Major Contract: FFG supplies Production Line for 1.54 Million Railway Wheels to India’s Ramkrishna Titagarh Rail Wheels Ltd.

The complete turnkey solution includes advanced machining and testing lines for railway wheel production, featuring equipment from FFG’s MAG and HESSAPP brands, as well as additional turnkey equipment. The state-of-the-art system will be installed at RKTR’s Chennai facility and is designed to produce 100,000 railway wheels annually. The system is capable of manufacturing six different types of railway wheels without the need for change over. Furthermore, it is designed with future scalability in mind, allowing production capacity to double if needed. To ensure precise planning and fast commissioning, FFG created a digital twin of the system alongside extensive 3D simulations. The system’s pre-calculated energy consumption across various production scenarios supports sustainable manufacturing practices.

The system will feature MAG SPECHT 800 horizontal machining centers and HESSAPP VDM 1600 vertical lathes, coolant and chip management for the entire plant, along with automation for both the machining and testing cells, measuring machines, a balancing station, ultrasonic testing units, and two magnetic particle inspection stations. An outstanding feature of the centrally controlled production system is the seamless monitoring of the entire system and precise tracking of the components, ensuring the highest quality standards for the manufactured wheels.

“The combination of cutting-edge German technology and local production in India will enable RKTR to meet the demands of the Indian railway sector while adhering to international standards,” says Shashank M.P., Managing Director of MAG IAS India Ltd. “FFG is a leading solution provider of turnkey manufacturing systems for railway wheel machining, with several projects already installed globally.”

Dr. Sebastian Schöning, CEO of Fair Friend Group, adds, “The award of this contract reflects not only our technological expertise but also our extensive experience, the quality of our machines, and our long-standing presence in India through FFG India. The close collaboration between our teams in Germany and India, along with our deep expertise in turnkey solutions, gave RKTR the confidence to choose us as their partner.”

Production is scheduled to start in Q1 2026, with the system set to manufacture and deliver a total of 1.54 million railway wheels to Indian Railways over the next 20 years. This project supports India’s expanding infrastructure and further strengthens FFG’s presence in the region.

FFG combines the rich traditions of the German, Swiss, Italian, American, Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean, and Japanese machine tool industries within a single group. Brands like VDF Boehringer, CORCOM, DMC, Feeler, Hessapp, IMAS, Jobs, Leadwell, MAG, Meccanodora, Morara, Pfiffner, Rambaudi, Sachman, Sigma, SMS, SNK, Tacchella, and Witzig & Frank are synonymous with an exceptionally innovative portfolio of turning, milling, and grinding machines.

The broad product and technology spectrum makes FFG a preferred supplier for cutting machine tools and systems – ranging from cost-effective, robust standard models to high-end production plants and automation concepts. FFG products and systems are used by leading companies in the automotive, commercial vehicle, aerospace, machinery, metalworking, energy, general engineering, and many other industries. A vast network of manufacturing and sales locations, subsidiaries, and service hubs ensures international presence and market proximity.

For more information about FFG visit: www.ffg-ea.com