The Association of Indian Forging Industry has organised a Special Session in Jamshedpur to expand its strategic footprint across Eastern India.

The knowledge-focused session brought together senior industrial leaders, technical experts and forging professionals to discuss how modernisation, automation and advanced operational strategies are transforming the forging ecosystem.

The event focused on opportunities offered by new-age engineering solutions to improve operational efficiency, production output and long-term sustainability across the sector.

The session began with a keynote address by Naresh Jalan, Managing Director, Ramkrishna Forgings, who highlighted the changing landscape of the forging industry. He underlined the importance of technology adoption, sustainability and operational excellence in improving the sector’s global competitiveness.

The technical sessions started with a presentation on improving energy efficiency for induction heating and hardening by Saikat Chatterjee, Senior Vice President – Sales and Head, Induction Heating and Hardening Division, Megatherm Induction. He shared strategies and technologies that can improve energy utilisation, reduce operational costs and enhance productivity in forging operations.

Yash Munot, President, Association of Indian Forging Industry, said the forging industry is entering a new era driven by efficiency, sustainability and technological innovation. He said AIFI remains committed to equipping stakeholders with the knowledge and tools required to stay globally competitive.

Munot added that the strong participation from industry leaders and professionals in Jamshedpur reflects the growing momentum of the forging sector in Eastern India. He said AIFI will continue to strengthen its presence in the region while promoting collaboration, innovation and capability development.

Jeong Jong Ho, President and CEO, HFM Co, delivered a presentation on the shift from traditional forging to smart forging. He highlighted how modern press technology, automation and intelligent manufacturing systems are improving quality, efficiency and competitiveness in conventional forging operations.

Parthey Patel, Senior Manager – Heating Sales, Inductotherm India, presented insights on non-ferrous induction heating technology and recent advancements. He discussed emerging applications in non-ferrous metal processing and their role in improving precision, productivity and process reliability.

The final technical presentation was delivered by Sandeep Gaikwad, Director, Yeskolube India, on high-performance and cost-effective forging die lubricants. He discussed the role of advanced lubricants in improving die life, forging quality, maintenance efficiency and manufacturing cost control.

The session reaffirmed AIFI’s commitment to promoting knowledge exchange, technology adoption and the forging industry’s shift towards smarter, more sustainable and globally competitive manufacturing practices.

Established in 1965, AIFI represents India’s forging industry and has more than 200 members across the country. The sector is a key supplier to automobile, power and general engineering industries, and plays an important role in employment generation and manufacturing growth.

AIFI has served as the voice of the Indian forging industry for nearly six decades, enabling dialogue between industry, government and markets. India is the second-largest producer of forgings globally after China.