Balzers, Liechtenstein, 17 October 2019 – Oerlikon Balzers, a leading supplier of surface solutions, celebrated 25 years of operations in Pune, India, on 12 October. Customers, guests of honour and employees gathered for the event, which also marked the inauguration of the new forming tools centre, a demonstration of Oerlikon Balzers’ continued commitment to the growing Indian market.
Production officially begins as the invited guests of honour and Oerlikon Balzers management cut the ribbon (from L to R): L. Krishnan (Managing Director, TaeguTec), Vidhu Nevatia (Managing Director, Zecha Precision Tools Ltd.), Anton Angehrn (former Managing Director, Oerlikon Balzers India), Andreas Reiter (Head of Forming Tools, Oerlikon Balzers), Wolfgang Kalss (Head of Cutting Tools, Oerlikon Balzers), Dayanand Reddy (Managing Director, Vasantha Tool Crafts Pvt. Ltd), Michel Maeusli (Director Sales & Operations, Oerlikon Balzers Thailand), Cdr. Anand Badve (Chairman Oerlikon Balzers India), Othmar Hardegger (Consul General of Switzerland in Mumbai) and Pravin Shirse (Managing Director & Regional Executive SE Asia, Oerlikon Balzers)
The inauguration plaque is unveiled (from L to R): Pravin Shirse (Managing Director & Regional Executive SE Asia, Oerlikon Balzers), Andreas Reiter (Head of Forming Tools, Oerlikon Balzers) and Wolfgang Kalss (Head of Cutting Tools, Oerlikon Balzers)
As well as celebrating its 25-year anniversary in India, Oerlikon Balzers inaugurated the new customer centre in Pune for forming tools. The existing building has been enlarged by 30% in order to meet the demand from customers for coating solutions for forming tools.
The existing customer centre has been substantially expanded, enabling Oerlikon Balzers to respond to the increased demand for high-quality coatings and to offer an even wider range of services for forming tools in the Pune region and throughout India. The new dedicated production line features state-of-the-art pre- and post-treatment and can handle large forming tools and low-pressure nitriding for metal, plastic and aluminium die casting tools. In Pune, Oerlikon Balzers will serve suppliers in various sectors in the metal forming and plastics processing industry.
The customer centre in Pune was Oerlikon Balzers’ first in India, and since opening in 1994 it has become a key pillar of the company’s global business. In order to meet the growing demand for its high-end coatings and pre- and post-treatment services, over the past 25 years it has opened new customer centres and enhanced existing production facilities that serve the major local and global players in the tooling, automotive and other industries.
Around 150 customers, 25 guests of honour and 150 employees gathered in Pune to celebrate the 25th anniversary with a grand inauguration ceremony, which following tradition included the unveiling of an inauguration plaque and the ribbon cutting. The event was hosted by Oerlikon Balzers management, who were joined by L. Krishnan, Managing Director at TaeguTec; Vidhu Nevatia, Managing Director at Zecha Precision Tools Ltd.; Anton Angehrn, former Managing Director at Oerlikon Balzers; Dayanand Reddy, Managing Director at Vasantha Tool Crafts Pvt. Ltd; and Othmar Hardegger, Consul General of Switzerland in Mumbai.
In their speeches, Dr Wolfgang Kalss, Head of Cutting Tools at Oerlikon Balzers, Dr Andreas Reiter, Head of Forming Tools, and Pravin Shirse, Regional Executive India/South East Asia, looked back on the successful development of the Oerlikon Balzers business in India.
Dr Wolfgang Kalss said: “After beginning operations in 1994, continuous investment in the form of new coating centres throughout India and consistently high-quality customer service have enabled Oerlikon Balzers to build a strong reputation and position itself as a leader in the coating industry in India, where we have always deployed our latest coating technology and equipment to offer outstanding products and services to our customers. But although these are all important factors, at the heart of every success are the continuing passion and endless commitment of the management and the employees. My heartfelt thanks go to them for their dedication and enthusiasm for working for our company.”
Dr Andreas Reiter said: “In the last 10 years Oerlikon Balzers’ coating business for forming tools has grown considerably. The existing coating centre has been enlarged by 30% and the new production space is exclusively dedicated to forming tools. Equipped with the latest technology, including pre- and posttreatment, it will allow Oerlikon Balzers to further expand this business by meeting the demands of our customers for innovative coating service solutions with short lead times.”
Pravin Shirse said: “I would like to express my sincere thanks to our customers for trusting in our technologies and services over the past 25 years. Of course, such success can only be achieved with highly professional and passionate employees. Today, I feel honoured to be able to lead such a fantastic team of dedicated and motivated men and women. I'd like to take this opportunity to mention that many of them joined at a very young age and have since risen to very high positions in the organisation. I am proud to be one of them.”
