Belgaum happens to be number one among the casting producing centres in the state and one among the first ten highest producers of castings in the country.
Having more than 140 foundries in the range from small, medium and large scale industries, Belgaum produces more than one lakh tonnes of casting every year which is valued about more than Rs 500 crore.
But after the supreme court ban on the mining in Bellary an acute shortage of sponge iron and pig iron. The shortage has also seen an increase of the prices.
Belgaum in hall of fame for foundries
It boasts of industries like Ashok Iron Works, Polyhydron, BEMCO and others. These industries manufacture products for major units like Mahindra and Mahindra, Telco, Bajaj, Kirloskar Group, BHEL, Kirloskar Electric, Siemens, Crompton Greeves and others.
Over a period of four decades, the foundry industries here have not developed as expected. Lack of infrastructure facilities, advanced testing facilities, pollution and age old technology have become hurdles for Belgaum foundries. BFC was formed in 2004 with an objective to support the foundries in and around Belgaum. This is the only Foundry Cluster in the country and has facility to reclaim the sand to the tune of 10,000 tonnes per month. BFC has many other facilities like quality testing laboratory, common tool room facility, common effluent treatment plant and more.
I really doubt how much would this affect? Even if it does…it would be miniscule. Goa is probably more near and better option.. However foundry business is a not doing well that a different story!