Forbes

What Forbes does

Forbes & Company Limited (BSE: 502015) is an India-domiciled industrial conglomerate founded in 1767 and currently operating as a subsidiary of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group (part of the group since 2004). The company's operating footprint is concentrated in two segments: Bradma, its Coding & Industrial Automation (CIAB) business, and Forbes Real Estate, a premium residential development arm. Bradma manufactures and integrates industrial marking, coding, and traceability solutions—including dot peen machines, laser marking systems, scribe marking machines, hand-held punches, interchangeable steel types, rotary numerators, label markers, impact presses, roll marking machines, and fully automated Special Purpose Machines (SPMs)—targeting automotive OEMs, heavy engineering, defence, electrical, pharmaceutical, and renewable energy manufacturers in India and across more than 26 countries.

The company's core technology stack combines mechanical marking hardware (dot peen, laser, scribe, rotary, impact) with Industry 4.0 software capabilities including PLC/Ethernet/Serial connectivity, ERP/WMS/CRM integration, vision inspection, robotics integration, and end-to-end tracking and traceability solutions compliant with GS1, FDA, and ISO standards. Products are largely quote-based, project-priced capital equipment deployed through direct enterprise field sales with multi-year contract cycles, supplemented by integration services and custom line automation. The Real Estate segment is anchored by the Vicinia project in Powai, Mumbai—a premium eight-tower residential development executed in partnership with Shapoorji Pallonji & Company Private Limited.

Forbes generates revenue primarily through capital equipment sales (marking machines and SPMs) and integration services to large industrial customers. Recent financial performance reflects severe contraction: FY2026 net sales fell 61.78% YoY to Rs 76.14 crore with net profit down 89.08% to Rs 13.41 crore, a five-year annual revenue contraction rate of -41.16%, and 98.25% of promoter shares pledged. The company has executed multiple restructuring actions including the sale of its shipping joint venture stake, termination of a facilities management JV, demerger of precision tools into a separate listed entity, and sweeping C-suite turnover—all consistent with a portfolio in active rationalization rather than expansion.

Name

Forbes

Legal name

Forbes & Company Limited

Website

https://forbes.co.in

Company type

Public

Founded year

1767

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Forbes & Company Limited is an India-based industrial conglomerate (founded 1767, Shapoorji Pallonji Group subsidiary) operating Bradma, a Coding & Industrial Automation business manufacturing marking machines, special purpose machines, and Industry 4.0 traceability solutions for automotive, defence, pharmaceutical, electrical, and renewable energy manufacturers, alongside a premium real estate arm.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Marking and Coding Equipment

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Labeling, Coding & Marking Systems (IMAHAOAE)

Keywords

• Industrial marking machines
• Coding and automation
• Dot peen marking
• Laser marking systems
• Line automation solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Industrial Automation Equipment Sales: Sale of industrial marking machines including dot peen, laser, and conventional marking systems as capital equipment to manufacturing clients.
2. Special Purpose Machines (SPM): Custom-engineered special purpose machines for specific manufacturing applications, sold as complete solutions.
3. Automation Integration Services: Line automation solutions, tracking and traceability system implementation, and integration services for manufacturing lines.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Forbes & Company Limited, through its Bradma division (Coding & Industrial Automation Business), designs, manufactures and supplies industrial marking and coding machines (dot peen and laser), special purpose machines, tracking and traceability solutions, and integrated line automation solutions for manufacturers. The company also develops a real estate project called Vicinia in Chennai. Its products serve industries including automotive, defence, electrical, pharmaceutical, and renewable energy.

Product overview

Forbes & Company Limited operates as an industrial conglomerate with Bradma serving as its primary product division specializing in Coding & Industrial Automation (CIAB). The Bradma portfolio includes a comprehensive suite of marking and traceability solutions organized into three main categories: Special Purpose Machines (Dot Peen SPM and Laser SPM for automated industrial marking), Conventional Marking Systems (CMS including dot peen machines, bench marking machines, scribe marking machines, hand held punches, interchangeable steel types, rotary type numerators, label markers, impact presses, and roll marking machines), and Solutions (Tracking & Traceability and Line Automation Solutions). The company also operates a Real Estate business through the Vicinia residential project. All Bradma products serve industries including automotive, defense, electrical, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy, with a focus on Industry 4.0 integration, ERP connectivity, and IoT-enabled smart manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bradma: Coding & Industrial Automation (CIAB) business delivering complete traceability and automation solutions including dot peen marking, laser marking, special purpose machines, and tracking & traceability solutions for automotive, heavy engineering, steel, pharmaceuticals, Defence and electrical & electronics industries.
• Forbes Real Estate

Products and services

• Dot Peen SPM (Special Purpose Machines) Custom-built dot peen marking special purpose machines designed for industrial part marking and traceability. Sold to manufacturers in automotive, defence, electrical, pharma, and renewable energy sectors for integration into production lines.
• Laser SPM (Special Purpose Machines) Custom laser marking special purpose machines used for permanent, high-precision marking on metal and non-metal components in industrial manufacturing environments.
• Dot Peen Machines (TMP Series) Standard range of dot peen marking machines in the TMP series for permanent industrial marking applications on metal and hard plastic parts.
• BenchMark Dot Peen Marking Machine Benchtop dot peen marking machine for permanent marking of metal nameplates, components, and industrial parts in low-to-medium volume production environments.
• Scribe Marking Machines Scribe-style industrial marking machines for permanent alphanumeric marking of metal components in manufacturing settings.
• Hand Held Punches Portable hand-held marking punches for manual part identification and numbering in industrial environments.
• Interchangeable Steel Types Interchangeable steel type characters used with industrial marking machines for custom alphanumeric marking on metal parts.
• Handheld Rotary Type Numerators Hand-held rotary marking tools for sequential numbering of industrial parts in workshop and field applications.
• Automatic Rotary Numerators Automatic rotary numbering machines for sequential marking of parts on production lines, reducing manual intervention.
• Label Marker Industrial label marking equipment for applying identification labels on parts, components, and packages.
• Impact Presses Impact press marking systems for deep, permanent marking of metal components in industrial production.
• Roll Marking Machines Roll marking machines for continuous or circumferential marking of cylindrical metal parts and components.
• Special Applications CMS (Custom Marking Solutions) Custom-engineered marking cells and special application systems tailored to specific customer production requirements, including non-standard parts and unique marking processes.
• Tracking and Traceability Solutions End-to-end tracking and traceability systems combining 2D barcodes, QR codes, Data Matrix codes, vision inspection and centralized monitoring software for industrial supply chains and production lines.
• Line Automation Solutions Turnkey line automation solutions integrating marking, assembly, robotics, automated material handling, vision inspection, and Industry 4.0 connectivity for end-to-end production lines.
• Vicinia Real Estate Project Township real estate development called Vicinia located in Chennai, offered by Forbes & Company Limited as a complementary business line.

Named customers18 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Shapoorji Pallonji GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Forbes & Company became part of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group in 2004. Shapoorji Pallonji Group (established 1865) is a globally diversified institution with leading presence in Engineering & Construction, Infrastructure, Real Estate, Water, Energy and Financial Services. The Group has a workforce of 69,000 people delivering solutions across over 70 countries.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Telesis Technologies: US-based manufacturer of permanent industrial marking systems including pinstamp, scribe, and laser markers. Already cited as Bradma's technology partner for scribe marking machines, indicating direct product overlap.
• SIC Marking: One of the largest global manufacturers of industrial dot peen and laser marking systems, serving automotive, aerospace, and industrial OEMs. Most directly comparable to Bradma in product scope, target customers, and B2B industrial sales motion.
• FOBA (Alltec GmbH): Specializes in laser marking and direct part marking systems for automotive, medical, and industrial traceability. Competes head-on with Bradma's Laser SPM line and is a strong reference for global laser marking benchmarks.
• Gravotech (Marken & Technifor): Global supplier of laser, dot peen, scribing, and engraving marking solutions plus traceability software. Overlaps directly with Bradma's SPM and CMS portfolio and competes for similar automotive and industrial traceability contracts.

Broad incumbents

• Domino Printing Sciences: Major coding and marking solutions provider focused on industrial inkjet, laser, and print-and-apply systems. Comparable end customers and traceability use cases to Bradma, though with broader packaging-industry emphasis.
• KEYENCE Corporation: Global industrial automation and inspection vendor offering laser markers, vision systems, and barcode readers. Overlaps with Bradma's laser marking and vision inspection product lines and competes in automotive and electronics customer accounts.
• Videojet Technologies (Dover): Global coding and marking leader offering inkjet, laser, and thermal transfer solutions across packaging and industrial markets. Larger portfolio than Bradma, but competes directly in industrial coding and traceability, especially in pharma and automotive.
• Trumpf (Laser Marking): German industrial laser powerhouse offering laser marking and engraving systems for manufacturing traceability. Competes at the high end of laser SPM deals where Bradma is also active.
• Panasonic Industrial (Marking & Welding): Provides laser marking and welding solutions alongside broader industrial automation. A relevant incumbent in the same industrial marking category as Bradma, particularly in Asian markets.

Regional players

• Couth Marking Systems: European specialist in industrial marking (dot peen, laser, scribing) for automotive and metal components. Comparable product range to Bradma but primarily serves European OEMs, making it a regional rather than direct Indian-market competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/showcase/bradma-automating-the-future

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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