Altair, a leading computational intelligence software company has appointed Cimatron, part of Sandvik Group, has become its new global channel partner.

As part of the understanding, Cimatron will amplify the reach of Altair's unique design and simulation solutions within the Altair HyperWorks platform. These solutions – particularly Altair's injection moulding and metal forming solutions, Altair Inspire Mold and Altair Inspire Form – are designed to support the manufacturing industry.

Pavan Kumar, Senior Vice-President, Global Indirect Business, Altair said, "The collaboration will introduce Altair technology to customers that might not currently be using any simulation or data analytics tools, helping them compete more effectively in a global marketplace defined by cutting-edge digital transformation. Cimatron is an outstanding addition to our channel partner ecosystem, and we look forward to seeing how customers in the manufacturing space will benefit from this partnership."

Dan Marinac, Acting President, Cimatron said, "Cimatron has deep roots in the global mould, tool, and die business. Our customers have been searching for modern tools to validate their tool designs to reduce the time and costs of physical tryouts. Combining Cimatron's and Altair's technology will boost customer productivity and help users create higher quality, more efficient products for all manufacturing sectors.”

Cimatron states it searched for the ideal fit to bring ‘virtual prove out’ to its world-class mould and die design solutions. “Enabling digital twin means modelling, simulating, improving and exploring design alternatives. Predicting and avoiding manufacturing defects such as filling, packing, sink marks, meld/weld lines, cooling, warpage, windage, forming, cracks/splits, wrinkles, surface defects, and spring back will save our customers time and money. Altair’s technology reduces the learning curve and puts the power of simulation into the hands of toolmakers without the need for CAE specialists,”  Marinac said.

Founded in 1982, Cimatron develops and distributes CAD/CAM software for the manufacturing industry. It caters to all manufacturing sectors, offering specialised solutions for mould and die makers, as well as solutions for 2.5-5-Axis production milling and turning. It has subsidiaries in Asia, North America, and Europe, and works with certified independent service providers in over 40 countries worldwide.

Automotive Test Systems has inaugurated the MdynamiX Test Centre in Pune recently with a focus on development and testing in the fields of Vehicle Dynamics and ADAS. The centre – with SIL, HIL test benches that enable braking HIL, steering HIL etc. and systems such as ECU HIL and static simulator, will also incorporate a six degree of freedom, DIL simulator at a later stage. The simulation and system development will be augmented by various test systems for track testing and calibration on the test track with software including MXeval and MXoptiCal (with targets). 
To undertake testing and validation projects for customers in India and overseas, involving MdynamiX facilities in Germany as well, the new centre, according to Ramanathan Srinivasan, Managing Director, ATS, “Will facilitate faster development times and provide the necessary tools in India that were until now hard to reach.”
Professor Dr Peter Pfeffer, CEO, MdynamiX, informed: “Our partnership with ATS and the opening of the MdynamiX India Centre marks a significant step forward in our mission to deliver innovative and reliable automotive testing solutions to our customers. We are excited to bring our advanced technologies to the Indian market and look forward to fostering deeper collaborations with local industry leaders.” 
Set to become a cornerstone of MDynamiX’ global operations in association with Automotive Test Systems, the centre is poised to drive advancements in automotive testing and development. It is committed to support the industry by introducing more test benches and driving simulators in the coming years.
Interesting systems such as stationary targets, dynamic targets, driving robots, INS systems, data loggers etc. will also be a part of the centre. 

Pune-based SME – Nuovotech Engineers – has bagged a critical machined part order from Sidhakala Engineers, a supplier to Bajaj Auto Limited for its two-wheelers and three-wheelers since 1997. Manufacturing two-wheeler sub-assemblies such as swing arm assembly, central stand, side stand, frame parts, fuel pump spring holder, rear brake drive lever and chain protection guard, Sidhakala Engineers has a strong focus on customer satisfaction. Besides press steel parts for automobiles, farm machinery, furniture and home appliances, the company has been recognised for its quality and dedication by key automotive suppliers like Uno Minda and automotive OEMs like Piaggio India.

Nuovotech Engineers, on the other hand, has been a micro unit catering to the needs of Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive suppliers. It is also catering to pump manufacturers such as Kishore Pumps and Kirloskar. The company also operates a sister concern called as Sachin Engineers, which specialises in the machining of shafts, flanges and various other critical machined parts as well.

The order for a critical machined part includes a groove made to fine tolerances to fit an oil seal inside it. The groove diameter is itself small and subject to highly accurate programming and machine, making it a very critical operation that not every industry is able to perform. The 'production' job also demands high quality tools, a top quality CNC machine and a smart operator to produce in large quantities at extremely competitive costs. 

Nuovotech Engineers has shown the ability to develop as well as manufacture such a critical fine machined part to bag the order. "Much investment and time was put in the development of this critical machined part as it was also essential to understand the metallurgy in terms of the tools used, the material used and the time cycle taken to successfully make it," said Sachin Sawant, Partner, Nuovotech Engineers. 

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Besides emphasis on electricity distribution reforms and measures for gig workers, the Budget 2025 puts the spotlight on national manufacturing mission to support clean tech, improve value addition in solar PV modules, electric vehicle batteries, high voltage transmission equipment, wind turbines and grid scale batteries. 
With China controlling much of the clean tech supply chain, the mission will combine with the PLI schemes for solar PV modules and batteries, aiding those in the field of backward integration and operations that are scaling up. 
Further scaling up the reach of ‘Make-in-India’ initiative, the Budget 2025 once again has brought into focus the MSME sector. It has been the worst hit by GST with thousands of units in any given industrial areas in cities like Pimpri-Chinchwad going belly up. Considered to provide employment to up to 70 percent in the manufacturing MSMEs have not only been unable to sustain financially, they have not been able to innovate or invest in advanced machinery/equipment and upskilling the way they should have been. 
They also seem to have lost out on their ability to export or sustain the margin pressures that come with supplying goods to suppliers up the ladder. This has led to many Tier 1  or Tier 2 suppliers and OEMs – particularly in the auto sector which contributes most to GST collection and the manufacturing GDP of the country – to look at sourcing from China by installing either permanently or temporarily their sourcing personnel or agents there. 
Perhaps taking such practices into account, the Budget 2025 has focused on MSME sector in terms of their upliftment as it would in-turn help them to drive employment led innovation, energy supplies and exports. 
The custom duty on Lithium-ion batteries has been reduced and tax has been exempted for cobalt powder. 
On the Income Tax front, the Finance Minister announced in her speech that a New Income Tax Bill will be tabled in the Parliament soon. This bill is expected to exempt tax on income till INR 12,00,000. There will be TDS relief offered to senior citizens. 
Until the New Income Tax Bill in tabled in the Parliament and passed, the old Income Tax regime will continue to be valid. 
 

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Tata Motors has reported a 22 per cent fall in consolidated net profit at INR 56 billion for the third quarter ended December 2024. This is on the back of a decline in revenue from the company’s passenger and commercial vehicle business verticals. 
With the clock ticking in the direction of separation of passenger vehicle business and commercial vehicle business, Tata Motors has clocked a consolidated net profit of INR 71.45 billion in the respective quarter last fiscal. 
With JLR delivering a robust performance in Q3 FY25 with record quarterly revenue, highest EBIT margin in a decade and a ninth successive profitable quarter, Tata Motors witness a revenue decline in commercial vehicle business on the account of lower volumes and mix. EBITA margins however saw improvement to 12.4 percent (up 130 bps) reflecting material cost saving and the impact of PLI incentive. Passenger vehicle revenues were down 4.3 percent. EBITA margins however was up to 120 bps at 7.8 percent on the back of cost controls and PLI incentive. 
The company received sanction of Automotive Production Linked Incentives (PLI) in December 2024. An income of INR 3.5 billion has been recognised.