In an ambitious step forward for India’s machine tool industry, Bharat Fritz Werner (BFW), a leading player in the field, has made a landmark investment of ₹200 crore, launching a fully digitalized manufacturing plant sprawled across a 54-acre land expanse in Devaganapalli, Hosur, Tamil Nadu. As detailed by BFW’s Chairman, Arun Kothari, this cutting-edge facility is poised to meet the increasing demand for machine tools not just domestically, but on an international scale, thereby tripling BFW’s production on an annual basis.
The modern plant hosts two expansive assembly halls, each covering an area of 20,000 square meters. This grand infrastructure enables BFW to churn out over 10,000 computer numerical control (CNC) machines annually. These advanced CNC machines are fundamental to the industrial sector, as they substitute the outdated manually operated equipment with automated solutions powered by sophisticated software.
Kothari proudly highlighted the plant’s ground-breaking approach, “We aim to establish a facility of global standards for scale and efficiency which is massive. There are many unique things about this facility. We bought knowledge from many other industries, including the automotive sector, so you will see machine assemblies in a conveyorised way,” signaling a sea change in the methods of manufacturing.
An aspect that sets this facility apart is BFW’s commitment to setting new industry benchmarks with the implementation of shorter ‘takt’ times—targeting the completion of a machine every 45 minutes. This speed is unprecedented in machine tools manufacturing and speaks to the efficiency of the facility. Furthermore, the entire factory’s operations are transparently connected with customers and suppliers, thus enhancing process visibility and collaborative potential.
In an impressive first for India’s machine tools sector, BFW is breaking new ground by championing gender diversity within its workforce, particularly in the normally male-dominated factory environment. Managing Director Ravi Raghavan shared with The Hindu, “We will deploy a substantial number of women in our new facility. This is the first such initiative in the entire country to infuse gender diversity in the machine tools industry. We will begin with 17% of women staff; by the end of FY25, 30% of our shopfloor workers will be women.” This initiative is exemplified by BFW’s active recruitment of young women graduates and diploma holders specialized in electrical, electronics and mechatronics.
With the machine tool industry in India presently valued at ₹20,000 crore and growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12 to 13%, BFW emerges as a high-achiever, outpacing the industry with a growth rate exceeding 20%. A portion of this success—specifically 10%—is attributed to exports. Founded in 1961 through a collaboration with Fritz Werner Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH Germany, BFW, a flagship company of the Kothari Group, serves a diverse array of industry segments ranging from automotive to aerospace, defense, die mold, forging, valves, and railways.
Automotive, as Raghavan notes, is particularly instrumental to BFW’s revenue, accounting for 20% on its own. The sector’s demand for precise and efficient machine tools feeds directly into the company’s growth and innovation strategies.
Embarking on this expansive phase, BFW’s new facility stands as a testament to the potential of Indian manufacturing. It represents a convergence of technological advancement, progressive workplace practices, and efficient production capabilities, setting a new benchmark for the machine tools industry not just in India but on a global scale. The commitment to digitization, speed, and inclusivity heralds a future where Indian manufacturing is at the forefront of industrial innovation.
