Hoffmann Group, Munich-based machine tools provider, after establishing presence in China is now eyeing Indian machine tool sector.
“China, South-East Asia and India are our current focus. But, we see lot of opportunity in India as compared with other markets. Here, we see a balanced attractive growth,” Dr Christian Kober, Vice-President,Asia, Hoffmann Group told
“As India’s manufacturing sector — especially the machine tool sector — is moving to Industry 4.0, we see opportunity in the way they buy and place order for tools,” he added. The company has been supplying tools to Indian companies through a distributor, but now in the last two years it has set up a full service company based out of Pune. The company’s focus is on offering solutions for the machine tools sector and on workstations and storage facilities.
Expanding in India
Due to the geographical dimensions of the Indian subcontinent, the company started with 10 people with a focus on western India. Now is slowly branching out to other regions, especially South India, where 60 per cent of machine tools companies are located. “To service the expanded geography, we planning to hire more and expand to a 50-people company this year,” Dr Kober.
In India, the company is currently investing on people, training and offering technical services. “Based on the sales in India, our future course especially quantum of investment will be determined,” he said.
At the IMTMA’s Imtex expo held in Bengaluru, the German company launched three new innovative cutting tools.
According to Manav Goel, Director-India Hoffmann Group: “The new tools are cutters for titanium processing, carbide barrel milling cutters and tools for processing threads for a wide range of materials.”
“We have been in the Indian market for two years now and it has so far proved to be a growing and promising one. We are sure that these three innovations will also get a good response,” said Goel.