– By Sudhanshu Nayak
“India’s manufacturing push through initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and the China+1 strategy is boosting the Die and Mould sector by increasing domestic production demand, attracting global OEM investments, encouraging tooling localisation, and driving capacity expansion and technology upgrades to meet higher quality and export standards,” says Subin Vadakkiniyil, Director, Helli Moulds. 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 Indian Die and Mould Industry is currently driven by strong demand from automotive (including EVs), electronics, and consumer goods sectors, supported by government initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and increasing adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, but faces challenges such as high capital investment, skilled labour shortages, raw material price volatility, and quality standard gaps, while by 2026 it is expected to grow significantly through supply chain diversification away from China, rising exports, additive manufacturing adoption, digitalisation, and improved global competitiveness.
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 sector, including EVs, is the primary driver of demand for dies and moulds, with growing needs for lightweight components, complex geometries, and high-precision parts. These trends create opportunities for the industry to develop advanced tooling solutions, improve manufacturing efficiency, and support faster production cycles across high-volume applications.
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 initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and the China+1 strategy is boosting the Die and Mould sector by increasing domestic production demand, attracting global OEM investments, encouraging tooling localisation, and driving capacity expansion and technology upgrades to meet higher quality and export standards.
What innovations or technologies (e.g., additive manufacturing, automation, AI, simulations) are shaping the competitiveness of the die and mould industry?
The die and mould industry’s competitiveness is being shaped by several key innovations, including additive manufacturing for rapid prototyping and conformal cooling, advanced CNC automation, AI-driven design and predictive maintenance, simulation tools for mould flow analysis, IoT-enabled smart manufacturing, and integrated CAD/CAM systems. These technologies work together to enhance precision, reduce lead times, and lower production costs.
What role do initiatives like precision manufacturing and talent development play in expanding the Die and Mould industry into new markets?
Precision manufacturing and talent development initiatives help the Die and Mould industry meet global quality standards, strengthen innovation and technical capabilities, build a skilled workforce, and enhance competitiveness. These efforts collectively enable expansion into high-value domestic and international markets.
How has participating in past DMI exhibitions contributed to growth, networking, or collaborations within the tooling ecosystem?
Participating in past DMI exhibitions has driven growth in the tooling ecosystem by helping companies showcase capabilities, generate leads, and enhance brand visibility. These events also build OEM and supplier partnerships, facilitate technical knowledge exchange, and foster collaborations that support innovation and market expansion.
What makes DMI 2026 a valuable platform for the Die and Mould industry to showcase its strengths to domestic or global customers?
DMI 2026 provides a strategic platform for the Die and Mould industry to showcase advanced capabilities, precision, and innovation to domestic and global customers. It helps build partnerships, generate export opportunities, and reinforce India’s position as a competitive global tooling hub.
What products, technologies, or launches are you planning to showcase at DMI 2026, and why are they significant for the industry?
We are planning to showcase our in-house manufactured mould parts across automotive, luggage, household, toys, and piping applications. These components highlight our complete manufacturing capabilities and precision engineering expertise for diverse industry needs.
