Caustic Soda and Chlorine which find numerous applications in the textile, paper and water purification industries. The company is characterized by effective operation and high standards of environmental safety. TPL is the provider of the raw components of the FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) industry, which helps us maintain our hygiene in the background.

10. Orchid Pharma Limited

• Industry served: Pharmaceutical
• Best for: Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), particularly Cephalosporins.
• Website: https://www.orchidpharma.com

Orchid Pharma is a research based pharmaceutical company based in Chennai, India. It is also famous across the globe in the production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) which are the key components of medicines that cure illnesses. The firm has particular strength in Cephalosporins, which are antibiotics.  Orchid Pharma has also been able to show its competence in drug discovery and development which is a complex, highly regulated field.

The business had financial difficulties, yet it has managed to turn the tables around and it is back on the growth track by concentrating on its core competencies. Its journey also serves as inspiration for innovative business ideas in the manufacturing and healthcare sectors. Orchid Pharma is the high-tech, knowledge-intensive face of manufacturing today, and it saves lives on the basis of scientific innovation and quality control.

11. Fourrts (India) Laboratories Private Limited

• Industry served: Pharmaceutical & Neutraceuticals
• Best for: Pharmaceutical formulations and nutritional supplements.
• Website: https://www.fourrts.com

Another jewel in the pharmaceutical industry in Chennai is Fourrts India. The company began in 1977 and currently it is engaged in formulations. They are the final products consumed by the patients: tablets, capsules, and syrups. Fourrts enjoys a good standing in some of the domains, including pain management, respiratory care, and gastroenterology.

The company also pays much attention to nutraceuticals, which are the products of food origins that provide additional health benefits. Such an orientation towards wellness and prevention causes Fourrts to look into the future. With its robust domestic market and an increase in exports, the company demonstrates how a firm based in Chennai can address the evolving health requirements of the population and secure its place among the Top Manufacturing Companies in Chennai.

12. Hatsun Agro Product Ltd.

• Industry served: Food & Dairy
• Best for: A wide range of dairy products from milk to ice cream.
• Website: https://www.hap.in/

Hatsun is a small ice-cream shop in Chennai. It is the biggest dairy company in India today in the private sector. The household name is distributed in the South India. Arokya, Arun and Hatsun are the well known brands of Hatsun- these brands are used by millions of people daily. A long and effective supply chain is the secret of Hatsun success. The company purchases milk directly off thousands of farmers.

That preserves the products and assists the rural communities to have a constant source of income. Hatsun invests in high-tech processing plants and a wide cold-chain network to ensure quality of products all the way to the fridge. Hatsun demonstrates that a manufacturing company can build a consumer brand that people love and foster grassroots economic development simultaneously, making it one of the most impactful food companies in India.

13. Aachi Masala Foods Private Limited

• Industry served: Food & Spices
• Best for: Packaged spice powders and ready-to-cook mixes.
• Website: https://www.aachigroup.com

Aachi Masala has had kitchens in South India and beyond spiced up. The company that started as a small startup in 1995 is now a food empire that simplifies and makes cooking tastier. The primary products of the company are the pure and blended spice powders (masalas) that bring back the true flavor of the South Indian food. Having observed the requirements of the contemporary, time-constrained families, Aachi introduced ready-to-cook mixes of items such as biryani and sambar, pickles, flours and snacks.

The reason behind the success of the company is the consistency of quality and real taste on a huge scale. The distribution network established by Aachi is formidable, and its products can be found in even the tiniest of stores, so the brand has become an essential component of everyday cooking in many households.

14. The Sanmar Group

• Industry served: Chemicals, Engineering, and Shipping
• Best for: Manufacturing in PVC resins and specialty chemicals.
• Website: https://www.sanmargroup.com

Sanmar Group is not just a single product company, but a wide conglomerate with a well developed manufacturing backbone in Chennai. Chemplast Sanmar, one of its primary businesses, produces PVC resin, the plastic used in making pipes, window frames, flooring and insulation of electrical cables. Due to this, Chemplast Sanmar is a major supplier of building and infrastructure industries.

The group also works in specialty chemicals, shipping, and foundry work where it manufactures special steel castings. Sanmar has a reputation of high ethical standards, engineering skills and long term vision. The company is diversified, which makes it stable and able to transfer expertise of one industry to another, and it is a strong yet silent presence in the industrial landscape of Chennai.

15. Tube Investments of India Limited (TII)

• Industry served: Engineering & Mobility
• Best for: Bicycles, steel tubes, and metal-formed products.
• Website: https://www.tiindia.com

Tube Investments of India (TII) is an entity of the Murugappa Group and has contributed to the industrial narrative of India. A lot of Indians have ridden on one of its popular bikes, e.g. BSA or Hercules. Although bicycles are the most well-known product of TII, it is also a powerful engineering company. The Tubes division produces high quality steel tubes which are used in the car chassis and in the industrial machines.

The division called Metal Formed manufactures industrial and automotive door frames and chains. TII has in recent years branched into other areas such as electric vehicles and medical equipment. Through renewing its offerings and continuing to dominate its old businesses, TII is a strong and progressive manufacturer headquartered in Chennai.

How to Choose the Right Manufacturing Partner

When you require something manufactured, whether it is a small run of bespoke components or a big production run, selecting the proper partner in Chennai can be intimidating. Here is a plain, simple guide to make your choice.

• Look at their speciality: Find a company that has experience in what you want to make. A firm that is good at producing plastic parts may not be the most suitable in producing high precision metal parts. Visit their site, view their major products and check whether it suits your demands.
• Question quality: Quality is not negotiable. Enquire on the quality control measures they use and whether they are certified, such as the ISO 9001. Quality companies are very proud of their quality and will not mind giving the information.
• Are they able to deal with your size?: There are companies that are established to handle huge orders, and others that are more suitable to small and custom orders. Be specific in terms of quantity you require and enquire whether they can easily manage it. You do not want to be a small customer in a big factory or to overload a small workshop.
• Communication: Good communication is the key to the best partnerships. Do they communicate well? Are they quick to answer your questions? An excellent partner will be open, informative, and ready to talk about any problems.
• Consider logistics: What is the location of the factory? What will be the ease of accessing your finished products? The place they are located can affect your delivery time and shipping costs, which is why it is a significant factor to consider.
• Quality versus cost: There is always the temptation to use the most affordable option but this usually results in poor quality and delays. Seek good value, a good price to dependable quality and service.

Conclusion

Chennai is referred to as the Detroit of India but it is much more than that. Hand-built automobiles and tractors are the products of large steel plants. Fine wires used in electronics are woven by small teams of workers in workshops and medicines are packed in clean rooms. Other industries are fed with chemicals, paints, and dyes, and homes and shops are filled with famous food brands. 

This scene is formed by local manufacturing companies in Chennai. They demonstrate will power, consistency and international perspective. Making things here is not just machines and plants, but ideas, skill and the will to be better. With new funds being invested in electric cars and renewable energy, the Chennai business mix will continue to expand, injecting new life and energy to the factory floors as well as the office desks. The city constructs itself day by day, product after product.

FAQs

Why is Chennai referred to as Detroit of India?

Chennai is referred to as Detroit of India since numerous national and international automobile companies and their component suppliers are found in and around the city. 

Is Chennai manufacturing just big companies?

Not a bit! The large organizations are visible but they are backed by a huge network of thousands of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) which provide parts, services and raw materials and which are the backbone of the industry.

Which government agencies promote manufacturing in Chennai?

Other government bodies such as SIPCOT (State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu) and TIDCO (Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation) are also very important and they develop industrial parks.

What is the future of Chennai manufacturing?

The future is quite bright and varied. In addition to its conventional automotive dominance, Chennai is also quickly becoming a significant centre of electronics production, electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy components.