A new testing facility aimed at supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Coimbatore’s defense manufacturing sector was launched at Kumaraguru College of Technology in Saravanampatti on Friday. The facility, named KCIRI Envitest Technology Centre (KEnTec), was inaugurated by Srivats Ram, Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Tamil Nadu State Council and Managing Director of Wheels India.
Developed through a collaboration between Kumaraguru Institutions and Envitest Laboratories, based in Bengaluru, the centre was established at a cost of Rs. 3 crore. Envitest Laboratories provided the funding, while Kumaraguru Institutions contributed the site and infrastructure for the project.
The facility is equipped with advanced testing tools such as thermal chambers, vibration shakers, and heating ovens. It is intended to assist MSMEs and startups by offering shared testing resources that can help reduce costs, shorten product development timelines, and ensure regulatory compliance. Located within Tamil Nadu’s Southern Defence Corridor, the centre aims to improve product quality and enhance innovation through research and development (R&D) support.
Officials stated that the facility will serve more than 100 MSMEs in the region, providing them with access to critical testing resources needed for developing products for the defense sector. The new centre is expected to help address technical challenges faced by local industries, offering expertise and resources to improve design and testing processes.
The establishment of KEnTec is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Coimbatore’s position as an industrial hub, particularly in the defense and automotive sectors, by providing key infrastructure and technical support to local manufacturers.