First press hardening line to India – strategically important order for AP&T | AP&T

One of India’s leading manufacturers of chassis and hydroformed components for vehicles – ALF Engineering – has put an order in for a fully automated press hardening line from AP&T. This is AP&T's first substantial order in India, the fourth largest new car market.

“With over 125 installed press hardening lines the world over, AP&T is a well-established partner to many actors in the global automotive industry. The ALF Engineering order enables us to take our next step onto the important and growing Indian market,” says Peter Karlsson, Area Sales Manager at AP&T.

Not only is the press hardening line AP&T's first in India, it is also the first for ALF Engineering.

“By investing in new technology, we aim to fulfill the emerging demands of our customers. ALF has proven itself in the past in our ability to identify, acquire, assimilate and productionize new technologies in a competitive environment. Press hardening is such an area of opportunity, which will create new revenue streams for our business,” says Mr. Koshy Ninan, Vice President of Business Development at ALF Engineering.

The new line is based on the latest AP&T technology, providing all automation, control systems and integration. The hydraulic press will be manufactured by the company’s Indian partner ISGEC based on AP&T's original drawings. The advanced roller hearth furnace concept, which is based on a modular design, will be provided by BENTELER Mechanical Engineering, a company that AP&T has collaborated with in several press hardening projects worldwide.

“As One Responsible Partner^®, we have developed a state-of-the-art solution that will provide ALF Engineering with the absolute best conditions for efficient and profitable production of press hardened parts,” says Karlsson.

And ALF's expectations are high.

“We expect very high degrees of reliability, machine availability and performance, over many years. We also look forward to world-class productivity by obtaining the shortest cycle times and utilizing automation, says Mr. Koshy Ninan.

The new press hardening line will be installed in the ALF Engineering’s new facility in KhedCity, near Pune, its thirteenth plant in India for manufacturing automotive components and assemblies. Delivery is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2022.

“Despite the ongoing pandemic, collaboration on this deal has been perfect. Since late 2019, all contact between us has been from afar,” Karlsson concludes.