Bangalore: Merlinhawk Aerospace Pvt Ltd, a 100% Indian aerospace and defence engineering design and manufacturing company has signed a joint venture (JV) agreement with Vega Composites S.r.l. (Italy), to establish a composites manufacturing and design facility in the defence corridor in Tamil Nadu for advanced composites material-based products. The new entity will be called Merlinhawk Composites and Engineering Private Limited.
The agreement was signed in the presence of the Indian Ambassador to Italy and San Marino, H.E. Dr Neena Malhotra.
This strategic joint venture is aimed at tapping the growing market of India while developing design expertise and transferring manufacturing knowhow to India. Merlinhawk Composites will be targeting the growing demand for composites based products in the aerospace, marine, land and railway sectors. Additionally, the company will be targeting the upcoming hydrogen storage and fuel cell markets. Merlinhawk Composites will also be targeting export markets by providing design services and turnkey solutions for customers.
In her congratulatory speech, upon signing of the agreement, the Indian Ambassador to Italy and San Marino, H.E. Dr Neena Malhotra, mentioned about the recently signed defence cooperation agreement between Italy and India. The Merlinhawk Composites JV is the first such agreement signed between an Italian and Indian company, post the signing of the defence cooperation agreement.
Further, the Ambassador also highlighted that this JV is working on a broad scope of products that would be beneficial to various companies and industries in India. Also the JV, involves the transfer of technology, which will enhance the technical capabilities in the country. Finally, the fact that the JV is coming up in one of the defence corridor, is important and highlights the efforts of the Government of India to facilitate defence production in India.
“Merlinhawk Composites, by leveraging upon Vega Composites’ expertise, will be able to offer cutting edge solutions in composites technologies for end-users in India and across the region,” said Ram R Ramineni, Managing Director of Merlinhawk. “The new entity is in line with the Hon’ble PM’s Aatmanirbhar India vision to create in country manufacturing capabilities for advanced technologies.”
The CEO of Pasquali Group, Roberto Lapini, has expressed satisfaction upon reaching this agreement. With a decade-long partnership between Pasquali Group and Merlinhawk, establishing this joint venture stands as evidence of their outstanding collaborative efforts, creating both business opportunities and new employment.
Vega Composites is a group company of Gruppo Pasquali and a leader in the composites market in Italy. Vega Composites specialises in design and manufacture of composite structures, special steels, light alloys and titanium.
Merlinhawk is an AS9100D (ISO9001:2015) certified company, with over three decades as a trusted partner for OEMs, user agencies and operators in the aviation and defence sectors in India for customised solutions. Backed by all requisite accreditations as a military and civil design organisation, Merlinhawk offers high technology electronic and electromechanical products for reliable performance, especially in rugged and highly challenging environments. Merlinhawk has recently added a EMS SMT line in a ISO 8 Class clean room and a cable harness assembly shop catering to various domestic and international customers.
