IIT Ropar successfully hosted the Sheet Metal Forming (SMF) 2024 conference, attracting a large gathering of national and international delegates. The event featured eminent speakers from IITs and prominent industry partners, including Autoform, Electropneumatics & Hydraulics, Altair, Tata Steel, Tata Technologies Ltd., Ford India, Felss System GmbH, and JBM Auto Ltd. SMF 2024, the flagship conference of the Sheet Metal Forming Research Association (SMFRA), provided a platform for researchers and developers from India and abroad to present and exchange ideas on metal forming technologies.

The conference commenced on December 5th with an inaugural ceremony. Prof. Anupam Agrawal, from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Ropar and Organizing Secretary of SMF 2024, welcomed the attendees, including speakers, SMFRA members, scholars, and industry guests. Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director of IIT Ropar, conveyed his best wishes for the success of the conference. This was followed by an address by Dr. Prabhat K. Agnihotri, Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Chairman of the conference. Chief Guest Dr. Santosh Kumar, Vice President, Jindal Stainless Ltd., delivered the RasquinhaMemorial Lecture, sharing insights on the latest advancements and challenges in the field of sheet metal forming. Prof. K. Narasimhan, Secretary of SMFRA and Professor at IIT Bombay, highlighted the key challenges in metal forming for academia and underscored the importance of the SMF conference series in bridging academia and industry. The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Navin Kumar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Ropar, and Co-Organizing Secretary of SMF 2024.

The event was supported by Platinum Sponsors AutoFormand Electropneumatic & Hydraulics (I) Pvt. Ltd., along with Silver Sponsor Altair Engineering India Pvt. Ltd.

Day 1 of the conference showcased presentations by leading researchers, professors, and industry leaders on the latest advancements in sheet metal forming. Day 2 included technical sessions on diverse topics, such as lightweight metal forming, hot forming for lightweight construction, and challenges in skin panel forming. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with experts and exchange ideas on cutting-edge research in sheet metal forming.

SMF 2024 featured a panel discussion on day 2, moderated by Mr. Avinash Khare, Consultant at Tool Maker’s Facility, India. The panel included distinguished experts such as Prof. Hariharan K. (Associate Professor, IIT Madras), Mr. PrashantKulkarni (Regional Manager, Altair Engineering India Pvt. Ltd.), Dr. Rahul Kumar (Tata Steel), and Prof. Ekta Singla(Associate Professor, IIT Ropar).

SMF 2024 aimed to provide insights into the future of metal forming research and promote knowledge-sharing among experts. The biennial event concluded successfully, with SMF 2024 Organizing Secretary Prof. Anupam Agrawal and Co-Organizing Secretaries Prof. Navin Kumar and Prof. EktaSingla—receiving widespread appreciation for their efforts. The conference ended on Day 2 with a valedictory address by Prof. Anupam Agrawal.

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 NKR/KS