India Automotive German based electric switches manufacturing company. Supplies to major automobile OEM Ford, TATA and others. Leathers Industries Ranipet was once glorified as fast developing industrial zone, but faced economic depression. Ranipet indirectly suffered from Great Recession 2008 as leather business and exports cater to Western Developed nations. A special economic zone is established at Nellikuppam, a suburb of Ranipet. Ranipet houses AH Group And KH Group of companies. Nearly 400 small and medium leather units are placed in Ranipet. BHEL Ranipet Plant is manufacturing Boiler Auxiliary instruments such as, ESP, Fans, Gate & Dampers, FGD etc. to support Thermal Power Plant. Hospitals The Scudder Memorial Hospital provides nursing to many outpatients. This hospital was started around 1866 by Dr. Silas Downer Scudder. It is a big hospital that was started well before CMCH was commissioned in Vellore. Research Institutes Institute of Veterinary Preventive Medicine The Institute originally known as Serum Institute was established at Madras (present day Chennai) in 1932 to produce anti-rinderpest serum and bull virus to combat rinderpest which was rampant then, posing serious threat to the livestock population. In 1942, the institute was shifted to Coimbatore Agricultural College Estate as an emergency measure due to World War –II. In March 1948, the institute was shifted to the present campus at Ranipet, facing the National Highway No.4 (Chennai – Bangalore) at a distance of from Chennai. The Campus with an area used to be a meat dehydration plant of the army and was acquired by the State Government from the Army under post war construction scheme. The institute has got vast development over 73 years and it's now engaged in the production of various Vaccines, (Bacterial and Viral Vaccines) against various diseases of livestock and poultry, diagnostic reagents and Pharmaceutical products for treatment of ailing animals. In addition, the Institute extends disease investigation service to the field veterinarians. Politics R.Gandhi is the sitting MLA of DMK. Ranipet assembly constituency is part of Arakkonam (Lok Sabha constituency). Food Across the Palar river, a neighbouring town named Arcot, famous for markets of vegetables, Kichili samba rice, sweets, agri products, electrical and jhat market. Arcot is even famous for makkan beda, a sweet prepared right from nawab period. Yet another sweet called malai gaja is also famous from nawab period. Every Friday and Sunday, People visit Weekly Market where Farmers directly sell vegetables, fruits and other eatables to people