The 12th biennial Die & Mould exhibition organized by Tool & Gauge Manufacturers Association of India (TAGMA) witnessed exhibitors displaying latest technologies and products for the Indian die and mould industry which is evolving at rapid pace. The exhibition was inaugurated on April 27, 2022, at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon, Mumbai. 

Chief Guest Prabhakar Kadapa, Partner & Director at Mudita Strat-Aegis Consultants and Guests of Honour Vidyadhar Limaye, Senior Director at IAC Group and Raghava Badhya T V, President & Director, Makino India inaugurated the exhibition. D M Sheregar, President, TAGMA India and D Shanmugasundaram, Vice President, TAGMA India along with other dignitaries were present at the inaugural ceremony.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, 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.”

Highlighting the opportunities and challenges in die and mould industry 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 maximize 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.”

Supporting his industry colleagues Badhya said, “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.”

Presenting his keynote address Kadappa said that 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.

In his address Shanmugham 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.”