Hannover: India's reputation as a supplier of good quality products is giving a big boost to efforts by its engineering companies to break into the international market. The good responses Indian companies received at this month's Hannover Industrial Fair, the world's largest show for machinery, show that Indian engineering firms are consolidating their position as key players in the subcontracting business.

A contingent of 148 Indian exhibitors showcased a wide array of products and manufacturing-related services at the Hannover fair that ended last week.

Pitti Laboratories Ltd of Hyderabad was displaying laminations for producing motors and alternators, power generators and equipment. The company's export director, Akshay S. Pitti, was in an upbeat mood and said he was "very optimistic" about his company's business.

With an annual turnover of $70 million - 40 percent of the company's turnover comes from exports - Pitti Laminators supplies to customers in many developed countries.

Indeed, Pitti was unperturbed either by the weak US dollar or by the prospect of a recession. "We are not worried by the weak dollar or, for that matter, by the recession talk. Our cost-reduction innovative ideas have helped us assert our position internationally," he told IANS.

Anil Kharwadkar, director of Involute Technologies Pvt Ltd of Pune, said there was a growing trend among Western companies to give more and more subcontracting business to India.