The Association of Indian Forging Industry (AIFI), the body representing India’s forging sector, organised a Session on ‘Emerging Technology in Forging’ in Bengaluru. The session brought together industry leaders, technology experts and forging professionals to discuss how innovation, automation and digital transformation are reshaping the future of the forging ecosystem. The event aimed to spotlight opportunities that new-age technologies offer for enhancing operational efficiency, productivity, and sustainability within the sector.

The session began with remarks by Vivek Bansal, Director, Bansal Precision Forge. This was followed by a presentation by Senthil Kumar R, Nasscom Centre of Excellence – IoT & AI, on how Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and automation are reshaping the forging industry. He highlighted use cases and the relevance of connected manufacturing.

This was followed by a session on ‘Driving Digital Transformation in the Forging Sector’ by Dr. Amit Goyal and Dr. Manju Gupta from BizSol Technologies. Their presentation showed how ERP systems, digital integration and data intelligence are enabling forging companies to transition into the Industry 4.0 era with agility and efficiency.

Ajit Gaikwad, Yeskolube India, spoke on the ‘Importance of Forging Die Lubricant’ and its role in productivity and die life. The presentation by Ramakrishna D, Orb Energy, focused on ‘Powering Indian Enterprise with Solar,’ highlighting how renewable energy adoption is becoming an advantage.

Yash Munot, President of The Association of Indian Forging Industry (AIFI), said, “At AIFI, our priority has always been to empower the forging industry with knowledge, capability, and a clear roadmap for the future. As the sector enters a new phase driven by digital and technological advancement, it is essential that our members understand and adopt these innovations at the right pace. This session reinforces AIFI’s commitment to enabling industry-wide transformation through meaningful collaborations, continuous engagement with technology leaders, and creating platforms that help our members stay globally competitive. We remain focused on strengthening India’s forging ecosystem and ensuring it continues to play a pivotal role in the country’s industrial and economic progress”.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Yamaha Motor Co, has established the Robotics Business Support Division as a dedicated sales and service facility for its robotics operations in Gurugram, Haryana.

The facility operates within Yamaha Motor India Sales (YMIS), the entity responsible for the company's motorcycle and automotive product sales in the country.

The division was created to reinforce sales and service operations for Yamaha-branded robot products, streamline internal business processes and support further investment. The facility will initially focus on surface mount technology (SMT) assembly systems and industrial robots. Over the longer term, the company plans to build the necessary technical structures to handle semiconductor back-end processing equipment.

The Gurugram facility features a dedicated showroom designed to display Yamaha Motor’s robotics technologies. This space allows clients to view products and technical solutions firsthand, helping them assess application methods for their respective production sites. Through this initiative, the company aims to increase its brand recognition and capture a larger share of the expanding Indian manufacturing and robotics automation markets.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

German automation and technology company Durr has launched Qflex, a system designed to decouple automotive drying ovens from specific heat sources. This development allows manufacturers to change energy sources, such as natural gas, electricity, or hydrogen, without requiring structural modifications to oven systems.

Durr plans to equip its oven range with centralised heating technology, focusing on two systems: EcoInCure and EcoSmartCure. The variable heating circuit enables operators to switch energy sources based on availability or cost.

The system uses a heating module that supplies heat to zones through a circuit. Operators can modify the heating module to change energy sources or integrate high-temperature storage units.

Dr. Heiko Dieter, Product Manager at Durr, said, “It is impossible for anyone to predict today what source of energy will be available in plentiful supply and at a reasonable cost tomorrow. If, for example, the gas supply is interrupted at short notice, there is a risk of costs increasing and even production being interrupted. Energy-flexible ovens guarantee an alternative supply in this case. If a source of energy is no longer economical, operators can switch to another source with minimal effort – without having to interfere with the oven’s structural fabric. Choosing a hybrid system also makes it possible to automatically switch to the cheapest energy source depending on the time of day.”

The EcoInCure oven uses a transverse design. The EcoSmartCure uses a longitudinal mode of operation with a stop-and-go principle. This allows for temperature control by heating bodies in phases, which reduces thermal stress on parts. Both systems are single-level designs intended for integration into new builds or existing plants.

The EcoSmartCure is undergoing tests for industrial use.

“The strong customer interest and two projects already underway confirm to us that we have hit the mark with this new development. Energy flexibility is no longer a distant vision. The Qflex technology in our ovens now offers a solution for responding flexibly to volatile energy markets and changing conditions in automotive production,” concluded Dr. Dieter.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has commenced production at its second manufacturing plant at Kharkhoda.

With this, the company has expanded its production capacity to 2.65 million units per annum across Gurugram, Manesar and Kharkhoda in Haryana and Hansalpur in Gujarat.

The new facility can manufacture 250,000 units, which takes the total production at Kharkhoda to 500,000 units per annum combined. It will produce the company’s popular Brezza and Victoris SUVs.

The expansion is part of Maruti Suzuki India’s expansion strategy to meet customer needs, and once fully operational the Kharkhoda facility will produce a million units per annum, making it the biggest four-wheeler manufacturing location for Suzuki globally.

For FY2027, Maruti Suzuki India aims to add 500,000 units capacity.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Tier 1 automotive supplier Uno Minda has announced that its Board of Directors has approved the establishment of a greenfield manufacturing facility in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra.

The facility, managed through its subsidiary Uno Minda Auto Innovations (UMAIPL), will focus on high-voltage electric powertrain products for four-wheeler passenger vehicles.

The plant will manufacture and assemble Electric Drive Units (EDU) and Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) systems. The expansion is supported by orders for these systems from an anchor customer. The project involves an estimated investment of INR 5.5 billion, funded through a combination of debt and equity. Capital expenditure will be phased over the next two years, with commissioning expected by Q2 FY2028.

This represents the second electric vehicle (EV) powertrain facility announced by UMAIPL, following the ongoing construction of its plant in Khed City, Pune, which is scheduled to start operations in H2 FY2027.

The expansion comes as the automotive market increases the adoption of advanced powertrains, including battery electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and range-extended electric vehicles.

Ravi Mehra, Managing Director, Uno Minda, said, "The Indian automotive landscape is undergoing a structural shift toward sustainable mobility, and Uno Minda is at the forefront of this transition. By establishing our second dedicated EV powertrain plant in Maharashtra, we are not only expanding our capacity but also advancing our product offerings with Electric Drive Unit and DHT. Our commitment remains firm: to lead the localization of high-voltage powertrain technologies in India, ensuring that our partners have access to global-standard innovation right at their doorstep."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!