AP&T’s first press hardening line in India is now in operation at ALF Engineering in Khed City, Pune, southeast of Mumbai. This is a major and important step for both companies.
“Through our collaboration with AP&T, we have the opportunity to have a significant presence in the fast-growing press hardened parts market in India,” says Koshy Ninan, Vice President of Business Development at ALF.
© AP&T
The demand for press-hardened parts from automotive manufacturers in India is exploding. Thanks to the volume of orders received by ALF for the production of parts, a large part of the plant’s capacity will be utilized by mid-2026. In future, it will be possible to produce two to four million parts per year. According to Peter Karlsson, Area Sales Manager at AP&T, the new, fully automated line is one of the most modern in India: “Our solution is characterized by a high level of performance, availability and capacity. The line is based on our process know-how and experience, and as a One Responsible Partner we have offered ALF a highly competitive, fully integrated total solution. In addition to AP&T’s automation and control system, the order also includes a 12,000-kilonewton hydraulic press, manufactured by our Indian partner ISGEC to AP&T’s design, and an oven from Benteler Mechanical Engineering.” The cooperation agreement also includes the transfer of knowledge and the further development of the ALF engineers’ expertise in the field of press hardening. “The aim is to jointly make ALF the leading supplier of press-hardened parts and components in India. That’s why we will be contributing our knowledge in process and tool development, among other things, over the next five years,” explains Karlsson. “We are very pleased with the way the collaboration has been structured and look forward to a long-term relationship that will benefit both parties,” says Koshy Ninan from ALF. AP&T’s first press hardening line in India is probably just the beginning. “We are seeing a lot of interest in our offering and have received several inquiries for new lines. Given the size and growth potential of the market, we are very positive about our potential to grow here,” says Karlsson.
Web: aptgroup.com
