The Southern India Engineering Manufacturers’ Association (SIEMA) held its 72nd Annual General Meeting at its office in Coimbatore on August 20, 2025.
The meeting was led by President Mithun Ramdas, along with Vice-Presidents Mohan Senthil Kumar, Arun, and Sendilkumar.
Past presidents, managing committee members, technical committee representatives, and office-bearers from sister associations were present.
In his keynote address, President Mithun Ramdas highlighted the ongoing global challenges affecting the engineering and manufacturing industries, particularly the volatility in raw material prices and pressure on profitability.
“SIEMA has been proactively working to address these concerns. We are currently in talks with two companies to support our members in navigating these uncertainties,” said Mithun Ramdas. He further announced a collaboration with the Quality Circle Forum of India (QCFI) to help member companies implement Lean Management practices at minimal cost.
He also said that recognising the need to strengthen market competitiveness, SIEMA will soon launch a series of training sessions focused on marketing and business strategy, aiming to enhance the skillsets of its members.
On the regulatory front, Mithun Ramdas highlighted the upcoming mandatory implementation of the BEE Star Labelling Program, set to take effect from January 1, 2026. He noted that this will require all pump manufacturers to obtain ISI certification, creating a significant challenge for the industry due to the tight timeline.
Ramdas pointed out that nearly 50,000 to 60,000 product models will need to be tested across a limited number of certified laboratories nationwide—within just four months. To ease the burden on manufacturers, SIEMA has made formal representations to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), requesting a postponement of the implementation and seeking approval for revised grouping guidelines to streamline the certification process.
He also confirmed that a meeting with relevant Union Ministers is scheduled for next week to further discuss the matter.
He welcomed the one-year extension granted for the enforcement of the Omnibus Technical Regulations (OTR), now deferred to September 2026, a result of SIEMA’s continuous advocacy. The association is also working to simplify the OTR standards to make compliance easier for manufacturers.
A key announcement during the AGM was the establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Advanced Motors and Pumps, which was proposed in the Tamil Nadu Budget 2025. Ramdas stated that SIEMA promptly submitted a Detailed Project Report (DPR), and the Government Order (GO) for the project has now been approved and is expected to be received shortly.
“This initiative will drive innovation and support the development of next-generation products such as Reluctance Motors, Canned Motor Pumps, and Resin Encapsulated Motors, with a strong focus on expanding exports to Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas,” said Ramdas.
He further shared that SIEMA is also working on developing cost-effective sewage dewatering pumps, which are currently being imported in large volumes from China. This initiative is part of the association’s import substitution strategy. Research and development will be undertaken at the CoE in SITARC, while tool development will be handled at COINDIA, ensuring accessibility and affordability for MSMEs in Coimbatore, he added.
