Looking back at history, metallurgist Philip M McKenna created a tungsten-titanium carbide alloy for cutting tools that provided a productivity breakthrough in steel machining in 1938. With his invention, Philip started the McKenna Metals Company in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, which was later renamed Kennametal. Today, the conglomerate serves over 80,000 customers in more than 60 countries across the aerospace, earthworks, energy, general engineering and transportation industries. Kennametal’s journey in India is equally exciting. In 1964, Widia India Private Limited was incorporated in Bengaluru with 30 employees and one shaping plant. Kennametal acquired WIDIA in 2003, leading to the establishment of Kennametal India Limited (KIL). In 2024, the company will celebrate 60 years of successful operations in India. The company’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Bengaluru spans over 29 acres and is well-known for its metalworking solutions and services under two brands – Kennametal and WIDIA. These solutions enable customers to achieve longer runs, faster cuts, and superior machining precision. “Our primary focus lies in the aerospace industry, where we have a strong global presence. We are also experiencing rapid growth in India, with multinational corporations investing in the country and Indian suppliers serving Boeing and Airbus. They secure many new orders. We have observed significant traction in this segment, and aerospace serves as a major growth driver for us in India. Another area of interest is mining, given the increasing number of coal mining and other ore extraction activities. We offer solutions tailored to underground mines, supporting the mining industry. Additionally, our products, such as drill bits, find applications in road infrastructure and metro construction projects. We have a strong presence in the railway sector as well, and are involved in the modernisation of existing structures as well as the construction of new metro lines,” explains Vijaykrishnan Venkatesan, MD of KIL. KIL also caters to the energy sector, providing products for turbines and windmills, and has witnessed significant growth in the mining and infrastructure sectors in India. These sectors are experiencing double-digit growth rates and making substantial contributions to KIL’s business. Entry into the EV market KIL recognises the electric vehicle (EV) market in India as an area of opportunity. As automotive manufacturers expand their offerings of hybrid and electric vehicles, KIL is well-positioned to support their evolving needs in this area. From their machining solutions portfolio in India, KIL recently introduced a standard Vertical BTA machine for machining shock absorber components for an electric two-wheeler manufacturer. Additionally, they have also supplied finish boring machines to a leading two-wheeler EV maker. In addition to providing inserts and handling annual maintenance costs (AMC), KIL offers comprehensive service solutions. The company works closely with its customers, building strong relationships through a variety of customer-oriented activities. KIL’s position in the market is very strong because they engage in both high-involvement purchases and the annuity business of the tools they provide. As a result, there is substantial synergy and mindshare from customers, and the emotional investment is high.