Maxion Wheels has graduated the first batch of students under its Formare vocational training programme in India while commencing admissions for the second cohort, marking another step in the company’s efforts to strengthen industry-ready manufacturing talent.
The programme, introduced in India in 2024 in partnership with the Iochpe Foundation and Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), combines classroom education with practical manufacturing exposure for students from underprivileged communities. Originally developed in Brazil, Formare made its Asia debut through Maxion Wheels’ Pune operations.
The first batch enrolled 26 students, of whom 23 completed the programme and received a diploma in Manufacturing Technology. According to the company, 87 per cent of the graduates will begin their careers at Maxion Wheels’ manufacturing facility in Pune. Students choosing to continue their studies at SPPU will also be eligible to obtain a university graduation certificate.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sutheep Ratnabhas, President – Asia Business Unit, Maxion Wheels, said the programme reflects the company’s long-term investment in manufacturing talent while creating employment opportunities for young professionals.
The company simultaneously inaugurated the second Formare batch, comprising 27 students, including six women, taking female representation in the new cohort to 22 per cent. The programme continues to focus on developing technical skills through a combination of academic learning and hands-on industrial training.
The event was attended by Mark Sinar, Vice President – Global Human Resources and Safety & Sustainability, Maxion Wheels, Rahul Vaidya, Managing Director, Kalyani Maxion Wheels, along with representatives from SPPU and the families of graduating and incoming students.
Formare, established by the Iochpe Foundation in Brazil more than three decades ago, has been adopted by several manufacturing companies to bridge the gap between academic education and industry requirements. Following its introduction in India, Maxion Wheels plans to expand the programme to Türkiye later this year, extending the initiative to another key manufacturing hub.
The graduation of the first Indian batch marks an important milestone in the programme’s expansion, while reinforcing the growing role of industry-academia partnerships in developing skilled talent for the manufacturing sector.
Leave a Reply