Pune, 15th September: The Association of Indian Forging Industry (AIFI), the apex body of the Indian forging sector, successfully hosted its 2nd Annual Conference on the theme “New Development Trends – Impact on Forging Industry”, bringing together leading industry stakeholders to deliberate on the evolving business environment and the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of the Indian forging industry. The conference brought into focus the changing global supply-chain landscape, the emerging China Plus One opportunity, technology and automation, productivity, manpower, rising input costs and the need for greater resilience and competitiveness across the sector.
The discussions at the conference underscored that the Indian forging industry is at a pivotal point, with a significant opportunity to strengthen its position in global value chains as companies increasingly look to diversify their supply chains. However, the industry will need to move decisively beyond traditional manufacturing and supplier models by investing in technology, automation, engineering and R&D capabilities, skilled manpower, productivity and sustainability. The collective message emerging from the conference was clear, while India has the manufacturing base, engineering talent and market opportunity to become a preferred global partner, forging companies must build the capability to take greater responsibility, manage uncertainty, meet rising customer expectations and deliver higher-value solutions to capitalise on the next phase of growth.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Yash Munot, President, AIFI & CEO, Varsha Forgings Pvt. Ltd., said, “The Indian forging industry is at an important juncture, with global supply-chain realignments creating significant opportunities for India. At the same time, we must remain prepared to navigate geopolitical uncertainty, rising input costs, technology disruption and changing customer requirements. Our focus must be on increasing productivity, accelerating technology adoption, developing our people and strengthening innovation and sustainability. The opportunity before the Indian forging industry is significant, but we must build the capabilities and competitiveness required to become a stronger and more valuable partner to global customers.”
A key highlight of the conference was the address by Chief Guest, Mr. Thomas Dose, Managing Director, BMW Group Plant Chennai, who spoke about the growing global relevance of India in the context of the China Plus One strategy. He highlighted that geopolitical turbulence and the risks associated with dependence on a single supplier are prompting global companies to diversify their supply chains. With its engineering talent, large domestic market and capable forging ecosystem, India has a strong opportunity to emerge as the preferred “Plus One” destination. Mr. Dose emphasised that this opportunity goes beyond manufacturing and sourcing, with global customers increasingly seeking suppliers that can contribute greater engineering and development capabilities and take end-to-end responsibility.
Mr. Thomas Dose, Managing Director, BMW Group Plant Chennai, said, “We believe India should be the Plus One. India has engineering talent, a large market and a very capable forging industry. But China Plus One is not only about supply; we want to see much more partnership from India. Customers are looking for capable partners who can take responsibility, contribute to engineering and development, and become part of the development process. India is no longer just a supply chain; Indian companies needs to be part of our development. The challenge is to connect the capabilities that are already there, and AIFI has a major role to play in this.”
The conference also featured a welcome address by Mr. Sunil Javalekar, Chairman, Western Region, AIFI & CEO, S. B. Forgetech Pvt. Ltd., while Mr. Yogesh Thakar, Executive Director, PwC, delivered a presentation on “Indian Forging Industry – Next Global Edge”, providing insights into the opportunities for Indian forging companies to strengthen their position in the global manufacturing ecosystem. The programme was attended by members of the AIFI Managing Committee, industry leaders and delegates from across the forging fraternity. The memento presentation and vote of thanks were delivered by Mr. S. Ravishankar, Vice President, AIFI & MD, Super Auto Forge Pvt. Ltd.
The conference also featured a high-level panel discussion on “Managing Uncertainty / Challenges to Capitalize on Demand Surge”, moderated by Mr. S. Ravishankar, Vice President, AIFI & MD, Super Auto Forge Pvt. Ltd., with Mr. Vidyashankar Krishnan, CMD, M.M. Forgings Ltd.; Mr. Vikas Bajaj, MD, Bajaj Motors Ltd.; and Mr. Sahil Jain, CEO, Hirschvogel Components India Private Limited, as panellists. The discussion focused on the expected rise in demand and the industry's preparedness to capitalise on it, with deliberations covering GST, manpower availability, automation, technology upgrades, investments, training, contingency planning, R&D, productivity, demand management and rising input costs. The panellists emphasised the need for proactive investments in technology, automation, skills and R&D, along with stronger productivity and contingency planning, to manage uncertainty and convert the emerging demand opportunity into sustainable growth.
The discussions at the conference reinforced the significant opportunity available to the Indian forging industry as global supply chains evolve and companies look to diversify their sourcing and manufacturing bases. The industry will need to leverage its existing manufacturing capabilities while investing in technology, engineering, skills and innovation to move higher up the global value chain and build stronger, long-term partnerships with global customers.
The conference concluded with a renewed commitment towards strengthening the competitiveness of the Indian forging industry and creating greater opportunities for Indian forging companies in both domestic and global markets. AIFI continues to play an important role in bringing together industry stakeholders, facilitating knowledge exchange and representing the interests of the forging fraternity.