French metallurgical major Aubert & Duval is exploring opportunities to further expand its manufacturing presence in Belagavi, with Karnataka Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil holding discussions with the company’s Chief Financial Officer Patrick Remil.
Patil said the meeting focused on expanding Aubert & Duval’s manufacturing footprint in Belagavi, building on its existing partnership with Aequs through SQuAD Forging India at the Aequs Aerospace SEZ.
The discussions assume significance as Aubert & Duval is already an established player in Belagavi’s aerospace manufacturing ecosystem. The company has been associated with Aequs through SQuAD since 2013, while its engineering subsidiary, Aubert & Duval Engineering India, was established in 2016.
SQuAD operates 1,500-tonne and 10,000-tonne forging presses and specialises in closed-die forging of aerospace components made from aluminium, steel, titanium and nickel alloys. Aubert & Duval says the joint venture supports major aerospace OEM supply chains and contributes to their offset requirements.
The potential expansion comes as Aubert & Duval continues to strengthen its position across critical industries. Its portfolio spans aerospace, defence, energy and other high-technology sectors, with capabilities covering complex metallic materials, forging, rolling and specialised metallurgical processes.
The defence component could also be significant for Karnataka’s aerospace ambitions. Aubert & Duval says it supplies high-performance steels, titanium and superalloys, forged components and metal powders for defence applications, including air, naval and land defence.
The company has undergone a major ownership change this year. Since July 2026, Airbus and Safran hold equal ownership of Aubert & Duval, while the French government retains a special share. The shareholders have stated an ambition to make the company a leading European metallurgist serving the aerospace, space, defence and energy sectors.
For Belagavi, the talks could potentially strengthen the city’s position in the aerospace and defence supply chain, particularly if the discussions translate into additional high-value manufacturing capabilities and employment.
The minister, however, has not yet disclosed details of any proposed investment, additional capacity or timeline for the expansion.