The 12th Biennial Die & Mould India International Exhibition organized by TAGMA India, kick-started with an aim to provide an ideal opportunity to bring the latest technologies and products for the fast-evolving die & mould industry under one roof.
The much-awaited Die & Mould India exhibition was inaugurated on April 27, 2022, at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon, Mumbai. Organized by the Tool & Gauge Manufacturers Association of India (TAGMA), India’s most sought after platform for the die and mould industry, Die & Mould India was inaugurated by Chief Guest Mr. Prabhakar Kadapa, Partner & Director at Mudita Strat-Aegis Consultants Pvt. Ltd., and Guests of Honour Mr. Vidyadhar Limaye, Senior Director at IAC Group; Mr. Raghava Badhya T. V., President & Director, Makino India Pvt. Ltd.; Mr. D. M. Sheregar, President, TAGMA India; and Mr. D. Shanmugasundaram, Vice President, TAGMA India, in the presence of other dignitaries. The traditional inaugural lamp lighting by the dignitaries marked the beginning of the exhibition. This was followed by the welcome speech by Mr. Sheregar.
Addressing the audience, Mr. Sheregar said, “The last two years have been challenging for all of us personally as well as professionally. However, the industry has emerged stronger and is ready to tap the growing demand for tools in the country. As COVID-19-related challenges fade away and the Indian manufacturing industry is witnessing growth opportunities, the 12th Die & Mould India exhibition aspires to play the role of a facilitator. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my good wishes to all the exhibitors present here. I’m optimistic that you will achieve great success.”
The four-day event promises not only to showcase various technological developments for the booming die and mould industry, but also highlight opportunities and challenges as well as provide a platform for toolmakers to learn from the user industry.
Highlighting the opportunities and challenges in the industry, Mr. Limaye said, “I am familiar with the tooling industry and have witnessed its growth journey. India’s toolmakers have made significant contributions to the global manufacturing sector. However, our automobile industry is still heavily reliant on foreign toolmakers because of our toolmakers’ limited capacity. If we find a way to bring toolmakers together to maximise capacity utilization, the Indian tooling industry will be able to meet the fast-paced demands of various sectors and will be able to tap the growing opportunities.”
Mr. Badhya then went on to highlight the potential of the tooling industry and share future insights. “Coming together is the beginning. TAGMA deserves appreciation for taking initiatives to help the Indian tooling industry. I believe the next five years will be ripe with possibilities. Indian toolmakers will find lots of opportunities in electronics, medical equipment, aerospace and defence, among others industries. We need to make India known for its quality. But for this, we need to focus on the global market, building strategic partnerships, and manpower development. No other country has a more educated population, a larger geographical area, and smart minds with talented hands than India. I am confident that this decade will be the most rewarding for India’s manufacturing sector, which will positively reflect on the tooling industry,” said Mr. Badhya.
At the inauguration ceremony, Mr. Kadapa then presented his keynote address. “The tooling industry has come a long way in the last 40 years. The sector has seen a lot of advancements and is now catering to demands from some global customers. The tooling industry’s evolution over the next 5 to 10 years will be mindboggling. While Indian tooling companies lack the specialization that the global market demands, the scenario is slowly changing. Indian toolmakers are adopting the latest technologies, like their global counterparts,” said Mr. Kadapa, adding, “I feel that the Indian tooling industry has major export potential.”
Mr. Sheregar and Mr. Shanmugasundaram then presented the Chief Guest and the Guests of Honour with a shawl and memento as a token of appreciation. Mr. Shanmugasundaram thanked the dignitaries, exhibitors, and other professionals, who attended the event.
Mr. Shanmugasundaram said, “We are all aware that we come from the industry that forms the backbone of the manufacturing sector. The tooling industry is often referred to as the mother industry because without toolmakers no product development can take place in any industry be it automotive, aerospace & defence, packaging, electronics, toy making, or railways, among others.”
“Toolmakers, if you carefully observe, every industry is brimming with a plethora of opportunities. Undoubtedly, the pandemic is still posing challenges. But the overall future looks promising. After the success of ‘Make in India’, we are optimistic that the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ campaign will help us grow further. Like I have already said, we have a lot of opportunities in front of us. All we need to do is introspect on our drawbacks and work on our areas for improvement,” advised Mr. Shanmugasundram.
The guests then proceeded to the exhibition ground for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. More than 300 exhibitors covering an area of 19200 sq m and 10+ countries are participating in the 2022 edition of the Die & Mould India exhibition with each presenting the latest developments in the tooling industry. With a significant growth forecasted and the emergence of many sectors in India, the Indian tooling industry is expected to see double-digit growth in the coming years. Overall, 40000-50000 visitors are expected at the 12th edition of Die & Mould India from over 10 different sectors. With a grand beginning of Die & Mould India 2022, the forthcoming days are sure to attract some major alliances creating more opportunities.
