Balu Forge Industries Limited has officially commenced operations of its fully indigenously designed automated empty shell production line at its greenfield facility in Belgaum, Karnataka — a key milestone in the company’s defence-manufacturing expansion.
In its press release dated December 10, 2025, the company stated that the new line can produce 360,000 shells annually and operates with near-100% automation, powered by FANUC Robotics. The production line has been developed entirely in-house, with support from over 18 machinery manufacturers involved in designing and commercialising the project.
According to the release, the forging line is fully unmanned, programmed internally, and runs on a 55-second cycle time, making it one of the most advanced automated defence-manufacturing setups in India’s ammunition ecosystem.
The line enhances Balu Forge’s capabilities in machining and forging for large-calibre ammunition projectiles including 155 mm, 120 mm, 105 mm, and 81 mm shells, expanding the company’s entry into high-precision categories within the defence sector.
Executive Director Trimaan Chandock said the launch marks an “important milestone” in the company’s long-term plan to diversify into large-calibre ammunition machining while supporting the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat mission. He added that the company will continue to roll out additional precision-engineering production lines at the Belgaum campus in a phased manner.
The Belgaum facility spans over 46 acres and is part of the company’s strategy to scale high-precision, automated manufacturing for sectors including defence, aerospace, automotive and industrial engineering.
