Bengaluru – LAPP has celebrated 30 years of operations in India recently. For the family-owned company headquartered in Germany, this marks the culmination of a long journey that grew India into LAPP’s largest market after its home country.
LAPP’s commitment to India began at a time when much of the global business community was directing its attention to other markets in Asia. Guided by the conviction of founder Ursula Ida Lapp and her sons Siegbert and Andreas, LAPP recognized India’s long-term potential early.
“When my grandmother, my father and my uncle came to India in the 1980s, they saw something that many others overlooked”, says Matthias Lapp, third-generation CEO of LAPP Group. “At the time, most westerners had a very shallow impression of India, seeing mostly hardships and challenges. My family saw something different. They saw the energy of the people, the richness of India’s culture, the democratic institutions, and the extraordinary economic potential. They chose to invest in the country’s future.”
In India for India: A core strategic market for LAPP
After working with local partners for several years, LAPP established its India headquarters in Bangalore in 1996. The first cable production opened in 1998 in the close-by Jigani industrial area.
Since, LAPP has continuously invested in local manufacturing and talent development. With three manufacturing facilities, three warehouses, two harnessing plants, and nine regional sales offices, operations span the entire country. Most recently, the company expanded its plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, which has become the largest manufacturing facility in LAPP’s global production network. India houses some of LAPP’s most advanced manufacturing capabilities worldwide.
“Localisation is important”, says Matthias Lapp. “We develop and manufacture in India for the Indian market. At the same time, we draw on the LAPP Group’s global network: product managers in Germany work alongside materials experts in Switzerland and Indian engineers to develop the best possible solutions for our customers.”
Key role in LAPP’s global growth strategy
As a result, LAPP India has evolved into one of the country’s leading cable and connectivity providers, employing about 500 people today. They serve customers across industrial automation, manufacturing, infrastructure, rail, renewable energy, oil and gas, food and beverage, e-mobility and many other sectors.
Matthias Lapp: “India combines strong economic growth, rapid industrialization, infrastructure development, and energy transition. These megatrends closely align with the industries LAPP serves. And that is exactly why India will continue to play a central role in our global growth strategy. Not merely as a manufacturing base, but as a core strategic market.”
Deep personal ties of Lapp family
The relationship between the Lapp family and India extends far beyond business. Even in his childhood, Matthias Lapp travelled the country during regular family vacations. Former CEO Andreas Lapp serves as Honorary Consul of the Republic of India in two German states since 2000. He also hosts the annual “Stuttgart meets Mumbai Wine Fest”, which has become a pillar of Indo-German dialogue.
