The India Foundry Market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10.30 percent during the forecast period (2024–2029), according to IMARC Group. Established in 1972, Krishna Engineering Company (KEC) is a leading manufacturer of ferrous castings in grey iron and ductile iron (S.G. grade) in Tamil Nadu. They adhere to both Indian and international standard specifications. Accredited with ISO 9001-2015 certification by Eurotech, Chennai, KEC operates with a robust quality control system, meticulously inspecting every production stage to ensure quality. Employing computer-aided design for methods and gating, the company maintains a high standard of effective services across all levels.
"In many industries, companies tend to specialize in producing specific sizes of products. For instance, some focus on small casting weights, generating high daily quantities, while others cater to larger weights with lower daily outputs. KEC offers a wide range of products, spanning from one kilogram to one ton per unit for sectors like automotive, power, and pipelines. Our in-house development system ensures we stay agile in introducing new products while maintaining profitability. Our commitment lies in versatility, innovation, and meeting the evolving needs of different industries", says Lohith Kumar G.S., Production Planning Manager.
A Commitment to Versatility
KEC's casting production covers a range of applications, namely valve components, automobiles, railway parts, machine tools, and other heavy engineering industries such as sugar mills and cement plants.
The company boasts various units, including melting units, sand plant units, CO2 sand plants, and so on. "Specifically, we excel in supplying pressure equipment for thermal power plants, such as coal nozzles. Our expertise lies in manufacturing coal compartment assemblies for boilers, tailored to client specifications. With an in-house design expert, we ensure adaptability to customer needs throughout the production process. While we primarily serve thermal power plants, and gradually expanding into international markets, initially by supplying to multinational companies based in India", mentions Lohith.
At KEC, a commitment to excellence in quality control is paramount, ensuring premium products and customer satisfaction. The company boasts a comprehensive in-house laboratory equipped for physical, mechanical, and non-destructive testing. This includes thorough chemical analysis of metals and sand, facilitated by state-of-the-art spectrometry technology. The company meticulously examines 28 elements, from carbon to silicon, to achieve precise composition determination before casting.
Similarly, the company uses KEC-specialized micrometry to evaluate the nodular structure of iron elements. Dedicated sand testing facilities con¬duct moisture, clay, and permeability tests, as well as tensile and compression tests. In-house mechanical testing facilities ensure rigorous tensile and compression testing. Non-destructive testing, including MPI and UT testing. Each process is subject to stringent testing protocols to preemptively identify and address potential issues, thereby upholding exceptional quality standards throughout production.
KEC's commitment lies in versatility, innovation, & meeting the evolving needs of different industries
"Our team can handle complex requirements seamlessly. For example, we collaborated with a UK-based company, manufacturing booster pump fan blades for thermal power plants. Despite initial concerns about strength and durability, our SG grade castings, backed by rigorous testing, proved to be not only cost-effective but also matched the performance of steel. This success has earned us appreciation from the UK Head Office and highlights our dedication to delivering optimal solutions for our clients", emphasizes Lohith.
In conclusion, to meet increasing demand, KEC is expanding its workspace, investing in a new furnace, and enhancing pro-duction capacity threefold, with a target of reaching 450 MT per month by 2026. Despite initial financial challenges, they have achieved stability and growth. While operating solely in India, their long-term ambition is to penetrate the lucrative interna-tional market for castings, driven by the potential for higher profit margins abroad. They strategically align their expansion plans and certifications with this objective.
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