Indo-Italian Synergy for New Aerospace Era

Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA) and UCIMU–SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, the Italian machine tools, robots, and automation systems manufacturers’ association, successfully organized an International Seminar on October 15, 2025, at Taj Yeshwantpur, Bengaluru. The one-day event assembled industry leaders from both countries to deliberate on ‘The Future of Aerospace Manufacturing’ with 8 Italian companies leveraging the opportunity for mutual cooperation and growth.

The single-day affair themed ‘The Future of Aerospace Manufacturing – India and Italy Present Opportunities Offered by Advancements in Manufacturing’ attracted an elite audience of aerospace leaders, machine tool manufacturers, research institute, and policymakers from both nations. Together, they shared ideas and discussed ways to enhance the level of manufacturing and speed up Indo-Italian cooperation in the aerospace and defence industry.

Bolstering Bilateral Ties

As a befitting start to the day, Guru Prasath, Senior Director, IMTMA, welcomed delegates, setting the tone for the event. Next, delivering a Special Address, Giandomenico Milano, Hon’ble Consul General of Italy in Bengaluru, called India–Italy relations ‘a match made in heaven’. He underlined the recent India-Italy comprehensive Joint Strategic Action Plan for the years 2025-2029, which stresses enhancing bilateral cooperation amidst multiple sectors.

“The relation between Italy and India is on a very strong growing trajectory, and both countries enjoy a very high level of complementarity in our respective industries,” he stressed, reflecting the shared avenues of innovation, investment, and capability-building. “Seminars like this are quite important, because they help us to bring our partnership to the very next level.”

Teaming Up for Atmanirbhar Bharat

Adding to the momentum, Rajendra S Rajamane, Past President, IMTMA, emphasized the nature of cooperation and mutual learning in determining the future of aerospace industry manufacturing. “One of the greatest things we need to look at is the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ which gives the opportunity to manufacture equipment not just for India but for the world,” he asserted, encouraging cross-border dialogue between India and Italy. “The globalization and integration reflected in this ‘learning session’ show how India is now being recognized as a global manufacturing hub.”

In alignment, Sayeed Ahmed, Chairman, The Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IICCI) Southern Council and CEO, Biesse Manufacturing Pvt Ltd, offered a pragmatic yet broader perspective on bilateral engagement.

“This event on aerospace and advanced manufacturing, promoting the partnership between IMTMA and Italian industries, marks a great step ahead,” stated Ahmed. “The defence sector and aerospace will be the key towards the growth story of India, as well as ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.”

He further mentioned, “India is more looked at as a competency center where Global Capability Centers (GCCs) have been thriving, and in the coming days, Italy will find how best they can partner with India, even to support their economic growth.

Precision, Collaboration, Progress

Ramesh PS, Former COO, Dynamatic OldLand Aerospace, brought over four decades of hands-on experience to his address titled ‘Precision Manufacturing for Aerospace – Strategy and Challenges’. “We have the manpower, capability, and ambition,” noted Ramesh. Calling for a ‘revolution, not evolution’, he urged Indian manufacturers to look beyond the automotive comfort zone and focus on aerospace opportunities. “The future is collaborative, digital, and determined by precision,” the former Dynamatic COO concluded, emphasizing that Industry 4.0, model-based definitions, and deterministic assemblies will define the next frontier of Indian aerospace manufacturing.

Echoing similar sentiments, TK Ramesh, Managing Director, Ace Designers Ltd, described the seminar as “a learning session bringing together component manufacturers, industrial veterans, and machine tool builders, who are trying to jointly talk about their collective experiences and learn from one another.” He added, “We’re steadily working our way up toward Tier 1 aerospace suppliers, and are confident of delivering robust productivity solutions for structural parts very soon—pointing to ongoing efforts in machining structural and engine components.”

Italy’s Edge, India’s Energy

On behalf of the Italian association, Claudia Tovaglieri, Marketing Department, UCIMU, shared insights into why Bengaluru was chosen for the event. “It is the cluster of the aerospace sector in India,” she pointed out. “We had an interesting discussion and sharing of case studies about various applications. We’re here to support the internationalization of our companies and establish the right contacts with Indian partners for new projects—both in aerospace and other end-user sectors.”

Nilesh Joshi, India representative of UCIMU & AMAPLAST - Italian machinery desk at Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IICCI), shared that Italy has had a strong presence in India for 13 years. He stated, “Our goal is to help Italian manufacturers establish in India and foster industrial linkages.” He also spotlighted the Italian Technology Center (ITC) in Pune, which acts as a hub for continuous engagement via seminars, exhibitions, and industry visits.

Showcasing Industrial Ingenuity

The event lineup featured keynote presentations, insightful panel discussions, and UCIMU member showcases by eight Italian machine tool manufacturers—Breton SpA, CEMB SpA, CMS SpA, Ficep SpA, Innse Berardi SpA, Jobs SpA, PAMA SpA, and Tacchi Giacomo E Figli SpA. The presentations highlighted the way the Italian skills keep reaching the limits of innovation, right from high-precision machining of aluminum and carbon fiber to high-end forging and adaptive clamping.

The panel discussion featured experts from Wipro Aerospace, Wipro 3D, Collins Aerospace, and Aviation Sector Skills Council. Dr Nagahanumaiah, Director, Central Manufacturing Technology Institute, presented on ‘Role of Research Institutes in meeting the requirements of Indian and Global Aerospace Industry’.

A Shared Takeoff

The IMTMA-UCIMU seminar ended on a positive and purposeful note: a realization that the future of the aerospace manufacturing business would be one of shared learning, intelligent manufacturing, and long-term partnerships. From envisioning policy to shop-floor innovation, the Indo-Italian discourse in the southern Karnataka state reaffirms that collaboration is the road to global competitiveness.

Image Source: Magic Wand Media