ELGi Sharpens Competitive Edge With Manufacturing Transformation

Coimbatore, India – ELGi Equipments Ltd, a global leader in air compressor manufacturing, is enhancing its competitive advantage through a string of manufacturing innovations that are transforming efficiency, quality, and resiliency of supply chains. Sharing his outlook with Modern Manufacturing India (MMI), Ramesh Ponnuswami, Executive President - Operations and EBS, ELGi, explained how the targeted investments are driving the company’s international aspirations.

On the transition of machining and assembly operations to the ELGi Air Centre Plant (ACP), Ponnuswami called it “a significant milestone in our journey toward operational excellence.” The shift, executed in 2013-14, centralized everything from casting and rotor machining to airend assembly for screw compressors and final top block integration for reciprocating compressors. “The focused layout has improved turnaround time, enabled tighter quality controls, and enhanced product consistency,” he noted, adding that real-time visibility and streamlined material flow have strengthened responsiveness and throughput, contributing to cost efficiencies.

A major catalyst behind these gains has been the company’s decision to build its own machines. “Building machines in-house stemmed from a strategic decision to gain control over cost, precision, and quality—especially for critical components like rotors,” he said. Over 14 years, the company has designed high-precision equipment for rotor milling, profile grinding, and deburring. According to him, “Our machines operate with higher speed, lower vibration, and greater consistency, directly impacting production cycle times and first-time-right quality.”

Furthermore, backward integration has been pivotal in transforming ELGi’s supply chain. With in-house castings, motors, airends, and pressure vessels, ELGi has cut dependencies on third-party vendors for key parts and reduced lead times by several weeks, responding more flexibly to demand variability. “This integration supports our ability to deliver consistent, world-class quality that reinforces our brand promise: ‘Always Better,’” he emphasized.

In the future, the new integrated facility close to its foundry will be another step forward by ELGi. The plant will consolidate manufacturing functions, with a planned investment of INR 600-650 crore, and increase capacity. “This facility will be a cornerstone of our aspiration to be among the top three global players in the air compressor segment,” Ponnuswami said, underscoring its role as a future-ready engine for growth and global supply.

Image Source: ELGi Equipments Ltd