Gujarat-based Steelcast Limited, India’s leading steel castings manufacturer has received quality assurance certification from the Association of American Railroads. This certification will help the company to tap the huge US Railways demand for steel castings. Steelcast has thus achieved the distinction of becoming only the second castings company in India to have got this accreditation.

Freight transport segment of the US Railways is one of the biggest in the world. Thus, the steel castings demand from the Association of American Railroads (AAR) is also amongst the largest globally. To tap this large market, Steelcast had formed a 50:50 joint venture company, Steelcast LLC, way back in June 2010 with Michigan Steel of the USA. With technical assistance from the US partner, Steelcast upgraded its manufacturing facility at Bhavnagar in Gujarat so as to get it certified by the AAR. An inspection team from the AAR had come to the Bhavnagar facility a few months’ back and after a thorough audit it has granted the quality assurance programme certification to Steelcast which is valid till 23rd of February, 2015. Thereafter, company will have to go for a fresh audit.

Chetan Tamboli, Chairman & MD of Steelcast Ltd, said, “This certification is a major milestone for us and it will enable the company to take a quantum leap. This new development will also reduce the company’s dependence on the mining sector and open up the railway market globally as well as in India. The Indian Railways have already extended Class-A Foundry Status to Steelcast and sample orders for manufacturing couplers have been received.”

The AAR certification will also give Steelcast a big advantage over other players while bidding for contracts from the Indian Railways in future, especially the huge opportunities that will emanate from the upcoming Delhi-Mumbai Freight Corridor.