Sona Comstar Opens New Facility In Chakan

Sona BLW Precision Forgings has inaugurated its second-largest manufacturing plant in Chakan, Pune, which was operational from June 2022. Of the total investment of INR 231 crore earmarked for this plant, the company is yet to spend around INR 59 crore.  

According to a press release from the company, the new plant is equipped with state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment, houses an advanced tool & die shop and employs highly skilled workers to ensure the highest standards of quality and efficiency. 

The facility also features advanced testing and inspection equipment. With the planned production capacity, the company expects the number of associates employed at this plant to increase in the coming years.

Spread across ten acres, the new plant will manufacture driveline products for EV and non-EV applications and serves customers in India and globally. The company noted that the new plant will be critical in scaling up capacities to fulfil the company's large and growing net order book of INR 23,800 crore. The new plant has a production capacity of nearly 11.8 million differential gears and is expected to reach 20.1 million by the end of FY25.

Vivek Vikram Singh, MD & Group CEO, Sona Comstar, noted that with around 400 employees, the plant is the second largest manufacturing facility for the company. With cutting-edge technologies for manufacturing, the new plant is also environmentally friendly, with 1mW of solar capacity installed, catering to 8% of the company's energy needs while treating 100% of its used water.

Sunjay Kapur, Chairman, Sona Comstar, said, “With state-of-the-art technology and an unwavering commitment to quality and technology, we are confident that this plant will set new benchmarks in the automotive industry and mark India's eminence in manufacturing on a global platform.”

Hemant Sikka, President of the Farm Equipment Sector and Member of the Group Executive Board, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “Sona Comstar has a long-standing relationship with Mahindra & Mahindra, and we are pleased to see the company's commitment to innovation, sustainability and manufacturing excellence.”

Challenging Location 

R Balaji, COO- driveline, Sona Comstar, noted that it was hard to put up a forging factory due to an 18m slope in the location. To get around the issue, the company went for a terrace manufacturing facility, which is divided into steps. Moreover, the factory uses underground ducts to cool the floor temperature to provide a comfortable temperature on the lower floor. Balaji noted that the maximum temperature recorded on the floor is 29 degrees Celsius.

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