Simplex Castings - Simplex Castings
Financial Performance
Revenue Growth by Segment
Revenue grew 88.60% YoY in Q2 FY26 to INR 55.41 Cr. Segmental turnover for FY25 was Steel (60%), Railways (20%), and Defense (20%). The company targets a shift to 40% Railways and 8-10% Defense by FY28.
Geographic Revenue Split
The company has a global presence with exports to Russia, Ukraine, Brazil, France, Venezuela, Italy, Spain, Egypt, Australia, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, etc. Domestic operations are centered in Chhattisgarh.
Profitability Margins
PAT margin for Q2 FY26 stood at 10.07%, a decrease from 12.39% in Q2 FY25. FY25 full-year PAT margin was 8.80%. The company aims to sustain a 10% PAT margin through superior operational capabilities.
EBITDA Margin
EBITDA margin for Q2 FY26 was 17.42%, down from 26.82% in Q2 FY25. EBITDA grew 22.46% YoY to INR 9.65 Cr. Management expects margins to improve toward 20% as they shift to higher-margin defense and railway orders.
Capital Expenditure
Net block as of Q2 FY26 was INR 32.98 Cr. The company is modernizing facilities for 'Simplex 2.0' and evaluating inorganic strategic acquisitions in allied casting and engineering segments.
Credit Rating & Borrowing
Assigned IVR BB+/Stable (Long Term) and IVR A4+ (Short Term) in January 2026. Previous rating CARE C; Stable was withdrawn in September 2025. Debt repayment obligations are INR 0.61 to 2.79 Cr for FY26-FY28.
Operational Drivers
Raw Materials
Steel, pig iron, and scrap are primary raw materials. Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) was INR 38.85 Cr in Q2 FY26, representing approximately 70% of revenue.
Import Sources
Sourced primarily from domestic markets near manufacturing units in Chhattisgarh, strategically located near steel plants and raw material sources.
Key Suppliers
Not specifically named, but proximity to major steel plants in Bhilai suggests sourcing from large domestic steel producers.
Capacity Expansion
Current capacity includes 21,000+ MTPA in the Foundry division and 15,000+ MTPA in the Heavy Fabrication division. Expansion is focused on utilizing existing facilities for higher turnover.
Raw Material Costs
COGS increased significantly in absolute terms to INR 38.85 Cr in Q2 FY26 compared to INR 15.63 Cr in Q2 FY25, tracking the 88.6% revenue growth.
Manufacturing Efficiency
Management aims to sweat existing assets to increase turnover without major expansion, which is expected to distribute fixed costs over higher volumes and improve margins.
Logistics & Distribution
Not disclosed as a specific percentage of revenue.
Strategic Growth
Expected Growth Rate
40-50%
Growth Strategy
The 'Simplex 2.0' strategy involves shifting from traditional steel to high-value sectors like Railways and Defense. The company is executing trial defense orders, advancing precision casting, and targeting a 3x revenue increase to INR 500 Cr by FY28.
Products & Services
Casted bogies, fabricated bogies, naval castings, heavy engineering components, and subsystems for defense and infrastructure sectors.
Brand Portfolio
Simplex Castings Limited; Simplex 2.0 (Strategic Theme).
New Products/Services
Subsystems involving electrical and mechanical assembly, fabricated bogies for railways (expected next financial year), and precision defense components.
Market Expansion
Expanding into government-backed railway projects and precision defense manufacturing. Evaluating inorganic acquisitions to enhance leadership in heavy engineering.
Strategic Alliances
Recent interactions and trial orders from Gun Carriage Factory, Jabalpur, and ongoing partnerships for naval castings.
External Factors
Industry Trends
The industry is shifting from basic castings to customized engineering components. Simplex is positioning itself for the next generation of industrial and national infrastructure needs.
Competitive Landscape
Competes with both listed and unlisted players in the foundry and heavy engineering sectors; differentiates through full integration and 'all facilities under one roof'.
Competitive Moat
Durable advantages include a 60-year legacy, integrated in-house capabilities (foundry, fabrication, machining, EPC), and RDSO approvals for railway components.
Macro Economic Sensitivity
Highly sensitive to India's manufacturing capex cycle, specifically infrastructure, defense, and railway spending.
Consumer Behavior
Shift in demand from commodity-linked products to high-precision, value-added subsystems in defense and railways.
Geopolitical Risks
Exports to Russia and Ukraine are mentioned, which may be subject to trade barriers or regional instability.
Regulatory & Governance
Industry Regulations
Operations are subject to RDSO (Railways) standards and defense manufacturing standards. Trial orders and prototype testing (6-12 months) are required for bulk railway orders.
Environmental Compliance
Not disclosed in absolute INR values.
Taxation Policy Impact
Effective tax rate for Q2 FY26 was approximately 25.2% (INR 1.88 Cr tax on INR 7.45 Cr PBT).
Legal Contingencies
The auditor's report for FY25 noted no qualifications or adverse remarks. Historical bank pressure in 2018-19 due to sector-wide negative marking by SBI was mentioned.
Risk Analysis
Key Uncertainties
Volatility in raw material prices and finished goods. High average working capital utilization (92%) limits liquidity buffer for growth.
Geographic Concentration Risk
Manufacturing is concentrated in Chhattisgarh (Bhilai and Tedesara), though sales are global.
Third Party Dependencies
Dependent on bank borrowings and creditors for working capital financing.
Technology Obsolescence Risk
Mitigated by the 'Simplex 2.0' modernization plan and the establishment of an advanced R&D hub.
Credit & Counterparty Risk
Collection cycle elongated to 80 days in FY25, primarily due to an increase in retention money, which could impact short-term liquidity.