Development of Industries in Kanpur was phenomenal. The industrialization of the city took place in a period of about 100 years. The location advantage climatic conditions and the people’s interest contributed for the growth of Industries in the city. The process of industrialization can be summarized as given below;

Following the year of Kanpur Revolution in 1857, the city of Kanpur became an important center for leather and textile industries. In the year 1860, Government Harness and Saddler Factory for supplying leather materials to army was started in 1860. Following that the Cooper Allen & Co was started in the year 1880. The first cotton textile mill in the city was declared opened in the year 1862. The next mill was Moire Mills in 1882. In the mean time, East India Company established their headquarters in Kanpur and played a vital role in the development of industries in the area. The first Indian company, an oil mill was started in Cawnpore in the year 1857 by Nihal Chand Kishori Lal. The Juggilal Kamlapat Singhania Family popularly known as the J K group was instrumental for many companies being opened in Kanpur between 1930 and 1970.

A Swadeshi company by name Swadeshi Cotton Mills was inaugurated by the Jaipuria family mainly for the local people. This was to stop the looting cotton by the British company in India. Kanpur is known as “Manchester of India” because of increasing textile mills that were opened subsequently. Later as a part of diversification, Flour mills Tea plantations and steel Industries were opened by Kishori Lal group. The new Cawnpore Flour Mills is the take over of Cawnpore Flour Mills started by Edward Foy in the year 1886. Ms/ Singh Engineering along with the JK group brought the first steel company in Kanpur. Many leather Industries were later opened in Kanpur by various Industrialists. LML is another company which has been manufacturing two wheelers. The Industrial Growth of Kanpur is really tremendous.