The Make in India initiative emphasizes boosting domestic manufacturing, particularly rail components. With over 60 years in heavy engineering, Lalbaba Industrial Corporation is a leader in this growth, serving Indian Railways and PSUs like IOCL, BPCL, and Braithwaite. Lalbaba’s engineering solutions also reach international markets, including the United States, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Through continuous expansion and innovation, the firm has established itself as a key player in the engineering sector.
Lalbaba's strong customer relationships provide deep insights into evolving requirements. Close ties with wagon builders and zonal railways give the organization first-hand knowledge of the challenges faced by wagon manufacturers. This unique position allows Lalbaba to address and anticipate customer needs effectively.
"The company has successfully aligned its offerings with supply requirements and shop-floor demands, consistently developing and manufacturing superior alternative products. Significant investments in expanding the capacities of its three units have further enhanced its ability to meet these unique requirements", says Nishit Dhanuka, Director.
Innovation in Rail Components
Lalbaba's portfolio includes manufacturing & producing general engineering, seamless tubes, brake systems, couplers, and forging items that cater to a global clientele. The company's success is driven by its innovative engineering DNA, enabling it to anticipate and meet customer needs through advanced processes and product adaptations.
For example, the corporation swiftly adjusted to policy changes by Indian Railways, setting up facilities for stainless steel seamless tubes and repurposing existing plants for other industries.
Right now, Lalbaba is not just the only RDSO-approved vendor with backward integration of its own seamless tube production facility, but it has catapulted itself to become one of the largest Cold Drawn seamless tube manufacturers of India with a stand-alone turnover of nearly 1000 crores.
Lalbaba prioritizes forging over casting, offering superior, cost-effective products. Investments in advanced technologies, such as heat treatment furnaces and CNC/VMC machines, ensure high-precision manufacturing. With extensive industry experience, the company is capable of manufacturing & supplying almost 50 percent of every wagon component, simplifying procurement for customers and enhancing its market position.
"Our clients, including wagon builders and Indian Railways, face two major challenges: increased demand for wagons and concerns over the availability and quality of casting products. To address these issues, we have expanded our facilities and converted many casting products into forgings, known for their superior quality and competitive pricing for clients in the rail industry", shares Nishit.
Lalbaba’s USP lies in anticipating & fulfilling future needs of customers & providing solutions tailored to the demand of Indian Railways & Private Sector wagon-builders
With the expertise of six decades & strong industry relationships, Lalbaba not just secures substantial orders from Indian Railways and private sector wagon builders, but also leads the market by anticipating and fulfilling their component needs. With a futuristic vision, the company has also actively resulted in preventing production delays by offering offer components in kit form, ensuring all necessary parts are delivered together. This approach has also been adopted by Indian Railways, reducing tendering and operational costs.
Lalbaba has embraced sustainability in its manufacturing practices by obtaining ISO 14001 certification and implementing various initiatives. These include installing solar power plants, transitioning to electric induction-based heating systems, and converting from casting to forging processes. Extensive plantation efforts further contribute to a greener environment across the company's facilities.
As a unique initiative to upskill the workforce & increase the employability of youth, the company launched their exclusive L&D and training center, Gurukul, in 2023 at the Haldia unit. This facility offers classroom and shop-floor training for engineering graduates and existing employees, significantly enhancing skill levels across the team. Lalbaba is developing new products in forging, fabrication, and tubing. Future expansion plans include establishing a new manufacturing unit in North India for automative tubing soon.
