Hilton Metal Forging Ltd has successfully developed and manufactured forged railway wagon wheelsets, which have been duly inspected and approved by RITES, the Indian government’s inspection authority. Each wheelset consists of two forged wheels and one forged axle, with every coach or wagon requiring four such sets.

This achievement marks a significant milestone in Hilton's efforts to cater to the growing domestic demand for railway wheelsets, addressing the shortfall in India and reducing dependency on Chinese imports. The development aligns with the Indian government’s “Make in India” initiative.

For FY26, Hilton plans to manufacture over 3,000 forged railway wagon wheelsets, scaling up to more than 12,000 units in FY27. The company has outlined a total installed capacity of 20,000 wheelsets per annum, positioning itself as a key player in the railway component supply chain.

The Government of India aims to increase freight transport by rail from 27 per cent to 45 per cent by 2030. With 98 per cent of the railway network now electrified and the implementation of Mission Raftaar underway, the Indian Railways is prioritising higher speeds and reduced travel times for both freight and passenger trains.

In FY25, India produced 41,929 freight wagons, up from 37,650 in FY24, along with 1,681 locomotives (up 19 per cent from 1,472 in FY24) and 7,134 passenger coaches compared to 6,541 in FY24.

Each year, approximately 90,000 freight wagons, passenger coaches, and locomotives undergo periodic maintenance at 44 workshops across the country. Annual demand currently stands at around 170,000 new railway wagon wheelsets and 250,000 new wheels. As domestic manufacturing continues to grow, the need for high-quality, locally produced wheelsets is expected to rise steadily. Hilton’s latest initiative positions it to serve this increasing demand efficiently.