India’s manufacturing push is moving beyond adding production capacity, with global industrial companies increasingly focusing on developing local capabilities in technology, research, supply chains, automation and talent to strengthen competitiveness.
The shift is particularly visible across core industries such as steel and cement, where companies supporting manufacturing are investing in raw-material security, process innovation and locally developed solutions.
The refractory industry, which supplies materials critical to high-temperature industrial processes such as steelmaking, illustrates this transition. As India expands steel production and consumption, refractory manufacturers are moving from a product-centric model towards technology-driven, integrated solutions aimed at improving efficiency, safety and productivity.
RHI Magnesita India, for instance, operates eight manufacturing plants, two mines, two mechanism units, three main offices and 35 site offices, besides a research and development centre at Bhiwadi, Rajasthan.
Pankaj Malhan, MD & CEO, RHI Magnesita India, said the manufacturing opportunity extends beyond production capacity to developing deeper capabilities across technology, supply chains, talent and innovation.
The company has develop advanced refractory solutions tailored to customer needs by focusing on circular economy, domestic R&D and technology transfers, he said.
In June, RHI Magnesita announced a joint venture with Khemka Refractories to establish a greenfield recycling facility in Odisha. The venture, launched as Minpro , will recover, process and reuse spent refractory material, helping increase the availability of circular raw materials and reduce dependence on virgin resources.
Automation is another area of capability building.
In 2025, RHI Magnesita deployed what it described as India’s first complete robotic solution for caster operations. The system performs tasks involving 350 tonne ladles, including ladle-shroud changes, powder feeding, temperature measurement and sampling. Sensors and vision systems enable real-time monitoring while reducing workers’ exposure to molten metal and extreme temperatures.
The company has also localised advanced refractory solutions for steel, cement, petrochemicals, glass and other industries through technology transfers and product development.
These initiatives are aimed at lowering customers’ total cost of ownership by improving refractory life, reducing material consumption, increasing equipment uptime and enhancing operational efficiency.
Published on September 25, 2026
