Forging growth and innovation

Kirloskar Ferrous Industries (KFIL) is driving growth in alloy steel and casting by advancing India's foundry and manufacturing capabilities, aiming to reach $2 billion by 2030. Sujatha Vishnuraj, Editor, Manufacturing Today in conversation with Ravindranath Gumaste, MD, KFIL, to know more about the company's commitment to sustainability and growth.

Kirloskar Ferrous Industries Limited (KFIL) has firmly established itself as a prominent player in the iron and steel sector, offering a wide range of pig iron and iron castings through its integrated operations in mining, smelting, and casting. The company's recent merger with Indian Seamless Metal Tubes (ISMT) has further strengthened its portfolio, adding steel and seamless tubes for key industries such as automotive, bearings, and boiler tubes.

With an ambitious goal to become India’s top alloy steel manufacturer and a global leader in castings, KFIL is targeting $2 billion in revenue by 2030. Spearheading this transformative journey is Managing Director Ravindranath Gumaste, who has driven innovation and quality improvements since 1993. In this interview, Gumaste sheds light on the company’s strategic direction, the significance of its merger with ISMT, and its ongoing commitment to sustainability and growth.

Could you share how Kirloskar Ferrous Industries balances the varying demands across various industries while maintaining strong growth?

At KFIL, we believe the balancing of varying demands across key sectors such as automotive, infrastructure, agriculture, and steel is both a challenge and an opportunity for us.

• Diverse product portfolio: KFIL is rapidly expanding in the Pig Iron and Iron Castings sector, leveraging fully backward-integrated operations from iron ore mining to finished machined castings. The recent merger broadens KFIL’s portfolio to include steel and seamless tubes, areas where ISMT has pioneered manufacturing in India, particularly in sectors like bearings, boiler tubes, and automotive applications. This strategic diversification strengthens KFIL’s resilience by allowing it to tap into multiple industries, enabling growth even if one sector faces a downturn while others thrive.