Rakesh Chauhan, Managing Director, Viraj Profiles Pvt. Ltd. Addresses Strategic Development for Stainless Steel Growth at The International Stainless & Special Steel Conference 2026
The International Stainless & Special Steel Conference 2026 brought together industry leaders to discuss developments and opportunities shaping the global stainless and special steel market. Held from September 22–24 in Offenbach, Germany, the conference featured discussions on market growth, new applications, strategic market development and the future of stainless steel.
Representing Viraj Profiles Pvt. Ltd., Rakesh Chauhan, Managing Director, addressed the gathering on “Boosting Stainless Market Growth through Strategic Development.” His address highlighted the role of strategic development in unlocking new opportunities and driving the continued growth of the stainless steel market.
Strategic market development was among the key themes of the 2026 conference, alongside discussions on new applications and substitution opportunities for stainless steel, automotive transformation, infrastructure growth, new energy applications and future strategies for stainless flat and long products.
For Viraj Profiles, strategic development is also reflected in its focus on speciality stainless steel manufacturing. In February 2026, the company announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Steel under the Production Linked Incentive framework, committing an investment of INR 280 crore towards speciality stainless steel manufacturing and value-added production capabilities.
The emphasis on strategic development comes at a time when the stainless steel industry continues to explore new applications, markets and value-added opportunities. Identifying areas of demand and developing capabilities around them can play an important role in expanding the market for stainless steel and supporting its wider adoption across industries.
Chauhan has been Managing Director of Viraj Profiles since October 2024, having previously served as the company’s Deputy Managing Director.
His participation at the International Stainless & Special Steel Conference 2026 added an industry perspective to discussions around how strategic development can help identify new opportunities and contribute to the continued expansion of the stainless steel market.
This keeps the industry-impact point subtle and factual, rather than making unsupported claims about specific market outcomes.
