“By 2026, industry opportunities include reducing design time by 30–50%, capturing company design standards and reusing knowledge, supporting quick delivery demands from OEMs, and integrating with ERP/MES for digital toolroom workflow,” says Sanjay Bharathy, Business Development Officer, Cad Macro Design & Solutions Pvt Ltd. This interview was taken for DMI 2026.
What key trends, challenges, or growth opportunities do you see in the Indian Die and Mould Industry today, and how might they evolve by 2026?
The key trends in the Indian Die and Mould Industry include a shift toward automation, CNC, and digitalisation (CAD/CAM, ERP/MES, Industry 4.0). While challenges involve skilled manpower shortage and training gaps, growth opportunities lie in adopting digital toolroom management, ERP/MES, and automation to improve productivity and margins. Moderate to strong growth is expected, with successful companies being those that invest in technology, skilled workforce, and digital toolroom integration.
Which sectors (e.g., Automotive, EVs, Aerospace, Medical, Defence etc.) are driving demand for Dies and Moulds, and what opportunities do they present for the industry?
The Automotive, EVs, Aerospace sectors, and Contractors are driving more demand for dies and moulds. By 2026, industry opportunities include reducing design time by 30–50%, capturing company design standards and reusing knowledge, supporting quick delivery demands from OEMs, and integrating with ERP/MES for digital toolroom workflow.
How is India’s manufacturing push (e.g., Make in India, China+1) impacting the Die and Mould sector overall?
India’s manufacturing push through Make in India and China+1 is significantly impacting the Die and Mould sector. Higher local demand is rising as production of automotive, EV, electronics, and appliances shifts to India, increasing the need for local dies and moulds. OEMs prefer domestic toolrooms for import substitution to reduce cost, lead time, and dependency on China/Korea. New sector growth in EVs, electronics, medical, defence, and packaging is creating fresh tooling opportunities, while faster delivery expectations are driving adoption of CAD automation, CAM automation, ERP/MES, and toolroom digitalisation.
What innovations or technologies (e.g., additive manufacturing, automation, AI, simulations) are shaping the competitiveness of the die and mould industry?
AI-driven toolroom implementation is a gradual journey, not an immediate solution. By first digitising and capturing historical toolroom data, we can build a strong foundation to successfully implement AI and achieve meaningful, reliable results.
What role do initiatives like precision manufacturing and talent development play in expanding the Die and Mould industry into new markets?
Precision manufacturing enables high-accuracy, complex tooling required by sectors like EVs, electronics, medical, aerospace, and defence. It improves quality, consistency, and global standards compliance, creating opportunities for exports and entry into high-value international markets. Talent development ensures skilled designers and machinists are critical for advanced CAD/CAM, simulation, CNC automation, and CAD macros. It reduces errors, improves productivity, supports faster delivery expectations, and builds capability to handle complex and high-precision projects.
How has participating in past DMI exhibitions contributed to growth, networking, or collaborations within the tooling ecosystem?
Participation in past DMI exhibitions has been very positive for our organisation. It provided a valuable platform for strong networking, business opportunities, learning & industry exposure, and market understanding.
What makes DMI 2026 a valuable platform for the Die and Mould industry to showcase its strengths to domestic or global customers?
DMI 2026 offers industry visibility by showcasing the capabilities of Indian toolrooms in precision manufacturing, complex tooling, and advanced technologies to both domestic and international customers. It provides access to key decision-makers, bringing together OEMs, Tier suppliers, global buyers, and industry leaders for direct business interactions. The event enables technology demonstration, presenting strengths in CAD/CAM, CAD automation/macros, simulation, CNC automation, and digital toolroom (ERP/MES). It supports export and global opportunities by positioning India as a reliable tooling partner amid China+1 and Make in India momentum. Additionally, it facilitates networking and collaboration for partnerships, joint ventures, and supply chain collaborations across the tooling ecosystem.
What products, technologies, or launches are you planning to showcase at DMI 2026, and why are they significant for the industry?
We will be presenting a complete End-to-End Digital Solution for Indian Toolrooms, integrating ERP, MES, IoT connectivity, Project Management, and CAD Macro services, built specifically for the die and mould industry.
