Press Release, 1 October 2025
Kaynes Technology has marked a breakthrough in India’s advanced electronics sector with the launch of the country’s first augmented reality (AR) waveguide manufacturing line. Developed in partnership with California-based DigiLens Inc., this facility positions India among a select group of nations capable of producing next-generation AR optics for smartglasses and head-mounted displays (HUDs). Located in Mysore, the 3,000 sq. ft. Class 1000 cleanroom facility will manufacture Crystal waveguides, a critical component for immersive extended reality (XR) devices across consumer, enterprise, and defense markets.
The Crystal waveguides are built using DigiLens’ proprietary CrystalClear® photopolymer material and advanced inkjet printing technology. They enable lightweight smartglasses to overlay digital content seamlessly onto the real world with high clarity, brightness, and minimal eye strain. These waveguides are also designed for scalability and cost-efficiency, making them suitable for mass adoption in mobile computing. “India has the talent, scale, and ambition to lead the XR revolution,” said Brian Hamilton, VP of Sales and Marketing at DigiLens, highlighting the collaboration as a key step in building a global optics ecosystem anchored in India.
Kaynes Technology, which has over 37 years of expertise in electronics manufacturing for automotive, aerospace, defense, and medical sectors, sees this as a transformative leap into advanced optics. According to Managing Director Ramesh Kunhikannan, the initiative not only enables breakthrough AR technology but also strengthens India’s position in the global XR industry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also emphasized the importance of local manufacturing of lighter, smaller, and practical XR devices to accelerate adoption and enhance India’s role in the global tech landscape.
This milestone aligns closely with the government’s Make in India vision, creating new job opportunities and advancing local skill development in high-tech manufacturing. By combining Kaynes’ manufacturing excellence with DigiLens’ optics innovation, the partnership aims to redefine how people interact with digital information through immersive and intelligent AR solutions.
