ISFT 2026: USHERING IN CUTTING-EDGE FORMING TECHNOLOGIES

International Seminar on Forming Technology 2026, organized by Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA), held from January 22-23 2026, at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bengaluru, concluded successfully, bringing together manufacturing industry leaders, technology providers, academia, and policymakers to deliberate upon the future of sheet metal forming and smart manufacturing.

Held in conjunction with IMTEX FORMING 2026, the 9^th edition of the International Seminar on Forming Technologies (ISFT) 2026, garnered significant interest from the industry, with around 210 delegates participating in the event.

The attendees included manufacturing and production heads, plant managers, tooling and die professionals, design and R&D specialists, and experts in quality, metrology, and process improvement.

Emphasizing Advanced Forming

The seminar was inaugurated by FR Singhvi, Joint Managing Director, Sansera Engineering Ltd; Dr Karthik Krishnamurthy, Director-Operations & COO, Mahindra Aerostructures Pvt Ltd; and Ingrid Rasquinha, Joint Managing Director, Electro Pneumatics & Hydraulics (India) Pvt Ltd. Vikram Salunke, Vice President, IMTMA, and Guru Prasath KR, Executive Director, IMTMA, shared the dais.

Delivering his keynote address, ‘Innovation, Collaboration, and Skill - The Trifecta for India’s Manufacturing Future’,  Singhvi stressed that transformation doesn’t happen by accident but through innovation, collaboration, and skill.

Dr Krishnamurthy, in his keynote address, ‘Building momentum and driving competitiveness in the global aerospace industry’, highlighted the evolving global aerospace landscape and India’s growing capabilities in advanced manufacturing.

He cited projections such as 500 million air travellers by 2030, a fivefold increase in airports by 2047, a CAGR of 6.8 percent between 2024 and 2032, and India’s potential emergence as the world’s largest aviation market. “We have moved the needle from being a low-cost source to a best-cost source,” he noted.

Rasquinha in her opening address, ‘IMTMA INITIATIVE ISFT 2026 Focuses on Advanced Forming and Digital Manufacturing’, highlighted the importance of large-scale platforms such as ISFT in fostering collaboration across the manufacturing ecosystem. “This edition of ISFT has been designed to reflect the transformative challenges shaping modern manufacturing processes,” she said.

She also spoke about the growing need for closer collaboration between industry and technology providers to keep pace with rapid advancements in manufacturing.

Forming Processes and Industrial Applications

Over two days, the seminar featured two keynote sessions, 12 technical presentations, and a high-level panel discussion addressing the most disruptive trends in metal forming.

The seminar opened with a strong focus on core forming processes, featuring presentations from key industry players.

Electro Pneumatics (India) Pvt Ltd presented on tube hydroforming of next-generation automotive exhaust parts, highlighting advancements in forming complex geometries for lightweight and high-performance automotive applications.

From the forging perspective, FICEP discussed high-performance presses for aerospace and defence applications, focusing on initiatives to reduce weight and material scrap through cell-based work configurations, thereby improving efficiency and material utilization.

Material innovation emerged as a critical area. JBM Group shared insights on ultra-high strength steel (UHSS ~1180 MPa) sheet metal parts development strategies, focusing on the challenges of forming high-strength materials.

AP&T provided perspectives on the evolution of press hardening technologies and their growing relevance.

Fronius India addressed joining dissimilar metals, demonstrating how advanced welding solutions are enabling the integration of mixed materials in modern manufacturing.

Future-Ready Forming Technologies

RV Machine Tools highlighted friction-assisted forming technologies, which enhance formability, reduce energy consumption, and enable innovative part designs for both production and research applications.

Digitalization and Intelligent Manufacturing

The seminar also underscored the growing convergence of digital technologies with forming processes.

IIT Bombay presented on agentic digital twins, demonstrating how multiple AI-driven systems can work together to optimize and streamline forming operations.

YASKAWA India discussed automation and robotics for press lines, highlighting how advanced robotic systems are enhancing productivity, precision, and operational efficiency. Automation is playing an increasingly important role in streamlining material handling, reducing cycle times, and enabling consistent, high-quality production.

Additive Manufacturing in Aerospace

Objectify Technologies presented on the current implementation of additive manufacturing in the Indian aerospace sector, emphasizing its growing adoption for complex, high-performance components and the importance of meeting stringent qualification standards.

Engineering Intelligence and Tooling

Voestalpine High Performance Metals India discussed engineering intelligence in forming, highlighting how optimized tool material selection and PVD coatings can reduce friction, enhance tool life, and enable efficient forming of high-tensile materials with minimal lubrication.

Advanced Materials for Automotive Applications

Hindalco Industries presented on high-strength aluminium (7000 series) sheet metal, outlining demand drivers, manufacturing challenges, and the roadmap for indigenous production—particularly significant for the automotive sector’s lightweighting goals.

Energy Efficiency in Metal Forming

The seminar also had its focus on sustainability, with ISGEC Heavy Engineering presenting on improving energy efficiency in metal forming through advanced press design and automation, highlighting approaches to reduce energy consumption while enhancing productivity.

On the Role of Advanced Forming Technologies

ISFT 2026 also featured a panel discussion on ‘Driving India’s Manufacturing Competitiveness: Role of Advanced Forming Technologies in the Era of Smart Manufacturing’. The session brought together leading voices from across the manufacturing ecosystem, who shared perspectives on emerging industry challenges and the strategies required to address them.

Learning Beyond the Seminar

A key highlight for delegates was an exclusive access to IMTEX FORMING 2026, held from January 21–25, 2026. This allowed participants to witness live demonstrations of machinery and technologies discussed during the seminar, bridging the gap between theory and practice. ISFT 2026 reinforced IMTMA’s role as a catalyst for industry growth, combining strategic insight, technical depth, and real-world exposure.

Source: IMTMA