Centum Electronics
Centum Electronics is an Indian electronics design, manufacturing, microelectronics, and systems-integration company serving aerospace, defence, space, telecommunications, transportation, and other industrial markets.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Centum Electronics Limited is an Indian electronics system-design and manufacturing company headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Its activities span the design and manufacture of electronic subsystems, microelectronic assemblies, and other specialized components, together with systems integration and related engineering services. The business operates primarily in technically demanding markets in which reliability, qualification, and long product lifecycles are important, including aerospace, defence, space, telecommunications, transportation, and industrial electronics. The company was incorporated in Bengaluru on 8 January 1993 by Apparao Venkata Mallavarapu. It became publicly listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India in 1994. During its development, the company operated under the Solectron Centum Electronics name and later separated its electronics manufacturing services division into Solectron EMS India Ltd. in November 2006. The corporate name was changed to Centum Electronics in January 2013. Centum combines product and subsystem design with manufacturing and integration capabilities. Its Indian footprint includes several manufacturing facilities in Bengaluru, including a facility at the Aerospace Park in Devanahalli that opened in February 2017. The company also established a dedicated space facility in Yelahanka in September 2019 to support missions for the Indian Space Research Organisation. Centum has been described as one of ISRO's larger contractors and supplies more than 50 varieties of components for satellites and launch vehicles. The company has built an international operating presence through facilities, engineering teams, and customer-support organizations in six countries. It has manufacturing, design, and sales or support capabilities in India, Canada, and France; a design team in Belgium; and sales and support teams in the United Kingdom and the United States. Centum Electronics UK Ltd. serves European customers outside France, while the French operations support customers in France. Centum has also used acquisitions and partnerships to expand its technology and geographic reach. In June 2016 it acquired a 51 percent controlling interest in French company Adetel Group, increasing that holding to 64.66 percent in December 2020. In contrast, it agreed in April 2018 to sell its 51 percent interest in Centum Rakon India, a telecommunications-focused joint venture with New Zealand's Rakon, to Rakon for US$5.5 million. Centum said that the venture was not central to its strategy. The company's work has included defence and space programs. In January 2021, it received the Defence Technology Absorption Award from India's Defence Research and Development Organisation for work associated with EMISAT. Centum was also identified in 2021 as one of the companies contributing to the manufacture of components for Spice 2000 bombs. In September 2024, it joined a collaboration led by Nibe Space and involving several Indian aerospace and technology companies to support a proposed multi-sensor, all-weather, high-revisit Earth-observation satellite constellation. Beyond commercial operations, Centum has partnered with the Akshaya Patra Foundation since the 2000s. The company stated that between 2010 and 2020 it sponsored meals for approximately 360,000 children in public and government-aided schools in Bengaluru. Overall, Centum is positioned as a specialized Indian engineering and manufacturing partner rather than a mass-market consumer-electronics brand.
History
Centum Electronics was incorporated in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on 8 January 1993 by Apparao Venkata Mallavarapu. The company entered public markets in 1994 through listings on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India. In its earlier corporate history it was known as Solectron Centum Electronics, reflecting its connection with the electronics-manufacturing-services model associated with Solectron. A significant structural change occurred in November 2006, when Centum demerged its electronics manufacturing services division into Solectron EMS India Ltd. The company subsequently adopted the Centum Electronics name in January 2013. Its later strategy emphasized specialized engineering, microelectronics, subsystem production, and systems integration for demanding industrial and institutional customers rather than broad consumer-electronics markets. Centum expanded its manufacturing base in India with multiple facilities in Bengaluru. On 15 February 2017 it opened a fourth Indian manufacturing facility at Aerospace Park in Devanahalli, near Bengaluru. The site strengthened the company's ability to serve aerospace and defence programs. In September 2019, Centum opened a dedicated space facility in Yelahanka, Bengaluru, to support missions of the Indian Space Research Organisation. The company became one of ISRO's major contractors and supplied more than 50 varieties of components for satellites and launch vehicles. International expansion has involved both organic operations and acquisitions. Centum developed manufacturing, design, sales, and support capabilities across India, Canada, and France, with additional design activity in Belgium and sales or support teams in the United Kingdom and United States. Its British subsidiary, Centum Electronics UK Ltd., serves European customers other than those in France. In June 2016, Centum acquired a 51 percent controlling stake in French company Adetel Group. It increased its ownership to 64.66 percent in December 2020. Conversely, in April 2018 it agreed to sell its 51 percent stake in Centum Rakon India, a telecommunications joint venture with New Zealand-based Rakon, to Rakon for US$5.5 million. Centum explained that the telecommunications venture was not core to its strategy. The company's space and defence activities brought formal recognition. In January 2021, the Defence Research and Development Organisation gave Centum its Defence Technology Absorption Award for work on EMISAT. In March of the same year, Rudra Jadeja, chief executive of Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems, said that Centum was among the companies contributing to the manufacture of Spice 2000 bombs, including weapons used in connection with the 2019 Balakot airstrike. Centum has also maintained a social-impact relationship with the Akshaya Patra Foundation since the 2000s. According to company statements, its sponsorship between 2010 and 2020 supported meals for approximately 360,000 children attending public and government-aided schools in Bengaluru. In September 2024, Centum joined a proposed Indian aerospace collaboration led by Nibe Space, a division of Nibe Defence and Aerospace. The group included Skyroot Aerospace, AgniKul Cosmos, SpaceFields, Sisir Radar, CYRAN AI Solutions, and Larsen & Toubro, and was formed around plans for India's first constellation of multi-sensor, all-weather, high-revisit Earth-observation satellites. These activities illustrate Centum's evolution from an Indian electronics enterprise into an internationally active supplier of engineered subsystems and manufacturing services for space, defence, aerospace, and other high-reliability markets.
- 2024
Earth-observation constellation collaboration
[1]Centum joined a Nibe Space-led agreement concerning a proposed multi-sensor Earth-observation satellite constellation.
- 2021
Defence Technology Absorption Award
[1]DRDO recognized Centum's EMISAT-related work with its Defence Technology Absorption Award.
- 2020
Increased ownership of Adetel Group
[1]Centum increased its stake in Adetel Group to 64.66 percent.
- 2019
Yelahanka space facility opens
[1]The company opened a space facility in Yelahanka, Bengaluru, to support ISRO missions.
- 2018
Sale of Centum Rakon India stake
[1]Centum agreed to sell its 51 percent interest in telecommunications joint venture Centum Rakon India to Rakon for US$5.5 million.
- 2017
Devanahalli aerospace facility opens
[1]Centum opened its fourth Indian manufacturing facility at Aerospace Park in Devanahalli near Bengaluru on 15 February.
- 2016
Acquisition of controlling interest in Adetel Group
[1]Centum acquired 51 percent of French company Adetel Group.
- 2013
Adoption of the Centum Electronics name
[1]The company changed its name from Solectron Centum Electronics to Centum Electronics in January.
- 2006
Electronics manufacturing services demerger
[1]Centum separated its electronics manufacturing services division into Solectron EMS India Ltd. in November.
- 1994
Public listings
[1]The company was listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India.
Products and positioning
A specialist engineering and electronics-manufacturing partner for high-reliability aerospace, defence, space, telecommunications, transportation, and industrial applications, with particular strength in customized subsystems and long-life programs.
Space electronics
Satellite and launch-vehicle electronics
Centum supplies specialized electronic components and subsystems for satellite and launch-vehicle programs. The company has been identified as a major ISRO contractor and supplies more than 50 varieties of components for space missions. These offerings are designed for demanding reliability and qualification requirements rather than consumer applications.
Aerospace and defence
Aerospace and defence electronics
This area covers engineered electronic assemblies and subsystems for aerospace and defence programs. Centum's manufacturing expansion at Devanahalli and its participation in defence-related programs reflect a focus on specialized, high-reliability hardware and production support.
Microelectronics
Microelectronics and electronic subsystems
Centum designs and manufactures microelectronics and electronic subsystems for industrial customers. These products are typically customized to application requirements and may be integrated into larger aerospace, defence, telecommunications, transportation, or industrial systems.
Engineering services
Systems integration and manufacturing services
The company provides system-integration and electronics manufacturing capabilities in addition to component and subsystem design. Its model supports customers that need engineering, production, assembly, and lifecycle support for complex electronic products.
Marketing campaigns
- Akshaya Patra school-meal partnership
Bengaluru, India
Centum has partnered with the Akshaya Patra Foundation since the 2000s. The company stated that its support from 2010 to 2020 sponsored meals for approximately 360,000 children in public and government-aided schools in Bengaluru.
Outcome. The reported outcome was meal support for approximately 360,000 schoolchildren during the 2010–2020 period.
Brand decisions
2018
Exit from Centum Rakon IndiaM&ABackground
Centum Rakon India was a telecommunications-focused joint venture between Centum Electronics and New Zealand company Rakon.
Action taken
Centum agreed to sell its 51 percent stake to Rakon for US$5.5 million, stating that the business was not core to its strategy.
Aftermath
Rakon became the buyer of Centum's interest, allowing Centum to concentrate on activities it considered more strategically central.
Sale consideration. US$5.5 million (April 2018)
2013
Corporate name changeStrategyBackground
The company had previously operated under the Solectron Centum Electronics name.
Action taken
It changed its name to Centum Electronics in January 2013.
Aftermath
The change established the Centum Electronics identity used by the company thereafter.
2006
Demerger of the electronics manufacturing services divisionStrategyBackground
Centum operated with an electronics manufacturing services division under its earlier Solectron-associated structure.
Action taken
In November 2006, it demerged the division into Solectron EMS India Ltd.
Aftermath
The move separated the manufacturing-services business from the remaining Centum operations.
Recent events
- 2024
Nibe Space signs satellite-constellation collaboration involving Centum Electronics[1]
Other
Nibe Space, a division of Nibe Defence and Aerospace, signed an agreement with Centum Electronics and other Indian aerospace and technology companies concerning a proposed multi-sensor, all-weather, high-revisit Earth-observation satellite constellation.
- 2021
Centum Electronics receives Defence Technology Absorption Award[1]
Other
India's Defence Research and Development Organisation recognized Centum for its work on EMISAT with the Defence Technology Absorption Award, presented by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
- 2021
Centum Electronics linked to Spice 2000 bomb manufacturing supply chain[1]
Other
Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems chief executive Rudra Jadeja identified Centum among companies contributing to the manufacture of Spice 2000 bombs, including weapons associated with the 2019 Balakot airstrike.
- 2019
Centum Electronics establishes space facility in Yelahanka[1]
Other
Centum opened a new space-focused facility in Yelahanka, Bengaluru, to support Indian Space Research Organisation missions.
- 2017
Centum Electronics opens aerospace manufacturing facility at Devanahalli[1]
Other
The company opened its fourth Indian manufacturing facility at Aerospace Park in Devanahalli near Bengaluru, expanding its production capacity for aerospace and related electronics.
Sources2 sources
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