With plans to set up carbon fiber production units in India, some start-ups are looking to achieve sustainable growth in a growing high-tech environment. India had been planning to build carbon fiber production units as an alternative to metals before the European Union proposed the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which would impose a tax on India's imports of carbon-intensive goods from abroad starting in 2026, according to a report released by Mint in early April.
While the establishment of a carbon fibre production unit in India is a response to the EU's proposed carbon tax, it could have a significant impact on the aerospace, civil engineering and defence sectors, all of which are important application areas for carbon fibre materials. Carbon fiber is a key material known for its properties such as high strength and light weight, making it indispensable in a variety of applications including fighter aircraft noses, drone frames, civil aircraft, automotive chassis, and refractory building materials, among others.
Sonam Motwani, founder and CEO of Mumbai-based Karkhana.io company, said the excellent properties of carbon fiber, such as high specific strength, high stiffness, corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, excellent thermal properties, potential long-term cost savings and design flexibility, are very much in line with the requirements of modern drone technology.
As of now, India does not produce carbon fiber and is completely dependent on imports from countries such as the United States, France, Japan, and Germany. Startups like Karkhana.io have manufacturing units in India, and they're finding the move valuable for businesses. "As more and more companies adopt carbon fiber technology in their drones, our ability to provide solutions for both small and mass production, coupled with our proficiency in product localization, will become very valuable," said Ms. Motwani. She added that the massive use of carbon fiber is expected to drive advances in materials science and engineering, resulting in the creation of lighter, stronger, and more adaptable materials. She further added, "This shift promises not only to revolutionize traditional product design and manufacturing processes, but also to spark innovation and technological advancements." ”
Sonam Motwani,Kargana.io公司创始人兼首席执行官
Hyderabad-based Marut Dronetech believes the move will help streamline its supply chain by working closely with local carbon fiber suppliers, saying it could facilitate the development of custom composites tailored specifically for agricultural drone applications. Prem Kumar Vislawath, founder and CEO of the company, said: "With shorter material procurement cycles, we can respond more quickly to market demand, and the potential cost competitiveness of local production strengthens our market position. He also mentioned that with carbon fiber materials, they will be able to develop drones that are "more performant, durable and efficient." "This technological advancement will not only strengthen the company's position in the market, but will also contribute to sustainable development by reducing fuel consumption and emissions in agricultural operations," Mr Vislawath added.
According to the report released by Mint, officials said that the carbon fiber production plan includes studies at leading technical institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology to ensure that these manufacturing sectors meet international standards. In an interview with Local Samosa, Vislawath also said that the carbon fiber manufacturing sector can promote technological advancements through collaboration with research institutions and drive innovation in the drone design and manufacturing process. "Collaboration between industry, academia and government agencies will also flourish thanks to the creation of the carbon fiber manufacturing sector," he said. He added that the growth of India's carbon fiber industry will create jobs and spur economic growth.
Prem Kumar Vislawath,Marut Dronetech创始人兼首席执行官
The project is part of the National Technical Textiles Mission, which was launched in 2020 to oversee technical textiles activities. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is the industry partner of the textile division of the project. Garuda Aerospace founder and CEO Agnishwar Jayaprakash believes the move will help "India become a global drone hub by 2030". "The main part of our Rs 110 crore revenue comes from drone sales and services, both of which require carbon fibre," said the Chennai-based company. He added that the move will help the brand export drones to 50 countries around the world.
Aereo, another B2B drone technology startup from Bengaluru, has observed that India's shift to domestically manufactured carbon fiber will help companies like theirs become self-sufficient and cost-efficient while improving the quality of aerospace structural parts. "Locally produced carbon fibre will give us uninterrupted access to a key resource at a very competitive price. The downstream impact is mainly reflected in the fact that it can increase the life cycle of our drone products, so that they have better performance and higher productivity in all verticals. This shows that small but critical changes in supply chain management can make a big difference to startups across the country. Vipul Singh, co-founder and CEO of the start-up, said.