For the fourth time, representatives from the six production sites of the VULKAN Group have come together for the Global Production Meeting (GPM) from July 14 to July 18, 2025. Following previous events in Brazil (2016), China (2018), and Germany (2023), this year’s meeting was held at our production site in Pune, India. The focus was not only on aligning production strategies and sharing best practices but also on awarding the “Best Improvement of the Year,” which this year went to the Chinese production site.
Thomas Lehner, Global Director Production / Chief Operating Officer at the American VULKAN Corporation, led the meeting and facilitated discussions on operational excellence, innovation, sustainability, and future growth. He also presented Zhongyang Peng, Director of Production at Wuxi VULKAN, with the award for the outstanding improvement project “Made in China”. The winning project, the CVL Assembly Cycle Line, involves the assembly automation for VULASTIK L couplings with a conveyor system. It has significantly reduced throughput time while improving ergonomics for employees. “This initiative is a prime example of how innovation can enhance both productivity and workplace well-being,” said Thomas Lehner during the award ceremony.
Outside of the formal sessions, participants enjoyed several evening activities that facilitated cultural exchange and team building. Guests had the opportunity to experience Indian culture by playing cricket, trying pickleball, and continuing our tradition of sustainability by planting a tree on-site for all first-time visitors to VTI.
Visit to Sandvik Coromant Pune
On the fourth day of the meeting, participants visited Sandvik Coromant Pune, one of Sandvik’s global machine tool production sites. The visit included a factory tour showcasing lean activities, automation, Industry 4.0 initiatives and other advanced production methods. The exciting insights into the production processes were followed by lively discussions with Sandvik’s leadership team.
“The continuation of the GPM tradition further strengthens our production network, promotes cross-border collaboration, and drives continuous improvements at all our sites. With Italy on board, our network is stronger than ever,” said Thomas Lehner. He also extended a heartfelt thank you to the Indian Managing Director Rajesh Mishra and his team for hosting “a remarkable event” and thanked all participants for their contributions to shaping the next chapter of VULKAN’s global production success.
“The meeting in India reminded us that our greatest strength lies in the collaboration, trust, and commitment of our global production family. Together, we keep the world moving ‘the VULKAN way’,” said the Global Director Production. “The exchange of insights across continents underscored our strength as a truly connected, collaborative global production family,” was his conclusion.
