Maharashtra Labour Minister Aakash Fundkar inaugurated Boiler India 2026 at the CIDCO Exhibition & Convention Centre, Navi Mumbai. The three-day exhibition brings together 250 exhibitors from seven countries, showcasing technologies and solutions across the boiler, heat, steam and allied energy ecosystem.
In his inaugural address, Fundkar highlighted the critical role of boilers across a wide range of industries, including power, pharmaceuticals, food processing, sugar, textiles and paper. He emphasised the importance of industry exhibitions such as Boiler India as platforms for knowledge and experience sharing, which can contribute significantly to improving safety standards across the sector.
He said the Maharashtra government was committed to strengthening industrial safety, promoting the adoption of new technologies, improving workforce skills and creating industry-friendly processes while maintaining the necessary regulatory standards.
Sanjay Savkare, Maharashtra Textile Minister, shared his experience of having worked as an engineer in the boiler industry. Recalling his early professional years, he said that studying and remembering various safety-related codes and explaining them to inspectors could be a demanding part of the job. However, he noted that his experience made him realise the critical importance of these codes and regulatory inspections in ensuring safe boiler operations.
Emphasising the need for a strong safety culture, Savkare described a boiler as a “live bomb of steam” and stressed that its operation requires the highest degree of care, technical discipline and adherence to safety procedures.
Sujata Suraj Patil, Mayor, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC); Manda Mhatre, MLA, Belapur; I. A. Kundan, Additional Chief Secretary, Maharashtra Labour Department; Sushil Khodwekar, Development Commissioner (Unorganised Labour), Maharashtra; Sandeep Kumbhar, Technical Adviser (Boilers) and Secretary, Central Boilers Board; and Sandeep Chivate, Director-in-Charge, Directorate of Steam Boilers, Maharashtra, were also present at the inauguration.
Boiler India 2026 brings together manufacturers, technology providers, boiler users, engineers, plant teams, consultants and industry decision-makers. The exhibition is expected to welcome over 25,000 visitors from 40 countries. Boiler India 2026 is supported by the Labour Department, Government of Maharashtra; Directorate of Steam Boilers, Maharashtra State; Ministry of Heavy Industries; and Make in India.
The exhibition is expected to draw substantial participation from industries where heat and steam are integral to daily operations, including power, pharma, sugar, food processing, chemicals, textiles, paper, steel, cement, distilleries, dairy, oil and gas, hospitality and other process industries.
This year’s edition features product launches, technology showcases and strategic announcements from exhibitors across the value chain. Exhibitors are presenting solutions across boilers and boiler components, combustion systems, thermic fluid heaters, hot-water generators, pumps, valves, steam traps, water treatment, condensate recovery, automation, emissions management, alternative fuels, testing, maintenance and engineering services.
The expo’s 18 knowledge sessions bring industry experts, users, regulators and technology providers together around the issues shaping industrial heat and steam systems. The programme covers industrial energy efficiency, steam-system optimisation, boiler safety, water management, condensate recovery, emissions reduction, automation, digital controls, maintenance practices and the transition towards cleaner fuel and energy solutions.
The programme also includes a session on the Boilers Act, 2025, offering industry stakeholders an opportunity to understand the evolving regulatory environment and its implications for compliance, safety and operations. Other sessions look at practical solutions that can help industries improve system reliability, control operating costs and meet changing environmental expectations.
