Giving Wings to the Indian Metal Forming Sector

Metal forming has a vital role to play when it comes to the production of various manufactured goods — beginning with automobile industry to high precision components in instrumentation and electronics industries.

Metal forming machine tool buyers have a lot to unearth at the upcoming IMTEX FORMING 2018 & Tooltech 2018 exhibition scheduled at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre from January
25-30, 2018.

India’s metal forming machinery industry has been serving the need for formed parts through the manufacture of metal forming presses, laser metal forming processes, wire forming, sheet metal parts, and so on.

The demand for high technology machine tools has been increasing over a period of time. This is mostly met through imports. However, many foreign firms are establishing businesses in India through JVs bringing latest technologies to Indian shores. Access to such technologies is expected to enhance the manufacturing capabilities of domestic manufacturers and give a boost to indigenous production.

India’s metal forming sector contributed around 15 percent of the total machine tool demand in India during 2016-2017. The long-term prospects look good with demand picking up in consumer durables, electronics and automobile industries. Metal forming industry serves as the core manufacturing machinery provider for these industries.

Other sectors propelling the demand for metal forming machinery include aerospace, power, construction, railways, heavy transportation, office furniture, instrumentation industry, steel industry, forging, and structural engineering.

Metal forming and technology

Metal forming is poised to present immense possibilities for India’s manufacturing sector through embracing the concept of intelligent manufacturing as elucidated by Industry 4.0, Industrial Internet of Things, and increasing use of metal additive manufacturing or 3D printing. For micro, small and medium enterprises, metal forming offers a lot of potential for highly productive and specialized niche machines / processes and import substitution.

As the demand for quality end products go up, metal forming sector could witness technology shifts in the coming years. Small and unorganized sectors could also opt for new technologies such as near net shape forming, hydro forming, laser processing, three point bending and folding, etc.

Automation

In India there is scope for automation in sheet metal industry. While automation is immensely popular in developed countries, India is warming up to it and this provides opportunities to grow. Customers in India are realizing the potential of Industry 4.0 in terms of quality improvement, safety in handling of sheet
metal, etc.

Automotive industry is already using high level automation for presses, sheet metal forming and robotics for welding. These technological changes witnessed in automotive industry are likely to play a major role in consumer durables and other high precision manufacturing technology.

Industry trends

Many manufacturing firms are coming up with innovations for the development of the metal forming segment. Companies in India are offering hydraulic and mechanical presses with servo drive options. Presses for metal forming are available with a variety of features for applications such as deep drawing, stamping, trimming, and cold extrusion.

Manufacturers are also using hydroforming to open up new possibilities in manufacturing a variety of parts for different applications that are otherwise difficult to do. The industry is continuously researching and developing hydroforming to produce better dies and parts, reduce cycle times, and improve process controls and repeatability.

The demand for consumer durables, autos, and white goods of different types including office equipment will have great demand and will also see technology moving to more advanced applications. All these developments can be construed as a harbinger of growth for the Indian machine tool industry.