West advanced engineering group Renishaw is to open a metal 3D printing centre at its factory in Pune, India, as it looks to build on its world-leading innovation in the fast-emerging manufacturing process.
The investment was announced as part of a high-level trade delegation to India led by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Renishaw, whose global HQ is in Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, is represented among the 40 UK businesses taking part in the three-day visit which aims to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the new Indian government’s focus on economic growth.
Renishaw, a world leader in engineering and science based technologies, has operated a large product assembly and software development plant in Pune, pictured, for many years. The firm employs more than 250 staff in India across includes five sales offices which support its expanding customer base. 
The firm is the UK’s only manufacturer of a metal-based additive manufacturing machine that prints metal parts. Earlier this year it became it collaborated with a leading British bicycle design and manufacturing company to create the world’s first 3D printed metal bike frame.
Renishaw is represented on the trade delegation, which ends today, by Rhydian Pountney, its general manager – ROW sales division, who received the invitation to attend the delegation in a personal letter from Mr Clegg.
It is the first high-level trade mission to India since prime minister Narendra Modi was elected in May. Mr Clegg has been joined by Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey on the visit, which includes major British businesses from the retail, aerospace and education sectors.
Mr Pountney co-chairs the Advanced Manufacturing Group of the India-UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO).
Renishaw’s investment announced coincided with the opening of a new tech hub and UK-Indian Business Centre in Bangalore by Mr Clegg, who paid tribute to the technical mix of innovative Indian and UK businesses working together to share their expertise and boost UK-India trade.
He also visited Airbus’s India facility, which uses computer modelling and live links to teams based at the aerospace giant’s Filton, Bristol, plant to run tests on wing parts designed by them, while at a manufacturing facility of the aircraft division of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, he saw the British single-engine Hawk advanced jet aircraft produced under licence in India.
The Indian Air Force signed a contract for a second tranche of 57 aircraft in 2010 – engines for which are being built by Rolls-Royce at its plant at Patchway, Filton.
Mr Clegg said: “India is at a major crossroads in its economic destiny and Bangalore is a shining example of how technological expertise can be harnessed to create a powerhouse for growth.
“This city is among the top 10 preferred locations for entrepreneurs in the world, and home to more start-ups than any other city in India.
“What I see in Bangalore is that India’s prowess in aerospace and hi-tech is growing fast. This is fertile ground for UK and Indian firms to do business, and that’s been proven by the deals done today by UK companies setting up shop here in India.”
