Mumbai-based Godrej Tooling, a major player in supplying automotive tooling to marquee clients like Honda, Maruti Suzuki, and Mahindra & Mahindra, aims to significantly increase its export revenue share from the current 10% to 20–25% within the next three years, Pankaj Abhyankar, Senior Vice President & Business Head at the company, told Autocar Professional.
At present, the company's annual revenue is around Rs 200 crore, with about 70–75% of that coming from the automotive sector.
This export push hinges on cultivating strong relationships with a select group of high-value customers. "There has to be a relationship" noted Abhyankar, "Since each tool contributes to a component, so you can't have an unreliable vendor" he continues.
To ensure after-sales support meets global standards, Godrej Tooling is forging partnerships with local toolrooms in targeted regions. This strategy provides prompt technical assistance, a crucial factor for building trust with international customers. Localisation is another key element of the export plan. The company is exploring the possibility of manufacturing certain tools currently produced abroad in local facilities, which will not only augment exports bit also create secondary markets for these localised tools.
Godrej Tooling is further bolstering its export ambitions through partnerships with technical experts. These specialists not only offer valuable market insights but also connect the company with potential high-value customers.
Godrej Tooling, established in 1935, is part of Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd., the flagship company of the Godrej Group. Today, Godrej Tooling specialises in diagnostic tools, stamping tools, and supplies them directly to OEMs and tier-one suppliers, including Honda Cars & Motorcycles, Toyota, Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Caparo, and Valeo. It has expertise in industrial machines, pressure dies, casting dies, press dies, die casting dies, thermo-compression moulds, complex and large-sheet metal tooling for auto panels, and progressive dies. Outside of automotive industry, Godrej Tooling also caters to industrial machines for railways, defence, and metros, focusing on sheet metal and die casting.