Bharat Forge and AREVA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to set up a joint venture to build a manufacturing facility for heavy forgings in India. The availability of heavy forgings is a major constraint for global manufacturers of equipment in the energy sector. This agreement would help secure supply of heavy forgings, especially stainless steel forgings, to energy and other customers. Bharat Forge and AREVA are presently evaluating various locations to build the new facility, which is expected to become operational by 2012. The plant will have a state-of-the-art 14,000-ton open-die forging press with associated equipment and an integrated steelmaking facility.

Bharat Forge is a global forging company with manufacturing facilities in the United States, Europe, China and India. It manufactures a wide range of closed-die and heavy open-die forgings. France’s AREVA is involved in the design, manufacture and supply of nuclear power plants, components and fuel.