The Germany-based FIBRO GmbH is one of the leading global players in the fields of standard parts and rotary tables. According to Vivek Nanivadekar, Executive Director, FIBRO India Precision Products Pvt Ltd, the demand for die & mould is on the high as OEMs look to increase the local contents in the final product.

Germany is one of India’s most important trade partners. What are your views on India as a market?

German quality particularly in mechanical engineering products is well recognised not only in India but all over the world. Traditionally, India has been the top trading partner of Germany for engineering products. But the price is the main concern; as such more than 300 German companies have set up their manufacturing units in India. Most of them are catering to the world market apart from India.

The initiatives such as ‘Make in India’, incentives for SME sector, GST, etc from the government has encouraged German companies to start and/or expand their existing operations in India. Generally, India is always compared with China though the size of Indian economy is much smaller as compared with that of China. In the past five years, German companies prefer India over China to set up their operation. Apart from growing market, India is becoming their favourite destination because of availability of manpower, ease of communication, direct/indirect tax reforms, etc.

How has been the performance of your company in India since it was established in India?

FIBRO, a well known brand for rotary tables and standard parts for die & mould established 60 years back in Germany, grew along with the reputed auto makers and general engineering industry. FIBRO India, 100% subsidiary, was established in 2008 with manufacturing guide elements supplying back to Germany apart from catering to Indian market. This is the only manufacturing unit outside Germany. With the initial success, FIBRO India shifted to its own premises in March 2013. Then it never looked back. We keep adding new products every year and now we are expanding our facility to manufacture rotary tables for automation industry which will be in operation from July 2018. FIBRO India has been very well accepted by the Indian industry as we are growing by 30% CAGR for last 5 years.

Our motto is ‘German Precision Crafted in India’. The auto sector, die & mould and automation are the main drivers for growth in India apart from the general engineering industry. In the recent past, we launched CAM sliding unit, spring plunger, different models of guide posts, wear plates, etc in the range of standard parts.

As Industry 4.0 is the new buzzword, we showcased the smart sensors for punching and forming applications in the recently held DieMould exhibition in Mumbai. FIBRO sensors convert mechanical parameters such as force, pressure, sound, vibrations, paths, positions or movements into digital or analogue signals.

What are your growth plans in India?

Our main challenge is to deliver the German precision at lower costs. Second, to convince the Indian tool maker to use FIBRO standard parts which may look little more expensive in the beginning but it would prove more economical in the long run.

But certainly, the awareness of standard parts within small toolmakers is increasing which would solve their bottlenecks and improve the lead time.

We are already in to expansion mode putting second plant for manufacturing rotary tables which would be operational by July 2018. This will facilitate us to increase the capacity for manufacturing standard parts as well rotary tables. We have few more development projects lined up in both the divisions considering the market requirement.