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Highlights
- Magellan and Aequs aim to establish a 50/50 joint venture aerospace sand casting facility in India.
- The new facility will support both commercial and defense aerospace sectors, expanding sand casting capabilities.
- This collaboration builds on the strong partnership between Magellan and Aequs, following successful ventures in India.
Magellan Aerospace Corporation (TSX:MAL) announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Aequs Private Limited (“Aequs”) to explore the development of a 50/50 jointly-owned aerospace sand casting facility at the Belagavi Aerospace Cluster (BAC) in Karnataka, India. The proposed facility will play a critical role in meeting the growing demands for sand casting in the expanding aerospace industry, particularly in Southeast Asia.
The venture, which aims to provide increased sand-casting capacity, will serve both the commercial and defense aerospace sectors. India currently has a limited number of aerospace-qualified NADCAP sand casting facilities, and this collaboration between Magellan and Aequs is set to address this gap by enhancing capabilities in the region. The new facility will leverage Magellan’s expertise in producing complex geometries using the chemically bonded sand process, which is crucial for high-quality aerospace components.
Magellan Aerospace, known as a centre of excellence for sand castings in North America, brings its advanced technology to the table, including 3D sand printing, robotics, digital radiography, and automated differential pressure bottom pouring. These cutting-edge technologies will be incorporated into the joint venture, ensuring the production of lightweight yet robust components that meet the stringent requirements of the aerospace industry.
India’s aerospace sector has been experiencing rapid growth, driven by government initiatives such as the Make in India and UDAN schemes, an expanding private sector, and surging air traffic. India has become one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world, making it a key region for future aerospace manufacturing and supply chain expansion.
The MOU is part of a long-standing partnership between Magellan and Aequs. In 2007, the two companies established Aerospace Processing India (API), a joint venture that was the first third-party facility in India approved by both Airbus and Boeing. API provided innovative surface treatment solutions that were not previously available in the region. The success of this joint venture laid the foundation for future collaborations, including this latest initiative for a sand casting facility.
Aravind Melligeri, Chairman and CEO of Aequs, expressed his enthusiasm for the new MOU, stating, "This proposal to explore the setting up of a sand casting facility with our long-time partner Magellan Aerospace at the Belagavi Aerospace Cluster is aligned with our commitment to offer our customers world-class manufacturing processes and technologies. It will also contribute to the vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities that Aequs operates at the Cluster. Advancements in sand casting technology have made it possible to provide lightweight yet robust components made to stringent standards that the aerospace industry demands."
This collaboration represents a significant step forward in both companies' efforts to expand their presence in the rapidly growing aerospace market in India. By combining Magellan’s leading-edge technology with Aequs’ established manufacturing infrastructure, the joint venture will provide critical manufacturing capabilities to meet the increasing demand for aerospace components in India and Southeast Asia.
