Siddharth Kirtane Appointed President, EV Division, Propel Industries Private Limited

Siddharth Kirtane Appointed President, EV Division, Propel Industries Private Limited

Coimbatore-based Propel Industries Private Limited has announced the appointment of Siddharth Kirtane as the President of its EV Division that makes heavy-duty e-trucks for construction and mining applications. Propel Industries – specialising in the manufacture of crushing equipment – homologated its electric heavy-duty Tipper (470 HEV) is September 2024 and has since been offering it in two battery variants—385 kWh and 256 kWh.  
With a long-standing experience in the commercial vehicle industry in India as Head – Brand and Marketing, Volvo Trucks India; as Business Head – Construction and Infrastructure, Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles Ltd, and as Vice President, Marketing, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, Kirtane will leverage his knowledge and expertise to scale up the EV business in his new role. 
 

Hindustan Zinc ZnAL

Hindustan Zinc Limited has signed 11 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) at the ZnAL Confluence 2026 in Jaipur to advance the development of its proposed Zinc Industrial Park at Khankhala in Bhilwara district, Rajasthan.

The MoUs were executed with industrial partners including Gainwell Commosales, Epiroc Mining India, Sai Deepa Rock Drills, Shree Nakoda Infrasteel, Suryakiran Earthmovers, J.G. Chemicals, EPCM Service & Supply, Jasta Alloys, Jammu Pigments and Ampex Energies.

The participating entities intend to set up manufacturing, engineering and service operations connected to zinc and allied value chains. The proposed park, developed in collaboration with the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO), provides developed industrial land, access to a share of Hindustan Zinc's metal output, and research capabilities from the company's Centre of Excellence.

The park infrastructure supports Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with investment entry levels starting from INR 50 million, covering sectors such as galvanising, die-casting, zinc alloys, zinc oxide and wire manufacturing.

Amarendu Prakash, CEO and Whole-time Director, Hindustan Zinc, said, "Zinc Park is a strategic initiative that reflects our long-term vision of building a globally competitive downstream ecosystem for zinc-based industries in India. The growing confidence of industry partners, across manufacturing, engineering and services, shows the strength of the proposition. Through assured ecosystem support, renewable energy integration and strong collaborations, we aim to enable MSME growth, create local employment and strengthen domestic manufacturing."

Dürr Delivers 20,000th Painting Robot To Ford Plant In Spain

Durr - Ford

German robotics supplier Dürr has delivered its 20,000th painting robot, an EcoRP4 generation model, to Ford's manufacturing facility in Valencia, Spain. The milestone unit operates in a primer station on the exterior application line for the Ford Kuga following its installation in August 2026.

The EcoRP4 L033L/R robot functions alongside the EcoBell4 rotary atomiser to apply primer to vehicle bodies. The platform features a simplified mechanical design with fewer components to lower lifecycle costs and streamline maintenance compared to previous generations, while supporting floor-mounted, tower and linear-rail configurations.

At the Ford plant, the system operates with the EcoMCC3 A/B colour changer, the EcoBell4 Pro 2x1K atomiser, and high-transfer-efficiency application process technology to reduce material consumption, overspray and volatile organic compound emissions.

Marcus Treppschuh, Senior Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, Dürr, said, "The 20,000th painting robot from Dürr represents decades of experience in automated painting. The fact that this milestone has been reached with one of the first models from our new EcoRP4 generation underlines our commitment to consistently combining innovation and proven technology."

Hindustan Zinc Launches Next-Gen Alloys VedAZ And VedAyush For Galvanising Industry

Hindustan Zinc - VedAZ, VedAyush

Hindustan Zinc has announced the launch of two zinc alloys, VedAZ and VedAyush, to expand its value-added product portfolio for the galvanising industry. The introduction aims to address process efficiency, coating consistency, and corrosion protection for galvanised steel across the infrastructure, automotive and manufacturing sectors.

The move comes as corrosion-related losses in India are estimated at approximately 4.3 percent of the country's annual gross domestic product, according to a 2026 report by the CII and Nomura Research Institute.

The company produces the alloys through its wholly owned subsidiary, Hindustan Zinc Alloys, which operates a 30,000-tonne-per-annum zinc alloy melting and casting facility in Rajpura Dariba, Rajasthan.

VedAZ is a specialised zinc-aluminium master alloy designed to control aluminium levels in galvanising baths, supporting stable bath chemistry, uniform coating thickness and reduced dross formation. VedAyush is a zinc-aluminium-magnesium alloy engineered to improve corrosion resistance, coating adhesion and surface stability in coastal and industrial environments.

The company's value-added offerings also include Bureau of Indian Standards certified die-casting alloys HZDA-3 and HZDA-5 for automotive, electrical and consumer hardware applications.

Amarendu Prakash, CEO and Whole-time Director, Hindustan Zinc, said, "We see significant scope to grow our value-added zinc business across infrastructure, automotive, engineering and consumer products. Customers in these sectors need specialised grades tailored to their manufacturing processes and performance requirements. VedAZ and VedAyush broaden the range of needs we can address and create opportunities to build closer customer relationships. Our integrated operations and alloy manufacturing capabilities provide a strong base to develop customised products and scale this business. We want value-added products to become a larger part of our portfolio, helping us reach new customers and capture more value from the zinc we produce."

Tata Projects Wins Greenfield Automotive Contract In Maharashtra

Tata Projects

Tata Projects has secured a contract from an automotive manufacturer to construct a greenfield plant at Auric-Bidkin in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra. The project expands the company's portfolio into automotive manufacturing infrastructure.

The scope of work encompasses three packages covering the assembly shop, press and weld shop & utility and support buildings. The project requires civil, structural, architectural works, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, utility networks, testing, commissioning and handover. The development builds upon the company's prior experience across semiconductor facilities, battery plants and data centres.

Rajiv Menon, President and Chief Growth and Strategy Officer, Tata Projects, said, "India’s manufacturing ambitions are being shaped by investments that combine global standards, advanced technology and world-class infrastructure. We are proud to partner with a leading global automotive manufacturer in creating a facility that will contribute to this journey. This win also represents an important step in broadening Tata Projects’ presence in advanced manufacturing. We will bring our integrated engineering and execution capabilities to the project, with an unwavering focus on safety, quality, disciplined project management and timely delivery."