Mahindra Auto Steel to commence operations

Mahindra & Mahindra have entered the automotive steel processing space with their latest venture Mahindra Auto Steel Pvt Ltd (MASL) in Chakan, Maharashtra to cater to the requirements of automotive manufacturers in the region. MASL is a joint venture with China Steel, Taiwan and Mitsui & Co. (Asia Pacific), Singapore with MASL holding on to 51 per cent stakes and the partners having 24.5 per cent stake each.

The facility, spread over 10 acres of land, is equipped by a state-of-the-art automotive blanking line sourced from Fagor Arrasate, the Spanish major in building specialised industrial machines. Sheet steel blanks are then pressed to make body panels for cars. The blanking press is one of a kind for India and operates on servos allowing for better control and precision on the machining process. The machine can run at 90 strokes per minute at full throttle and also can cut trapezoidal blanks with a maximum angle of 35°. The machine is capable of delivering an output of hundred thousand tonnes per annum and is fully automated using a congregation of sensors and actuators.

Operations at MASL, subsidiary of Mahindra Intertrade Ltd, will be led by Cdr. Sanjay Somkumar who comes with more than 20 years of experience including being the chief of operations for Mahindra’s Middle East operations. MASL is Mahindra’s strategic attempt towards backward integration to consolidate their supply chain. MASL will also look for opportunities to generate revenues by supplying sheet steel blanks to other manufacturers for press shop operations.