Pune: Molding Solutions, the global injection molding tooling platform encompassing brands Männer, Foboha, Synventive, Thermoplay, Gammaflux, and Priamus, has officially commenced operations at its new greenfield manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune, marking a significant milestone in its India expansion strategy.
The new Pune facility positions Molding Solutions to transition from an import-dependent model to a fully localized manufacturing and engineering operation, aligned with the company’s “local for local” strategy aimed at serving Indian customers faster and more efficiently.
Molding Solutions Establishes Full-Scale Manufacturing Presence in India
The newly operational plant is a large-scale, future-ready manufacturing facility designed with expansion in mind. Production has already begun, with infrastructure and space allocated for capacity ramp-up in the coming years.
This development represents a strategic shift toward full in-country manufacturing, engineering, and service support for Indian customers.
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Molding Solutions Commits USD 50 Million Investment for India Operations
As part of its long-term commitment to India, Molding Solutions has outlined a total planned investment of approximately USD 50 million, of which USD 30 million has already been deployed. The remaining investment will be phased in as production volumes and capacity increase.
The investment focuses primarily on:
- High-end precision manufacturing equipment
- Advanced tooling and hot runner manufacturing technologies
- Building infrastructure costs and talent-related investments are additional to the capital expenditure outlined.
“Local for Local” Strategy Drives Molding Solutions’ India Expansion
The India expansion is anchored in Molding Solutions’ local-for-local strategy, enabling the company to build a complete domestic value chain. The Pune facility will house:
- Engineering and mold-flow analysis
- Tool design and manufacturing
- Aftermarket services and customer support
This approach addresses faster customer timelines in India while mitigating supply-chain disruptions and geopolitical uncertainties impacting global manufacturing, says Marcello Vendemiati, President Molding Solutions.
India to Emerge as a Global Hub for Molding Solutions
Beyond serving domestic demand, Molding Solutions has articulated a long-term vision to position India as a global design and manufacturing hub for injection molding tooling.
The company plans to invert the traditional operating model by conducting engineering and toolmaking in India, first serving local customers and subsequently exporting globally.
India is expected to support:
- The domestic market
- The broader Asian region, excluding China, which will continue to serve its local market independently
- Employment Generation and Engineering-Led Talent Development
The Pune facility is expected to employ approximately 120 shop-floor workers in its initial phase, with total headcount – including engineering and administrative roles – scaling up to 250 employees over time, says Thomas Hook, CEO of The Industrial Solutions Group.
Engineering already constitutes nearly 50% of the workforce, reflecting Molding Solutions’ emphasis on leveraging India’s engineering talent pool, with plans to increase this proportion as operations expand.
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Sectoral Focus and Market Opportunities for Molding Solutions
Molding Solutions currently has a strong presence in the automotive sector, while medical devices represent the fastest-growing segment in India. Additional focus areas include:
- Mobility and transportation
- High-cavitation packaging and food packaging
- FMCG and consumer goods
- Electronics
The Indian injection molding tooling market is estimated at approximately USD 200 million, with Molding Solutions’ market share currently below 10%, indicating substantial growth potential.
Revenue Growth Outlook for Molding Solutions in India
The company’s current India revenue stands at approximately USD 50 million, with a targeted growth rate of 15–20%, driven by increased localization and market penetration.
Over the long term, Molding Solutions aims to achieve a market share aligned with its global average of 15–20%, positioning India revenue to potentially approach USD 200 million.
R&D Expansion and Engineering Localization
Globally, Molding Solutions invests around 5% of its annual revenue, equivalent to approximately USD 20 million, in research and development. India is expected to play an increasingly important role in localized R&D activities, particularly in:
- Tool design
- Engineering-led innovation
- The company has identified India as one of its strongest global engineering talent bases.
Supply Chain Realignment and Long-Term India Strategy
Acknowledging the global shift toward regionalized manufacturing, Molding Solutions has positioned India as a stable and cost-competitive alternative manufacturing base.
The company estimates India to be approximately 20% more cost-competitive than China, while emphasizing that India’s role in its global manufacturing footprint is structural and long term.
The India expansion mirrors the company’s earlier success in China, where operations grew from a small team to 600–700 employees over two decades. The company has stated its intent to replicate this growth trajectory in India.
