SQuAD Forging India Private Limited reaches major milestone, rolls out 25,000th aircraft wheel

Aequs’ forging joint venture, SQuAD Forging India Private Limited, engaged in making precision-forged components for the aerospace industry, rolled out the 25,000th aircraft wheel manufactured at its plant here recently.

SQuAD has established itself as a global Aerospace supply chain player serving global OEMs with all necessary certifications and capabilities to distinguish itself in the industry.

Commenting on the achievement Aravind Melligeri, Executive Chairman & CEO, Aequs Limited said: “Accomplishing this major milestone in time underscores the customer focus at SQuAD with all projects completed to customer requirements. What is more satisfying is that Aequs has been able to leverage the end-to-end at the aerospace cluster to achieve 100% in-country value addition on several products, including the wheels it makes, reflecting the unique value proposition of the Aerospace ecosystem at Belagavi.”

Etienne GALAN, Chief Executive Officer, Aubert & Duval SAS said: “By passing the 25,000-wheel milestone, SQuAD has reached an important position that demonstrates Aubert & Duval’s unique metallurgical expertise and the relevance of the partnership between A&D and Aequs in serving our customers. This partnership enables Aubert & Duval to continue its development in India, a particularly promising and strategic market for the aerospace industry.”

Significantly, SQuAD, which has been manufacturing aircraft wheels since 2018, took five years to make the first 10,000 wheels in August 2023. The unit achieved the major milestone of 25,000th wheel in just two years since then.

SQuAD is a player in the production of small and medium-sized aero-structural parts for the aerospace industry like engines, wheels, landing gear, turbine, structural part, braking systems, and spatial parts, among others. It is equipped with separate forging lines of 1,200-ton screw press, a 10,000-ton hydraulic press and other associated lines for heat treatment.

Thanks to the co-located capabilities to deliver an end-to-end manufacturing value stream spanning forging and machining to surface treatment and aero assemblies, the Aequs aerospace manufacturing ecosystem is highly sustainable ensuring no part moves beyond 500 meters in the production process. Thus, it is an endeavour to ensure the parts made here have reduced carbon footprint.

The wheels made by SQuAD are used on aircraft around the world and all their aerospace components are made entirely in India with value addition happening in-country. SQuAD’s capabilities range the entire manufacturing value chain from raw material procurement, billet preparation, heating, coating, tooling, and trimming, to inspection, qualification, and final shipment.