Fuelling aerospace and defence with metal forming innovations

April 10, 2020 12:28 pm

Achieving manufacturing growth in aerospace and defence is strewn with numerous challenges. The union government is establishing two defence industrial corridors to enable growth in the defence market.

Access to innovations in technology is highly critical for aerospace and defence industries to develop and bridge the gaps with Europe and North America. Aerospace and defence manufacturing serve different market segments and are vital for the security and self-sustenance of India. While aerospace manufacturing encompasses production, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and sales for civil and defence applications, defence manufacturing includes the production of defence equipment, platforms, systems, and subsystems. The twin sectors hold substantial possibilities for rearing upstream and downstream investment prospects.

Both aerospace and defence sectors have been earmarked for development and manufacturing growth by the Government of India. Indian aerospace industry is growing at a rapid pace with rocket production and an increase in the number of satellites launched by ISRO. India is prepping up to launch its own private rocket led by a consortium of private organisations.

The defence sector was opened up for private sector participation through licencing. The union government is establishing two defence industrial corridors to enable the growth of the defence market. An innovation ecosystem for defence was launched in April 2018 to foster innovation and technology development in defence and aerospace by engaging industries, research and development institutes, and academia. Also, FDI is allowed under the automatic route up to 49 percent and beyond 49 percent through the government route.

Achieving manufacturing growth in aerospace and defence, however, is strewn with numerous challenges. The sectors are highly capital-intensive, need highend technologies and have long gestation periods, and manufacturers find raw materials to be costly and face problems in procuring parts from multiple manufacturers. Furthermore, companies have to train the workforce on the shop floors to get the desired results, which adds to the strain. IMTEX made all these possible under one roof in BIEC, as manufacturers in aerospace and defence get all acilities and requirements met for their production line.

Explaining the relation of the machine tool industry with aerospace and defence, IMTMA President, Indradev Babu asserted that the Indian machine tool industry has been serving the needs of various manufacturing industries by building different types of machines.The machine tool industry is gearing up to serve the demand for high-end machines needed for aerospace and defence manufacturing. IMTEX has been one of the perfect platforms for learning future technologies and  networking with all stakeholders and global peers.

Adding to Babu’s views, V. Anbu, Director General and CEO, IMTMA, stated that with the machine tool industry adopting advanced technologies, the industry is ready with the latest machine designs to serve the needs of aerospace and defence manufacturers. IMTEX FORMING 2020 featured several companies offering customised solutions for exploring new possibilities.

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