SMS group opens new manufacturing facility in Ahmedabad, India

SMS group opens state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Ahmedabad (Sanand), India, strengthening its presence in this growth market

SMS group took a significant step forward in its international expansion strategy with a grand opening ceremony of the new facility on 21 January, 2026.

Employing around 160 SMS employees, together with up to 400 contractors, the new production facility in Sanand near Ahmedabad will manufacture machines and equipment for processing flat and long products, as well as for forging technology. 

With over 250 guests from the world of politics and business in attendance, the ceremonial red ribbon was cut and a traditional Indian lamp was lit by representatives of SMS’s German leadership team together with regional leaders to mark the facility’s official inauguration. With this new production plant, SMS is reaffirming its commitment to actively supporting India’s economy and to providing its customers with world-class solutions. 

NAMASTE India! Marco Asquini (left), MD, SMS India, plus Fabiola Fernandez (right), CFO of SMS group at the opening ceremony

The 80,000-square-meter site is SMS’s second production facility in India, complementing the first manufacturing plant in Bhubaneswar in the state of Odisha, which opened in 2014.

The new production complex in Sanand is designed to manufacture components weighing up to 125 tons and to assemble entire production lines. The first facility in Bhubaneswar focuses specifically on machinery and equipment for metallurgy and service. Together, the two locations form a complementary manufacturing ecosystem that increases efficiency and expands product diversity in SMS’s portfolio.

“This investment strengthens our production base in India for plants and machinery and makes us a first-class supplier,” said Fabíola Fernandez, CFO, member of the executive board, SMS group. “It is an important step toward expanding our presence in this significant growth market and actively supporting the industrial upswing in the country. Steel production in India currently stands at around 150 million tons per year and is expected to rise to 300 million tons in the coming years.”

Marco Asquini, CEO, region APAC & MEA, SMS group, and MD, SMS India, added, “We are proud to establish another manufacturing site in Sanand, India, embedding SMS quality with German roots: modern manufacturing equipment, disciplined quality processes and deep engineering know-how form the backbone of this new facility. With our local presence and reliable, punctual execution, we aim to actively support the government’s goal of increasing steel production to around 300 million tons per year. We thank our customers for their trust and take the responsibility to minimise risk and deliver reliable production outcomes very seriously.”

The new facility is strategically located in the heart of SMS’s customer base, most of whom are located nearby. The decisive factor in choosing Sanand was its importance as an industrial center in western India with numerous production facilities belonging to large domestic and foreign companies.