“As global OEM diversify supply chains, India is emerging as a preferred manufacturing destination. This is encouraging localisation of tooling, mould steel, and precision manufacturing capabilities, creating strong growth opportunities for the domestic die mould industry,” says Ashish Bhansali, Managing Director, Anand Mould Steels Pvt Ltd. This interview was taken for DMI 2026.
Trends, Challenges & 2026 Outlook
The Indian Die & Mould industry is undergoing a significant transformation driven by localisation initiative, rising domestic manufacturing and global supply chain diversification. One of the key trends is the shift towards higher-performance mould steel & advance tooling technologies to support complex plastic components used in automotive, electronics and consumer products. Toolmakers are increasingly focusing on improved mould life, dimensional stability, and reduced maintenance. However, challenges still exist. The industry faces pressure from shorter delivery timelines, cost competitiveness, and dependence on imported STEEL & TOOLING materials. Bridging the gap between design capability, advance machining and metallurgical quality remains essential.
In 2026, we expect stronger localisation of critical tooling material, including mould steel, along with increased adoption of automation, simulation, and precision machining technologies. With the right ecosystem support, India has the potential to emerge as a major global sourcing destination for Dies & Moulds.
Demand-Driving Sectors & Opportunities
Several sectors are significantly driving demand for dies & moulds in India. The Automotive sector, including electric vehicles, continue to be a major contributor due to the increasing use of complex plastic components for lightweighting and design flexibility. The rapid growth of consumer electronics, white goods, and packaging industries is also generating strong demand for high-precision injection moulds.
Additionally, emerging sectors such as medical device, aerospace, and defence manufacturing are opening new opportunities for specialised tooling with higher quality and reliability standards.
These sectors require moulds with longer tool life, better surface finish, and consistent dimensional stability, which increases the demand for high-quality mould steel and advance tooling solutions. For the industry, this represents a strong opportunity to develop indigenous capabilities in tooling material, mould manufacturing, and precision engineering, enabling India to move up to global value chain.
Manufacturing Push Impact
India’s manufacturing push to the global China + 1 strategy are significantly boosting demand for locally manufactured dies & moulds. As global OEM diversify supply chains, India is emerging as a preferred manufacturing destination. This is encouraging localisation of tooling, mould steel, and precision manufacturing capabilities, creating strong growth opportunities for the domestic die mould industry.
Shaping Technologies & Innovations
Technologies such as advance mould flow simulations, high -speed CNC machining, automation, additive manufacturing for conformal cooling, and AI-driven process optimisation are transforming the die and mould industry. These technologies help reduce tool development time, improve mould performance, and enhance productivity, enabling toolmakers to compete globally on quality and efficiency.
Precision & Talent Role
Precision manufacturing and skilled talent are critical for production high-quality tooling’s required by sector such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, and medical devices. Continuous skill development and strong industrial academia collaboration will enable Indian toolmakers to meet global standards and expand into international markets.
DMI Exhibitions Impact
Participation in past DMI exhibitions has been extremely valuable in strengthening industry relationship across the tooling ecosystem. it has enabled meaningful interactions between mould maker, OEMs, material suppliers and technology providers, leading to knowledge exchange and new collabration. For us it has also been effective platform to demonstrate the capabilities to high-performance Made-In- India moulds steel, while understanding the evolving needs of toolrooms and manufacturing.
DMI 2026 Value
DMI 2026 provides a unique platform where the entire die & Mould ecosystem-toolmakers, material suppliers, technology providers , and OEMs- comes together to showcase India’s growing capabilities. With the global shift towards diversified supply chain, DMI offers an excellent opportunity to demonstrate India’s strength in advance tooling, engineering expertise, and localisation of critical inputs such as High-Performance Mould Steel. If reinforces India’s position as a reliable partner for global manufacturing.
Products & Launches at DMI 2026
At DMI 2026, we will be showcasing Made‑In‑India L & T Special Mould Steel grades such as L&T 2738 & L&T 2738 MAX HH Grades, developed specially for high‑performance plastic injection moulds application.
These grades are engineered to deliver excellent hardness uniformity, superior machinability, improved polishability, and enhanced wear resistance, enabling longer mould life and consistent surface quality. The development of such indigenous mould steel solutions is significant for the industry as it reduces dependence on imported material while ensuring availability and competitive performance for Indian toolmakers.
