Hyderabad becoming advanced manufacturing hub: Boeing
Telangana government’s commitment to creating robust infrastructure, enabling ease of doing business, and a highly responsive administration makes the State an ideal destination for the high-end manufacturing, says India president Salil Gupte
Hyderabad: Boeing has made Hyderabad its manufacturing hub for supply of critical aviation components for its aircraft and helicopters through several precision engineering companies.
The global major has consistently engaged with the city firms, which have set up or are in the process of setting up dedicated facilities or production lines to contribute to Boeing’s global supply chain. Hyderabad has seen a continued momentum in the aerospace sector, despite Covid-induced challenges.
Boeing India president Salil Gupte told Telangana Today in an exclusive interview, “The Telangana government’s commitment to creating robust infrastructure, enabling ease of doing business, and a highly responsive administration makes the State an ideal destination for the high-end manufacturing work and predictability that the aerospace and defence industry demands. The State has the right talent and is developing a skilled and trained workforce needed to build an ecosystem conducive to business success.”
Strong ties
Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL), Boeing’s first equity joint venture in India, is the result of a 2015 partnership agreement with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL). Spread over 14,000 square meters, the state-of-the-art facility in Hyderabad has been producing aero-structures for Boeing’s AH-64 Apache helicopter, including fuselages, secondary structures, and vertical spar boxes for customers worldwide. Recently, Boeing also announced the addition of a new production line to manufacture complex vertical fin structures for the 737 family of airplanes.
Gupte added, “The recent delivery of the 100th fuselage for the world’s most advanced attack helicopter, the AH-64 Apache, is not just a number. It demonstrates we are moving onwards in the journey towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat and in making the region (Telangana) a key hub for aerospace and defence manufacturing in India, and for the world. There is every reason to believe that supported by scale and demand, India can develop capabilities to build a full aircraft indigenously in the country.”
The Apache fuselages made in the TBAL facility in Hyderabad are meant for not just the six Apaches that the Indian Army is on contract with Boeing for, but also for customers around the world. These fuselages are transported to Boeing’s AH-64 Apache manufacturing facility in Mesa, Arizona, US, for integration into the final assembly line.
“The complexity of the work required in producing a fuselage needs expertise and execution of a special kind. TBAL has continuously upgraded their capability to match the best in the world with a factory that mirrors the best of the Boeing production system,” Gupte emphasised.
Job creation
On employment generation in the State, Gupte said, “Our joint venture with Tata in Hyderabad employs over 500 engineers and technicians. In fact, our partnerships in Telangana are all contributing to job creation in the State. Our supplier, Raghu Vamsi Machine Tools, recently won a significant contract with Boeing to manufacture and supply precision components. In the process, Raghu Vamsi will set up a facility dedicated to Boeing requirements in Adibatla, Hyderabad, which is expected to employ more than 300 people.”
Again, the company’s partnership with Azad Engineering, will not only bolster manufacturing in the country, but also create opportunities for skilled talent in Telangana. Azad will manufacture and supply critical aviation components and parts from its Jeedimetla facility. Azad will begin delivering the components including hydraulic and mechanical fittings from the first quarter of 2022.
Sourcing hub
The company’s growing partnership with the defence forces and its expanding supplier base makes it imperative for the company to invest in, develop, and nurture talent. Boeing has been able to quadruple sourcing from India. “Our sourcing today is more than a billion dollars annually from a large and growing network of 275 Indian suppliers, worth over a billion dollars,” he informed.
Most recently, Tata Advanced Systems has been awarded a manufacturing contract for the Boeing 737 fan cowl at their facility in Hyderabad. The unit will supply 50 per cent of the monthly Boeing 737 fan cowl requirements from FY 2025, showcasing the role Hyderabad will play in Boeing’s global supply chain.
