FCI OEN Connectors

FCI OEN Connectors Ltd. is the country's prime supplier of Professional Grade Connectors. The Company is a joint venture with FCI France (earlier called Framatome Connectors France). It was incorporated on the 2nd day of June 1981.

Located far away from the madding crowds of the city of Cochin in Kerala, on the outskirts of Mulanthuruthy, atop a hillock aptly named Electrogiri, the Company commands a calm and peaceful milieu.

Way back in 1984, when the Company commenced its commercial operations, the product range was limited.

However, enriched by the technical backing of the joint venture partner, M/s. FCI France and its subsidiaries, also catalysed by the Company's ever continuing quest for excellence and completeness, the accretion of the Company every passing day has been prodigious. The result - FCI OEN Connectors Ltd. is today magniloquent of a wide gamut of connectors like Rack & Panel Connectors, Terminal Connectors, Flat Cable Connectors, Circular Connectors, PCB Connectors, Heavy Duty Connectors and IC Sockets.

FCI France is the technology supplier of the Company since inception. In 1989, they acquired 26% of the Company's equity share capital. In August 1993, the equity stake increased to 40%. Immediately thereafter, the stake further increased to 51% by an exclusive issue of 7,59,863 equity shares to them at a premium of Rs.75/- per share. In 1999, by the conversion of Zero Interest Fully convertible Debentures issued to FCI France, their equity increased from 51% to 61.5%. Consequent to the amalgamation of Framatome Connectors Berg with FCI OEN, 1,89,000 equity shares were issued to FCI France. Again on 5th March 2004, by way of preferential issue, FCI France acquired 8,40,000 shares and the total holding thereby increased to 67.83%. Now more than 97% of the shares of the Company are held by the FCI France S A, FCI SA & FCI Asia Pte. Ltd.

FCI France, headquartered at Guyancourt, France, had a turnover of 935 million Euros in 2009. Operating in more that 30 countries, it employs around 12,000 people all over the world, who are committed to providing customers with reliable, high-quality products for a wide range of consumer and industrial applications. It is the first and only European connector manufacturer in the industry’s top ten. FCI designs and manufactures a multitude of products ranging from the most basic to the most complex, like the smart or high-density connectors found inside a cell phone or laptop computer. Connectors are used in cars, buses, and televisions – and they play a vital role in supplying electricity, sending satellite communications and operating hospital equipment.

Manufacturing Facilities:

FCI OEN has 4 manufacturing units, in which 3 of them are at Mulanthuruthy, Cochin, and 1 in Bangalore.

At Mulanthuruthy

Immaculately clean and impeccably tidy, the factory today boasts of the most sophisticated and contemporary equipments and fully air-conditioned assembly area of 28,148 sq.ft. The manufacturing process strictly adheres to the standards and specifications set by the collaborator so as to ensure that the end products match the quality and reliability levels set by the collaborator. No wonder, the products are well accepted by the market.

Global Tooling Centre, started in 2001, manufactures tools/moulds required for the production of interconnection devices. It also undertakes tool design activities. Manufacture of tools/ moulds is a highly precisioned and technology oriented business for which the company has been using high quality imported equipment. It has a world class tool room with a controlled atmosphere and high-tech machine tools and auxiliary equipment to meet the global quality standards in tooling. It also has its own Training Center apart from the main production area and the total built up area comes to 27, 370 sq ft. The said centre employs around 250 people.

3. Motorized Vehicles Division (MVL)

FCI MVL offers a complete range of reliable, high-tech and innovative interconnect solutions for automotive applications. FCI MVL division operates 11 manufacturing sites and 5 R&D centers globally, capable of delivering state of the art components for engine, cockpit, harness sectioning, safety, Electronic Control Units and multimedia applications for motorized vehicles, both on road and off road. The Motorised Vehicles Division in Cochin, started in 2005, manufactures interconnect solutions for a global clientele, servicing most of the major OEMs. A wide range of products other than for multimedia application are manufactured locally. The division employs around 450 people. The plant has a built up area of 32,260 sq ft.

At Bangalore

The Bangalore manufacturing facility offers Copper and Fiber Optic Cable Assembly, backplanes and Value Added business. Value Added products offer not only connectors, but also complete interconnect sub-assemblies (particularly cable assemblies and back planes). Fibre Optic and Value Added business will find increased markets in the future and therefore the Company has identified these as thrust areas for future growth. The unit employs around 65 people.

Quality is a way of life and an article of faith at the manufacturing site. The emphasis on quality, a corporate obsession, is evident in all facets of activities in the Company. No wonder the products of the Company have been well accepted by the market and its name is synonymous with quality and reliability

FCI OEN Connectors Ltd is the first connector manufacturer in India to receive ISO 9002 Certification. The Company has also received QPL approval from the Defence Electronics Supply Centre, USA, for manufacturing Circular Connectors; making it the first Company in Asia to receive such an approval. This will enable the Company to market the products in the US & European aerospace and defence markets.

FCI OEN is certified to ISO/TS16949:2002 Quality Management System and ISO14001:2004 Environmental Management System. ISO/TS16949:2002 is an ISO Technical Specification which aligns existing US, German, French and Italian automotive quality system standards within the global automotive industry. It specifies the quality system requirements for the design/ development, production, installation and servicing of automotive products. Product Certification includes International approvals like UL , CSA, & National approvals like LCSO, CACT, DQQA & DGAQA .

With a central marketing office at Cochin, the Company has regional offices in all major cities with field personnel carrying forward the work put in by our Design/Production/ Quality team. The penetrating style of customer service of the field personnel ensures that FCI OEN Connectors meet not only the required specifications, but also the adaptability with reference to each specific application, failing which suitable options are immediately offered.

The Company also represents FCI in India since 1985 for marketing their multitudinous varieties of connectors and akin products.

The Company is embellished by the many laurels it has won to its credit. This includes the National Productivity Award, ELCINA Award for Export & Quality, Kerala State Productivity Award, C-DoT Vendors Association Productivity Award, DOE Award for Excellence in Electronics etc.

Company won the National Award for Excellence in indigenization of defence products instituted by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The Award was in recognition for the indigenisation done for Bharat Electronics in back plane assemblies including contacts for a military communication project.