NEARLY TWO CENTURIES, ONE FORWARD VISION

Huron Graffenstaden SAS marked a significant milestone with the inauguration of its new production facility, Eschau II, during Huron Open Week, held from November 18-20, 2025. The event celebrated nearly two centuries of precision engineering, highlighted its collaboration with Jyoti CNC Automation Ltd, and showcased a forward-looking vision for global manufacturing.

The story of this French company is inseparable from the heritage of Strasbourg, France, where centuries of craftsmanship intersect with modern industrial innovation. Marc Troïa, Director Commercial, Huron Graffenstaden, shared a vivid glimpse into the company’s history through a 130-year-old hand-sketched painting that weighed nearly 300 kg on display during the event.

“This,” he said, “is where it all began.” The artwork depicted the early workshops, steam train constructions, and the bustling foundries that shaped the company’s identity long before the modern city grew around it, making it one of the key displays during the event.

Highlighting its milestones, Troïa reflected on its evolution from crafting machines for watchmaking and restoring the Strasbourg Cathedral clock to producing steam locomotives and pioneering early CNC research in the 1950s. “It’s a story of evolution,” he noted. “A journey from craftsmanship to advanced machining.”

The Jyoti-Huron Story

Parakramsinh G Jadeja, Chairman & Managing Director, Jyoti CNC Automation Ltd, recounted the origins of the Gujarat-based company, recalling how he began as a 20-year-old school dropout with only INR 100 and a single lathe machine.

“I started as a machinist, and slowly we learned how to build everything—from components to complete machines,” he said. Recognizing the importance of digital transformation in the late 1990s, Jadeja led the company to design its first CNC machine, establishing a fully integrated machine tool company. Today, the company employs 3,500 people, serves over 14,000 customers, and offers a wide range of turning, milling, multitasking, and high-precision solutions.

The strategic acquisition of Huron Graffenstaden in 2007 strengthened the company’s technological capabilities. He described the French company as “a 198-year legacy and a partner that strengthened our technology journey.” Looking ahead, he emphasized the shared mission of serving the global industry with innovation, precision, and purpose.

Adding to this, Mihir Baxi, Global Sales President, Jyoti CNC Automation Ltd, reflected on the current global reach of the partnership: “The Eschau II facility is a moment where sophisticated, high-precision five-axis machines meet a truly global vision.”

Eschau II: A New Chapter

The newly inaugurated Eschau II facility represents both scale and ambition. Alongside Troïa and Jadeja were Thierry Bouchaud, Business Unit Director, Siemens and Senior Member, FIM - Fédération des Industries Mécaniques (FIM); Avinash V Rao, Second Secretary, Embassy of India in Paris; and Thibaud Philipps, Mayor of Illkirch-Graffenstaden, who inaugurated the plant and participated in the intimate ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Designed to accommodate larger machines, higher ceilings, and heavier cranes, the new facility allows the company to manufacture bigger, more complex components without constraints. Troïa explained the facility’s purpose, “Our machines have grown with the size of our customers’ parts, so we built a space that lets us build more, build bigger, and build without limits.”

Jadeja shared the “story beyond the history” of Jyoti-Huron. “We began this journey together on this very day, and it has been 18 years of a wonderful partnership,” he said, speaking at the inauguration ceremony.

Rao contextualized the inauguration within the broader framework of bilateral collaboration. “This is a celebration of a deep and growing India-France partnership,” he said, noting how initiatives like Horizon 2047 and the upcoming 2026 India–France Year of Innovation support the importance of collaborations such as Jyoti-Huron in shaping future industrial landscapes.

The significance of the facility was underscored by Philipps, “The delivery of this extension is a true message of hope and optimism for all of us.” Bouchaud emphasized the relevance of French manufacturing equipment suppliers represented by EVOLIS, and FIM, in driving industrial growth and competitiveness.

Partner Showcases: Industry United for the Future

With over 60 partners, the expanded facility became a hub for global partners to demonstrate their latest innovations, highlighting Jyoti-Huron’s collaborative approach and proactive initiative toward building the next generation of engineers.

The newly inaugurated Eschau II facility represents both scale and ambition.

Nearly 800 students visited Eschau II to explore the facility and engage with partner technologies. Troïa encouraged young visitors: “The industry is technical, technological, and interesting. You can learn things, enjoy yourself, and even earn some money.”

Michel Renaud, Product Expert FA Drill Laser, FANUC France SAS, shared, “We’re here at Huron Open Week to share with the next generation and support the industry’s future.” Julienne Domergue, Business Development Manager, USINAGE FORMATIONS, said that being invited to the event was “a wonderful opportunity to meet industry peers, showcase the company’s innovative training solutions, and explore the new Eschau II facility.”

Jean-Luc Gambet, Sales Manager, Supfina Grieshaber GmbH & Co KG, emphasized the compatibility of their superfinishing machines with Huron’s equipment. “Most of our equipment can be fitted on a Huron machine,” he explained, noting the strategic synergy that prompted Supfina to present its ‘ROADSHOW Supfina’ demo vehicle at the event.

Mitchel Schmitt, Global Product Specialist Tooling Systems, Seco Tools Tooling Systems SAS, highlighted the long-standing collaboration with Huron Graffenstaden and Jyoti CNC Automation. Nina Ziehmer, Marketing Manager, CMS Automatisme, highlighted its collaboration with Huron, stating, “CMS Automatisme supports Huron, especially its customers, by providing robot solutions for the charging of CNC machines.”

Franck Lacroix, Responsable Support Digital & Enseignement, Blaser Swisslube SARL, described the event’s atmosphere as “a great moment to share experience,” with students. Lacroix also noted, “We’ve worked together with Huron for years, helping customers choose the right product for every Huron machine.”

In the area of digitalization and machine intelligence, Losson Luc, Business Development Machine-Outil, Siemens SAS, and Alexis Capoen, Application Engineer, JANUS Engineering France explained how their technologies integrate seamlessly with Jyoti-Huron machines.

Romuald Caldi, Technico-commercial SO PROD, ERRIC GROUPE, highlighted his company’s satisfaction with Huron machines and the depth of collaboration enabled through their long-standing partnership that began with equipping of its own mechanical workshop with Huron lathes.

Mickael Marcillat, Responsable Marchés Métal et Défense, Division Robotics, Stäubli Faverges SAS, described the event as a place for a great exchange of ideas and meeting people. He said that Huron’s collaborative spirit mirrors Stäubli’s technical days in France, where partners and young talent gather around real applications.

Pierrick Monnot, Directeur Agence EST, TopSolid France, detailed that the collaboration extends beyond technology and is built on shared customers who depend on TopSolid software to fully harness the potential of Jyoti-Huron machines.

Adrien Brunet, Engineer- Polymer Sustainability, Lines Manufacturing, portrayed the event as an occasion to look outward. “The more you invest in the next generation, the greater the future potential we all create,” he said, capturing the essence of Huron’s long-standing belief.

Trust Built Over Time

Parakramsinh G Jadeja, Chairman & Managing Director, Jyoti CNC Automation Ltd, and Marc Troïa, Director Commercial, Huron Graffenstaden, with the team during Huron Open Week in Strasbourg, France.

Long-term customers and dealers who attended the event reflected on the enduring value of the Jyoti-Huron partnership. Oliver Moekotte, Managing Director, Alfleth Engineering AG, noted, “After Jyoti CNC Automation took over Huron Graffenstaden, the growth was even faster than anyone planned,” emphasizing the synergy between Swiss engineering, French expertise, and Indian industrial strength. Thomas Alijew, Managing Director, Alfleth Engineering AG, recalled his first meeting with Huron back in 1998 in Zurich, noting that “from the beginning, it was a good cooperation.”

From the dealer perspective, the sentiment was equally strong. Vincent Bedin, Sales Manager BENELUX Market, Bun Engineering SA, Huron’s official dealer in the region, described the event as a celebration of shared values. “Customers expect machines backed by solid history, reliable performance, and deep engineering experience. That’s exactly what Huron delivers,” he said.

End-user experiences further reinforced this confidence. Sandeep Satani, Chairman & Managing Director, Shreeram Aerospace & Defence LLP, reflected on his company’s six-year journey with Huron machines, stressing the importance of operational continuity. “For us, it’s about precision, reliability, and the confidence that Huron and Jyoti service teams keep our operations running 24/7,” he noted.

Marco Catalano, Founder & General Manager, AV Group, described their 45-year association with Huron as “a story of trust, performance, and shared ambition.” Adding a personal perspective, Nathalie Lespiat, Chief Financial Officer, AV Group, traced her family’s connection with Huron back to 1965. “My father began this journey with Huron, and today we continue to nurture that legacy,” she said.

A Celebration of Collaboration

The inauguration of the Eschau II facility during Huron Open Week epitomized the convergence of heritage, technology, and partnership. From live demonstrations and roundtable sessions to partner showcases and student visits, the event reflected the company’s commitment to innovation, global collaboration, and nurturing future talent. Troïa summed up the spirit of the celebration: “Success feels bigger when it’s shared.”

NITYASREE KUMARASWAMY Correspondent Magic Wand Media nityasree@magicwandmedia.in