Deven Mukherjee, Sales Director, AMOB Machines India Pvt. Ltd., on technology, automation, precision and the future of India’s tube-forming industry

1. India aspires to become a global manufacturing hub. What are the biggest opportunities and challenges for the Indian Tube forming industry in achieving global competitiveness, and what changes are still required?

 India has all the fundamental ingredients to become a global manufacturing hub—a large domestic market, a skilled engineering workforce, supportive government initiatives such as Make in India and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, and increasing investments from global OEMs looking to diversify their supply chains.

For the tube forming industry, the opportunities are significant. The rapid growth of the automotive, electric vehicle, aerospace, defence, railways, HVAC, energy, and medical sectors is driving demand for increasingly complex, high-precision tubular components. This creates a strong need for advanced CNC tube bending, end-forming, and automation technologies that can consistently deliver world-class quality.

However, to achieve true global competitiveness, the industry must continue evolving. Investment in modern manufacturing technologies, automation, digitalization, and process control is essential. Equally important is developing a highly skilled workforce capable of operating advanced equipment and implementing best manufacturing practices.

Another key area is early collaboration between component manufacturers, machine builders, and OEMs during the product development stage. Designing components with manufacturability in mind helps reduce costs, improve quality, and shorten development cycles.

India also needs to strengthen its local manufacturing ecosystem for tooling, precision components, and specialized materials. Reducing dependence on imports will improve supply chain resilience, shorten lead times, and enhance competitiveness.

From AMOB India’s perspective, our role extends beyond supplying machines. We aim to bring global technology closer to Indian manufacturers through local application support, process development, training, demonstrations, and faster after-sales service. Our Technology Centre in Pune is a step in that direction, enabling customers to validate processes and adopt advanced tube forming solutions with confidence.

I am confident that with continued investment in technology, skill development, innovation, and stronger industry collaboration, India has the potential not only to meet domestic demand but also to become a preferred global sourcing destination for high-value tube-formed components.

2. Innovation today extends beyond products. How is your organisation driving innovation across manufacturing processes, customer experience, sustainability, workforce development or digital transformation?

 At AMOB India, we believe innovation is not limited to developing advanced machines—it is about improving the entire customer journey and creating long-term value.

In manufacturing, we focus on delivering highly automated CNC tube bending and end-forming solutions that improve productivity, reduce setup times, enhance repeatability, and minimize material waste. Our machines incorporate advanced software, simulation tools, and digital controls that enable customers to achieve first-time-right production with greater efficiency.

Customer experience is another key area of innovation. With the establishment of our Technology Centre in Pune, we have brought application engineering and technical support closer to Indian customers. Manufacturers can validate their parts, optimize processes, and train their operators locally before investing in equipment. This significantly reduces project risks and accelerates implementation.

Sustainability is increasingly becoming a priority for the manufacturing industry. Our focus is on helping customers reduce energy consumption, optimize material utilization, and minimize scrap through precision manufacturing and intelligent process control. Even small improvements in cycle time and material efficiency can have a meaningful environmental and economic impact over the life of a machine.

We also believe that technology is only as effective as the people using it. Therefore, workforce development is a major focus for us. We invest in training our own engineers while also supporting customers through operator training, process development, and knowledge sharing. Building local technical capability is essential for the long-term growth of India’s manufacturing ecosystem.

Digital transformation is reshaping manufacturing, and we see increasing adoption of Industry 4.0 practices. Customers are looking for connected machines, production data, predictive maintenance, and remote diagnostics to improve equipment availability and overall productivity. AMOB continues to invest in these capabilities to help customers make data-driven decisions and maximize machine performance.

Ultimately, our objective is to be more than a machine supplier. We strive to be a technology partner that supports Indian manufacturers in becoming more productive, competitive, and globally recognized for quality and innovation.

3. Manufacturing success increasingly depends on collaboration across OEMs, suppliers, technology providers, academia and startups. How do you see partnerships shaping the future of manufacturing, and what role does your organisation play in this ecosystem?

 Manufacturing has become far too complex for any single organisation to innovate in isolation. The future will be shaped by strong partnerships between OEMs, component manufacturers, machine builders, tooling suppliers, software providers, research institutions, and startups. Each brings unique expertise, and when they collaborate, innovation reaches the market faster and more efficiently.

In the tube forming industry, early collaboration is especially important. Involving machine builders during the product design stage allows manufacturers to optimize component designs for manufacturability, reduce tooling costs, improve cycle times, and achieve higher quality from the outset. This collaborative approach shortens development cycles and minimizes costly design changes later.

At AMOB India, we see ourselves as a technology partner rather than simply an equipment supplier. Through our Technology Centre in Pune, we work closely with customers to develop and validate tube-forming processes, conduct feasibility trials, and provide operator and application training. This enables manufacturers to adopt new technologies with greater confidence and reduced implementation risk.

We also believe there is tremendous potential for closer collaboration between industry and academia. As manufacturing embraces automation, robotics, digital technologies, and Industry 4.0, developing a skilled workforce becomes critical. We are keen to engage with educational institutions and technical training centres to help bridge the gap between academic learning and industrial requirements.

Looking ahead, partnerships with technology companies and startups will play an increasingly important role in areas such as artificial intelligence, predictive maintenance, digital twins, and smart manufacturing. These technologies will transform how factories operate, making production more efficient, flexible, and sustainable.

India’s ambition to become a global manufacturing hub will depend not only on investments in infrastructure and technology but also on building a collaborative ecosystem where knowledge, innovation, and best practices are shared. At AMOB India, we are committed to contributing to that ecosystem by bringing global expertise, local support, and long-term partnerships that help our customers compete successfully on the world stage.

4. Looking ahead to 2030, what will define a successful machine tool company? Which capabilities, technologies or leadership qualities will differentiate the industry’s future leaders?

 By 2030, a successful tube forming company will be defined not only by its production capacity but by its ability to adapt, innovate, and consistently deliver high-quality, value-added solutions. Customers will increasingly expect shorter lead times, greater flexibility, and flawless quality while maintaining competitive costs.

Technology will be a key differentiator. Companies that invest in advanced CNC tube bending, end-forming, automation, robotics, digital process simulation, and Industry 4.0-enabled manufacturing will have a significant competitive advantage. The ability to use real-time production data, predictive maintenance, and AI-driven process optimization will improve productivity, reduce downtime, and enhance overall equipment effectiveness.

Equally important will be engineering capability. As industries such as electric vehicles, aerospace, defence, hydrogen, medical devices, and renewable energy continue to evolve, tube components will become more complex and require tighter tolerances and advanced materials. Manufacturers that possess strong application engineering expertise and can collaborate with customers from the design stage will be better positioned to deliver innovative solutions.

Sustainability will also become a core business requirement rather than just a compliance objective. Companies that reduce material waste, improve energy efficiency, optimize production processes, and adopt environmentally responsible manufacturing practices will be preferred partners for global OEMs.

Beyond technology, leadership will remain the most important differentiator. The future leaders of our industry will be those who embrace continuous learning, invest in developing skilled people, encourage innovation, and build long-term partnerships with customers, suppliers, and technology providers. Success will come from creating organizations that are agile, customer-focused, and capable of responding quickly to changing market demands.

At AMOB India, our vision is to support this transformation by bringing world-class tube-forming technology, local application expertise, and comprehensive after-sales support closer to Indian manufacturers. We believe that by combining global innovation with local capability, Indian companies can not only meet domestic demand but also establish themselves as globally competitive suppliers of high-precision tube-formed components by 2030.

5. As one of the Machine Tool Influencers 2026, what message would you like to share with the next generation of manufacturing professionals and entrepreneurs who will shape India’s industrial future?

 Manufacturing is entering one of the most exciting periods in its history. The factories of the future will be driven by advanced automation, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and sustainable manufacturing practices. For the next generation of professionals and entrepreneurs, this presents an extraordinary opportunity to shape India’s industrial future.

My message is simple: never stop learning and never stop innovating. Technical knowledge will always be important, but curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace new technologies will define successful careers. The manufacturing landscape is evolving rapidly, and those who continuously upgrade their skills will be best positioned to lead.

I would also encourage young engineers to spend time on the shop floor. Understanding real manufacturing challenges, engaging with customers, and gaining practical experience are invaluable. Innovation often comes from solving everyday production problems rather than from theory alone.

For entrepreneurs, my advice is to think globally from the very beginning. Focus on quality, precision, reliability, and customer trust. Global competitiveness is no longer determined by company size but by the ability to deliver innovative, high-value solutions consistently.

India has a unique opportunity to become a global manufacturing powerhouse. We have the talent, the engineering capability, and the entrepreneurial spirit. If industry, academia, and government continue to work together while investing in technology and skill development, I am confident that the next decade will position India among the world’s leading manufacturing nations.

At AMOB India, we are proud to contribute to this journey by bringing global technology closer to Indian manufacturers, developing local expertise, and helping build a stronger, more competitive manufacturing ecosystem. The future of Indian manufacturing is bright, and I believe the next generation will take it to even greater heights.

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