SQuAD to forge large airplane components

BELGAUM, India – Aerospace components maker SQuAD Forging India Pvt Ltd is to install a 10,000-ton capacity aerospace hydraulic forging press, the largest of its kind in India, at its manufacturing facility in Aequs SEZ (special economic zone) at Belgaum. This closed die hydraulically operated hot forging press will be used to forge large airplane components and parts such as landing gears and various actuation and structural parts.

The new 10,000 ton press, which is expected to enter production by September 2014, can forge aluminum, steel and titanium parts up to 400 kg.

SQuAD Forging, a tripartite joint venture between Setforge, Aequs, and Aubert & Duval, specializes in aerospace forging and supplies parts to several global aerospace customers. It also manufactures critical parts for automotive, power generation and oil & gas industry.

"The 10,000 ton press significantly scales up SQuAD's ability to manufacture parts for the global aerospace industry. Currently, aerospace customers have to source such parts from Europe and USA since no Indian company has the capability,” said Aravind Melligeri, chairman & CEO of Aequs.

SQuAD is strategically located at Aequs SEZ, India's first Aerospace focused precision engineering SEZ. The SEZ hosts companies specializing in precision machining, aerostructure assembly and special processing. The presence of these companies in one location creates a manufacturing ecosystem and significantly cuts cycle time and transportation costs in the supply chain.

The 10,000 ton press was transported from Mumbai Port to Belgaum SEZ via road over six days.  The technical support from Setforge and Aubert & Duval associated to the local assistance of Aequs has made the project successful.

Georges Duval, chairman of Aubert & Duval said, “Aubert & Duval currently has hydraulic closed-die forging presses ranging from capacity 20,000 to 65,000 tons, with the addition of this new 10,000 ton press we would be able to cater to growing customer demands more efficiently.”

Setforge chairman Frederic Guinot said the investment is a good example of the French industry commitment to the Indian aerospace and defense industry. “The investment in a 10,000 ton press for SQuAD is a strategic initiative and the group will benefit largely from it.  This press, is upgrading the capability of our state-of-the art forge. We are sure that many customers will prefer to source best quality and competitively priced components from SQuAD,” he said.