Carborundum Universal Limited (CUMI) has commenced commercial production of cutting and grinding thin wheels at its Hosur facility, marking the relocation and commissioning of manufacturing lines acquired from DRONCO GmbH of Germany in 2023. The commissioning increases CUMI India’s total annual cutting and grinding wheel manufacturing capacity from 45 mn wheels to over 90 mn wheels. The new facility will supply industrial applications across fabrication, engineering and construction.

The plant incorporates a state-of-the-art mixing unit with SCADA based process controls, automated press lines integrated with unmanned oven handling and curing systems referred to as U-Lines, and an ambient control system that ensures stability in raw material characteristics. These features support consistent product performance while strengthening cost competitiveness and process utilisation. The facility has received certification from the Organisation for the Safety of Abrasives (oSa), recognising conformity with international safety standards for cutting and grinding tools.

Production at Hosur is expected to meet demand across fabrication, general engineering and construction sectors and to support aftermarket requirements for automotive and industrial components. The plant was established with an investment of Rs 830 mn and at peak capacity utilisation is expected to generate turnover of about Rs 1.6 bn. CUMI highlighted that the adoption of DRONCO technology will enable higher throughput and improved product consistency.

Carborundum Universal Limited, established in 1954, is a materials sciences engineering solutions provider and is part of the 125-year-old Murugappa Group. CUMI reported consolidated revenue of Rs 48.34 bn and profit after tax of Rs 2.93 bn for the financial year 2024-25 and has a workforce of over 10,000 employees worldwide. The company exports to over 60 countries across six continents and continues to develop solutions in abrasives, electrominerals, ceramics and refractories to serve diverse industries.