The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Aluminium diecasting industry needs to adopt new technologies: Maudgal

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Sunday, Oct 01, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Aluminium diecasting industry needs to adopt new technologies: Maudgal

Staff Reporter

Seminar held to spread awareness about marketing opportunities

CHENNAI: The Indian aluminium diecasting industry is poised to record very high growth rates, possibly as high as 18 to 20 per cent, said Shashi K. Maudgal, Chief Marketing Officer at Hindalco. However, he also made it clear that if the industry wants to cash in on its export potential, it must embrace emerging technologies and change its mindset from "small-scale to global".

He was speaking at the two-day seminar on Aluminium Diecasting organised by the Aluminium Association of India that began at the Chennai Trade Centre on Thursday. The seminar aims at spreading awareness about the technical and marketing opportunities for aluminium diecasting, especially targeting the growing automobile industry.

Indian cars currently contain 35 to 40 kg of aluminium per car. Mr. Maudgal predicts that the figure could rise to the western standard of 125 to 130 kg within the next 10 years. Already, Indian cars use aluminium extensively in engine blocks, wheels, air conditioning units and brake parts.

As the shift from iron and steel to aluminium increases both at home and abroad, the aluminium diecasting industry needs to expand and modernise its production to meet domestic demand. It needs to exploit the immense export potential as western automakers source components from low-cost nations like India.

Chennai and its environs are fast gaining a reputation as an auto component manufacturing hub, but Harish Lakshman, Managing Director of Rane TRW Steering Systems, one of the largest auto part makers in the region, says there are several possible threats to the success story.

Auto industry clients, especially overseas, are "absolutely unforgiving", he says.

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