Indian Tier 1 leader ALF Engineering doubles its capacity with second press line from AP&T
Just a couple of years after its first order, ALF Engineering in India has placed another order for a complete press hardening line from AP&T, in collaboration with ISGEC. The rapid follow-up order reflects rapid growth in press hardening in the Indian market, driven by increasing crash safety requirements and a passenger car industry expected to grow by up to 65 percent in the coming years.
The first press hardening line from AP&T was commissioned at ALF Engineering in 2023. Since then, the company has become a “valued partner” to Mahindra & Mahindra, one of India’s largest car manufacturers, which has moved from fourth to second place in the Indian market. ALF has now ordered its second line, scheduled for delivery in June 2026, and is also expanding its factory to accommodate additional capacity.
“This is something of a success story. ALF ordered its second line from us even before the first one was in full production – that says a lot about their confidence in our capabilities and our partnership,” says Peter Karlsson, Key Account and Area Sales Manager at AP&T.
With two lines in operation, ALF will double its capacity but is still expected to be fully loaded by early 2028. Therefore, the plans don’t stop there. ALF is already discussing a third line, and a fourth is likely not far behind.
“If ALF purchases line three within a reasonable time, they will become one of India’s largest suppliers of press-hardened parts. That’s huge,” says Peter Karlsson.
“Designed in Sweden, built in India”
The new line is a replica of the first, but with one crucial difference. For the first order, which was affected by the pandemic, AP&T’s partner ISGEC could not send its employees to Sweden for training. Instead, critical components were shipped to India and ISGEC handled the control system. This time everything is fully synchronized. The press is designed by AP&T and manufactured by ISGEC in India, fully validated by AP&T and in line with India's “Make in India” initiative. The control system and hydraulics are also designed by AP&T but manufactured in Sweden and then assembled by ISGEC on-site. AP&T will then start up the press first at ISGEC in Yamunanagar and later start up and test-run the entire line at the customer's site.
“All the know-how regarding the line and press hardening comes from AP&T this time. Fully in line with the concept ‘designed in Sweden, built in India. So, this line will be faster and fully synchronized, and I dare say ALF will notice a big difference compared to the first one,” says Peter Karlsson.
As before, ALF has chosen a furnace from Benteler, and AP&T, as One Responsible Partner®, is responsible for integration of the entire line. In addition to the production line itself, AP&T also has an agreement with ALF for knowledge transfer in tool design, an area where India currently lacks competent suppliers. ALF now has the opportunity to build its own capacity in this field.
A market that is developing quickly
The second order from ALF comes as part of a larger trend. India currently produces around 4.5–5 million passenger cars per year, making it the world’s fourth-largest car market, with ambitions to reach third place by 2030. At the same time, conditions are rapidly changing. Major highway projects are increasing driving speeds, and a young population is placing higher demands on crash safety. Together, these factors are driving demand for press-hardened body components, which are both stronger and lighter than conventional solutions.
Indian car manufacturers are now redesigning their vehicles to incorporate press-hardened parts in all models.
“Investments in the automotive industry are almost stagnant worldwide, except in India where crash safety requirements are continuously increasing. So, when car manufacturers now plan to transition to press hardening, demand for press hardening lines will absolutely explode,” says Peter Karlsson.
And AP&T has already noticed the trend. During 2025 and 2026, the company has gained several new customers in India, and numerous lines will be installed during 2026. Many of these customers are family-owned companies, where trust and long-term relationships are crucial. Those who currently lack press hardening capabilities are finding it increasingly difficult to secure orders from car manufacturers. Through its collaboration with ISGEC, AP&T has built strong trust in the Indian market.
“Every customer I speak with says that when press hardening is discussed, AP&T is the name that comes up. And when they talk to various OEMs in India about press hardening, AP&T is always mentioned!” says Peter Karlsson.