Made in India Aero Engine Soon? Indian Firm Steps Up to Make Titanium, Superalloy Locally, Supply Globally

“All of Europe and American companies want titanium and superalloys from non-China and non-Russia countries. It is a god given opportunity,” said the Director, Technical and Quality, of the company that is on its journey to give global giants a run for their money. How? By focusing on titanium and superalloy production.

Titanium and superalloys are used for defence manufacturing and are key to India’s ambitious ‘Make in India’ initiative. Now, an Indian company has finally taken on itself to manufacture the metal that is important to make defence equipment in India. PTC Industries is investing around Rs 1000 crore for the same.

What’s inside PTC Industries’ Titanium, Superalloys production plan?

Being the first in India to do so, PTC Industries is establishing 4 manufacturing units that will be responsible for making titanium and superalloy. And with this, the company would not just meet India’s demands, but is also making for the world. “We believe in the motto of Make in India for India and the world,” PTC Industries Chairman and MD Sachin Agarwal told ThePrint.

PTC Industries’ manufacturing plants will be spread over 50 acres in the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor. With an aim to supply the metals globally, PTC Industries has already started supplying titanium parts to BAE Systems.

Both titanium and superalloys are needed in the manufacture of defence products. Superalloys are also used for high temperature scenarios, like in aero engines.

Have foreign firms shown interest in India-made titanium, superalloys?

It is not just UK-based BAE Systems that has reached out PTC Industries. Other top global vendors like Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI), France’s equipment makers Safran and Dassault Aviation have also entered into long-term contracts with the Indian firm.

“The deal with Safran is not just for defence engines but their civil ones. We have signed a contract with Dassault Aviation. All the titanium casting that goes on Rafale (aircraft) will one day be ours,” Agarwal shared, adding that these companies came to them as titanium is made globally by a limited number of countries.

Can India gain an upper hand in titanium production?

At present, China is the world’s largest producer of titanium, primarily through the mining of ilmenite, a titanium-bearing mineral. Russia is another key producer, from which many countries buy the metal.

“If you leave China, out of the close to 170,000 tonnes of titanium manufacturing in the world, Russia produces 60,000-70,000 tonnes, which is 30-40 percent of global numbers,” the PTC Industries Chairman explained. However, the global supply chain has taken a hit because of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Also, many countries are willing to pull away from China, and India could reap in big benefits of the Çhina+1 strategy, that many nations are now adopting.

“All of Europe and American companies want titanium and superalloys from non-China and non-Russia countries. And this is where India comes into play. And that is why we are doing it. Nobody in India is doing this and we are the first ones to do so,” Alok Agarwal, Director, Technical and Quality, at the company, stated.

Is PTC Industries only Indian company making titanium?

No. Hyderabad-based defence public sector undertaking (PSU) MIDHANI also makes titanium but the supply is less. “We are the only private company in India which makes titanium and superalloys material. MIDHANI does a small quantity compared to what we have planned and are going to do,” Alok added.

Why production of titanium, superalloys in India matters?

India has a dream to manufacture its own aero engines. But we can’t make them until we have the capability to make our own superalloys and the components that go into the aero engine, Alok said, noting that their objective was to put the country on a par when it comes to materials itself.

India has an ambition to bring down its dependency on imports and create a defence industrial complex that will not only meet the country’s needs but will also strengthen export potential. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently said India is moving ahead on the path of self-reliance in the defence sector, and it is also ready to play a very important role in making global supply chains resilient.

Notably, PTC Industries has acquired a British company which is into the manufacture of aero engine blades and other parts. They now want to make everything from base material to high-end aero engine parts.