Tell us in brief about the current market scenario and the latest trends in the industry?
The last couple of years have been tough for the industry in general. But, now we see a good movement in the industry, we are optimistic about the future. In fact, we witnessed better foot falls in our stalls during the recently concluded IMTEX as compared to the last edition (2013). This is clearly a good sign, it shows that customers are positive and are ready to make investments.

We also have expectations from the ‘Make-in-India’ campaign. Also, the current aim of the government to raise the manufacturing industry’s share in GDP to 25% from the current 16% will further propel the growth of the machine tool industry. I would say, I am cautiously optimistic about 2015, but I am sure 2016-17 will be a period of growth.

Challenges in the Indian market…
The market has to improve and that is actually the biggest challenge for everyone for the last couple of years. Also, as customers are looking for a complete solution, we believe we are very much competent to fulfill their needs.

Are Indian SMEs adopting high-end technologies from companies like Sandvik Coromant?
Today no one wants just the product, everyone is looking for solutions. If you know how to utilise your product in the right way you can get a good return and SMEs are gearing up for that. I would say SME’s make a very important market for us and will continue to be. We are well equipped to provide them solutions as per their requirements.

How was your experience at IMTEX 2015?
Sandvik Coromant has been associated with IMTEX since a long time. We feel IMTEX is not only for showcasing products, but also a place to share and transfer knowledge. The metal cutting edition of IMTEX comes once in two years and as a company we introduce 2500 new products every year. So after two years one can expect an addition of around 5000 products to our portfolio.

For us, IMTEX is the platform where we share with our customers about our new products and innovation that we worked on during the year, hence it is a knowledge sharing event for us. Apart from this, we also share with our customers about the new trends in the metal cutting industry.

This year’s stall design said a lot about your focus industry i.e automotive…
Yes, this year we focused on the automotive and auto component industry. This edition we showcased a range of products that helps the auto industry. We also showcased our value added services under ‘My 25th hour’ campaign that will prove helpful for our customers. In short, we displayed the full component solution be it engine block, transmission, or any other key component. We invest generously in R&D to develop these solutions for our customers.

Can you please tell us about ‘My 25th Hour’ campaign?
The industry is facing a lot of challenges such as availability of skilled manpower and awareness about the latest technologies. In the present scenario, getting access to competence is becoming difficult.

Let’s say, if I have a machine and want to make a component and don’t have the right resources to know how to make this component? We can help our customers battle such challenges and help them throughout the process.

While we help the customer tackle his problem, the customer can sit back, relax and get some extra hours. Our yellow coat specialist is always there to help and deliver those extra hours. With ‘My 25th Hour’ campaign we aim to help our customer utilise his machines and toolings so that he can get that extra hour.

You mentioned that you introduce 2500 types of products every year. Tell us what’s new in the industry and where does the cutting tool industry stand today?
After interacting with our customers, we can say the most important factor is speed. Customers want fast machines and highly reliable tools to reduce the cycle time and these demands will always be there. Today customers expect a complete package from a tooling solution provider.

Looking at the evolving demand, we have also developed a tool library called ‘Adveon’. So it’s much easier for the CAM programmers to select tools which eventually helps them in enhancing productivity and reduce the cycle time.

How do you see the future of Sandvik Coromant India?
We believe the manufacturing industry will improve, so we will continue to introduce new products looking at the customer requirements. We see a bright future ahead, hence we are going forward with our investments to prepare ourselves better for the future.

By Nishant Kashyap

Ace in the Hole
Also on display at India’s largest tool show was the SpadeRush which made its exhibition debut at IMTEX.

As one of the newest TaeguTec launches on display, the SpadeRush is another marvel of metal-cutting engineering due to the new line’s high productivity head changeable drills for large diameter hole-making.

Available as a standard drill in 3xD and 5xD for a diameter range of 26-41 mm, the SpadeRush’s unique clamping technology enables customers to quickly change drill heads without removing the clamping screw from the holder – an important feature that greatly reduces tool setting times and also machining downtime.

Furthermore, the asymmetrical base design of TaeguTec’s SpadeRush means error proof insert mounting, high tolerance, improved tool accuracy as well as repeatability, and an excellent surface finish.

Typhoon Power
Held another tool that garnered much interest was the Typhoon, which deploys high-spindle speeds without having to invest in replacing the company’s machines.

TaeguTec’s revolutionary new technology used in the Typhoon facilitates high-speed machining on existing set-ups enabling increased efficiency, accuracy and improves the quality of the workpiece while saving significantly on cost and time.

High-speed machining remains unexplored in the industry owing to reasons of high cost and set-up, but TaeguTec’s Typhoon opens up big possibilities of high-speed finishing on several existing good, low-medium spindle-speed, high-rigidity machines.

The Typhoon system uses the existing machine’s coolant supply, reaching rotation speeds of up to 40,000 RPM while the main machine spindle remains idle.

This unique coolant-driven high-speed machining spindle is recommended when high RPMs are required on standard CNC machines.

The Typhoon combines roughing applications using regular tools at regular parameters and low diameter finishing applications at high RPMs. The Typhoon can be mounted on tool magazines without any special adaptation and can be handled by ATC, greatly improving the flexibility and efficiency of the existing machine in the process.

Quad Rushing
TaeguTec’s QuadRush was also on display and is an extremely popular and productive product line for grooving, parting, lateral turning and chamfer machining. The line’s unique features include a four cutting edge insert line allowing excellent performance and repeatability.

With the line having now expanded into external threading applications, the unique, multi-corner four cutting edge insert, known for high accuracy and surface quality, are available in 60 degrees and 55 degrees partial profiles. What’s more, all QuadRush threading inserts are compatible with QuadRush standard cartridges and holders.

The TaeguTec products and solutions were exceptionally well received at the exhibition and kept the salespeople and engineers busy for the entire duration of the seven days that included a weekend and a national holiday.

“The overwhelming response and interest from our customers and visitors augurs well for the times to come,” said Mr. Krishnan.

Latest product innovations at Schneeberger…
Schneeberger is a leading brand for the profile linear guideways. Apart from this we have integrated direct measurement system (called AMS). It is a very good option if you want to have direct feedback system in your CNC machine. It uses a magnetic strip fully integrated into our profiled guideways, requires no additional set-up, highly reliable that gives you accuracy of +/- 5 micron in a meter. We came up with this in Germany and since then manufacturing them in Germany only.

When it comes to liner guideway technology, what will be the future breakthroughs?
I think it is very important for the linear guideway technology that you have a very robust system, especially in a market like India. In India you see more ball linear guideway instead of roller linear guideways. Roller guideways provides extra accuracy and you can work in near net shape on the workpiece and it will eventually save cost of the user of CNC machine.

Since load is very high onto the guideway, do you see any new material coming up in the near future?
Material changes will come into play more in wiper system so that your linear carriage have long life even in the high load and pressure and also when you have lots of chips and coolants flowing around. We are continuously working on innovation in different kinds of wiper system. We are planning to introduce new wiper system with front cover plate so that you have more robustness in your linear carriage.

How do you see the current market scenario i.e in the machine tool industry?
I think the Indian CNC builders are on a good way to increase the accuracy and enhance the capability by investing in right technology. They are gradually enhancing the productivity level. They are now using roller linear guideways and direct feedback system so that they can find themselves in very critical operation as well which predominately is with foreign brands as of now.

How do you see the Indian market?
India is certainly very big and important market for us. We are present in the Indian market since 2007 and have seen huge growth. India has also come a long way when it comes to the use of technology.

Changes that you have observed in an Indian CNC manufacturers?
They are coming up with better technology. CNC manufacturers in India are now using high end controllers from Fanuc, Siemens and Mitsubishi among others, which is vital for better accuracy like 5-axis machines. Now, they are using profile linear guideways instead of boxways which is very important for speed and accuracy.

Can you name few of your customers in India?
ACE, BFW, JYOTI, TAL are some of the top brands that we serve. We are happy to support our customers to achieve better productivity and higher sales.

How do you plan to tackle competition in the Indian market?
It’s very important for Indian machine tool manufacturers to focus not only on price but also on reliable and good delivery system. As the Indian rupee and banking system is very complicated it becomes difficult to import at times and do business in India. We have to have very good delivery time so that customer can make up for the inefficiencies of the surroundings.

According to you what are those basic differences that you see in global and Indian CNC builders manufacturers?
International machine tool builders, especially who are delivering machines to automobile and aerospace industries, have evolved the techniques used in terms of reliability and higher speed. I think Indian CNC builders still need to improve their technique and accuracy, for example in their direct feedback system.

What was your growth rate in India last year?
We grew more that 30% in terms of sales and hope to continue the same in the coming years.

Market share in India…
When it comes to linear technology in India, we boast of around 20% market share and hope to improve in a few years.

What are the road blocks for Schneeberger in India?
Our main challenge is the banking system. Sometimes it’s very tough to import goods from Europe to India. Infrastructure is the second biggest challenge that we face. If the infrastructure improves, the transportation will be better and will help us deliver our products on time.

There is huge Currency depreciation since last two years, does it affect your business?
I think it is a challenge, but we hope that it will bridge.

Few companies from south eastern countries have become very aggressive in the recent years. What are your views about them?
Of course they are posing a challenge for us, especially when they are more affordable. We try to battle the competition with better technology.

Your general views about the recently held IMTEX…
This is a good place to showcase your technology, your capability in front of potential customers.

Everyone present at the recently concluded IMTEX 2015, witnessed Italian technology flex its muscles. Known for their design capability, Italy stands fourth in terms of production of machine tool worldwide. Since India is a big market for Italian machine tool manufacturers, Italian machine tool, robots, automation systems and ancillary products (NC, tools, components, accessories) manufacturers’ association (UCIMU) together with Italian Trade Agency (ICE) supported 18 Italian companies to showcase their products and solutions at South and South-East Asia’s apex exhibition IMTEX 2015.

“We organized the Italian pavilion with 18 companies and if we consider ITC (Italian Technology Centre) as 11 companies, so we had a total of 28 companies representing Italy in the pavilion. Apart from the pavilion, there were about 15 more Italian companies at IMTEX. The Italian companies were very much excited about the show and the quality of contacts they generated,” said Mattia Puppi – Marketing Specialist, UCIMU.

Companies part of the Italian pavilion were OMG Srl, BALANCE SYSTEM Srl, AIGNEP SPA, PORTA SOLUTIONS Spa, M.T. Srl, FIDIA Spa, PROMAC Srl, SPERONI Spa, ROLLON Spa, SIT Spa, IMT Spa , PIETRO CARNAGHI Spa, ITC (Italian Technology Centre), SMZ ITALIA Srl, LAZZATI Spa, SAFOP SPA, CB Ferrari Srl and CESARE GALDABINI Spa.

The product portfolio of the Italian pavilion featured linear motion system, tool presetter, laser technology, CNC machines and boring mill machine among others.

Santosh Gawade from Italian Technology Center – India said, “We wanted to promote the brand ITC at IMTEX and get good leads for our member companies. We are happy to be part of Italian pavilion as we could manage to generate some good contacts and promote our brands in front of the right audience.”

Mr Puppi added, “India is an important market for us. We would like to explore the Indian market and promote made-in-Italy products in the country. UCIMU is very aggressive to promote Italian technology in the Indian market by participating in various exhibitions and seminars. Infact, together with Nilesh Joshi, India representative of UCIMU in India, we are planning to organize a B2B seminar and factory visit in Chennai during the 2nd week of June.”

Talking about the seminar in June Mr Joshi said, “We are organizing this seminar to bridge the gap between the Italian manufacturers and customers. Chennai being the automotive hub of India will be an ideal location for the same. The three day seminar will have technical presentations, B2B meetings and company visit. The first day will focus on technical seminar with presentations from Italian companies followed by a B2B meeting. The next days will be dedicated to company visits.”

During IMTEX, UCIMU representatives also promoted EMO Milano that is set to be held in Milan during October 2015. Apart from this, UCIMU also organized a press conference during IMTEX where Pier Luigi Streparava, General Commissioner, EMO MILANO 2015, highlighted the importance of EMO and exhibition centre of fieramilano.

Ind-Sphinx Precision is highlighting AXIS Plus at IMTEX. AXIS Plus integrates high precision tools manufactured at the company’s facility with a state of the art unique, proprietary in-house super-finishing treatement, creating an unparalleled product. AXIS tools offers customers unique benefits and enhanced performance levels.

Technical Benefits:

• Reduced flute friction, drastically improves chip evacuation
• Reduced heat generation due to smooth cutting
• Controlled and repeatable edge honing
• Enhanced adhesion of this coating (PVD and DLC) due to superior surface preparation.
• Improved finish post PVD coating

The advantages includes increased tool life, reduction in cutting force, increased homogeneity, superior reproduciblity and less lead time.

It is available in range of tools such as micro drills, micro endmills, ultra long drills, PVD coated tools, CVD diamond coated tools and forming taps.

To leverage best from the aerospace market and make its presence felt in the market, ESPRIT launched customized module for Aerospace and medical Industry at flagship exhibition Imtex 2015. The high-performance ESPRIT CAM SOFTWARE offers powerful programming for any CNC machine tool. The company will be showcasing from Stall A102-B, Hall 1B.

ESPRIT’s full-spectrum functionality includes programming for 2-5 axis milling, 2-22 axis turning, 2-5 axis wire EDM, multitasking mill-turn machining, and B-axis machine tools and special customized modules for Aerospace and Medical industry. ESPRIT’s universal post processor effortlessly creates the high-quality G-code customers need to fully exploit their machine tool investment. The high quality and accurate simulation engine of esprit helps them to avoid any kind collision on the machine and get full virtual production.

The launch of a separate Aerospace module from the ESPRIT Cam team focusing only on the aerospace parts customization and optimized production has been of a great benefit to customers providing them more flexibility. This module not only have features of swarf milling, contouring, composite cycles, Profit milling ,Blade machining etc , but also has automation features of Add Ins and KBM-knowledge base manager.

The module contains customized features. ESPRIT provides an integrated programming environment specifically designed for multitasking, multi-function CNC machine tools. ESPRIT supports any combination of independent, synchronized, and synchronous milling and turning utilizing any configuration of A, B, C, X, Y, and Z axes. ESPRIT’s five levels of functionality for 2–5 axis machining fully support your mill-turn needs, including milling with full, simultaneous 3-axis and 5-axis 3D multi-surface solid machining.

Capitalize on the power and flexibility of mill-turn machines with B-axis capability for precise 5-axis simultaneous and 5-axis index milling — on the front and back of any workpiece. ESPRIT’s full 5-axis control lets you easily program the non-perpendicular multi-axis tool movements required to machine the intricate features and compound angles of medical components, complex valves, tool holders, oil drilling tools, and the like. ESPRIT provides advanced 5-axis control for its machining cycles including facing, boring, grooving, threading, contouring, pocketing, hole making, and 3D finishing.

The best point of esprit users is that they get the contouring feature, Blade Machining of different size Impeller/Compressor valve machining features, B axis machining feature, Swarf Milling option and various Composite Cycles are provided to customer as a single package. This means customers will have to procure and learn the software module once for applying different features of esprit.

One of the main advantage of using esprit cam system for aerospace is the “Automation-through ESPRIT’S Knowledge base Manager” which helps the companies make all their process automatic and save lot of time in production. The production of similar components of different sizes can be done in esprit in just few clicks with minimal manual intervention. Esprit’s capability of providing Probing Cycles makes it unique in its own ways.

Comparing Esprit with other cam systems, On the Milling side, to perform wrap contouring and pocketing on the diameter, they need a 5axis cycle, so, it is more complicated to manage such operations for them but it is not the case with esprit.

Most of the cam software in the market can’t manage multiple channels, and so there is no synchronization. If the customer would like to use the head and the turret together on any multi-tasking machine, he should be in problems with use of any other cam systems, apart from esprit.

They don’t have the management of the sub-spindle and this is perhaps the strongest point for esprit. Others can’t manage tools mounted inclined and support for B axis turning which is the specialty of esprit.

With the growing trends in the manufacturing of India, Esprit cam software is definitely making its space in the higher end machining segments of users especially in the aerospace market. With worldwide success of having customers like Boeing, Quest Global,3 points Aviation,Hartwell etc , the success in India for the esprit cam software is bound to reach greater heights. With worldwide recognition and success, DP TECHNOLOGY is making its best efforts to make sure that the tag line of their company i.e. ESPRIT-THE RIGHT CHOICE, proves to be true for all customers in India also.

MURATEC, a pioneer in twin spindle turning machines introduced its latest releasd fully automated twin spindle CNC chucker MW180 at the India’s biggest machine tool show IMTEX. The Japanese gaint in machine tool, sheet metal machinery, automated system is exhibiting from Hall 3B stall B110 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bangalore.

The new B110 is ideal for manufacturing of automotive components as it delivers high accuracy and customized automation requirements. The New MW180 Twin Spindle CNC Chucker machine offers an ideal solution for cutting solution. It performs great in compact space (i.e. compact cell system with floor size 2850mm X 1865mm). The three axis gantry loader offers versatile automation and the high speed gantry loader and turret axes reduces the cycle time drastically. Heavy duty cutting is possible with Column / Turret bar style design construction. Murata Machinery Ltd (Brand Name “Muratec”) is a global leader in providing fully integrated in-house with built-in automation for a wide range of applications.

hyperMILL® 2014.2 is the latest release of the high-end CAM software from OPEN MIND Technologies AG. In addition to a number of new functions, there are also many enhancements to existing functions. The company is showcasing this latest enhancement at the ongoing IMTEX 2015 at BIEC, Bangalore.

OPEN MIND is one of the five leading CAM manufacturers in the world and hyperMILL® is one of the best CAM systems on the market, according to the NC Market Analysis Report 2014 compiled by CIMdata, a market research company. OPEN MIND is releasing the second version this year in order to live up to expectations to offer users one of the most innovative CAM solutions. In addition to a key extension for solid modelling in hyperCAD®-S, the CAD part of the system, hyperMILL® 2014.2 features a range of improvements for CAD programmers and machining.

3D shape Z-level finishing
When it comes to Z-level finishing, CAD systems usually simply follow the X and Y coordinates. If the bottom surface is curved, the milling result is not optimal and it is necessary to perform a number of rework machining steps. A new function for 3D shape Z-level finishing makes it possible to reference curved bottom surfaces, after which the milling paths are aligned. As a result, the milling tool nestles optimally along the boundary edge between the bottom and the wall. All intermediate levels are offsets of the bottom plane.

The OPEN MIND soft bounding concept is also integrated into this new function. This ensures that the boundaries to adjacent surfaces are calculated more precisely and that sharp outer edges are machined more smoothly. User benefits include an optimised finish and reduced programming and machining times.

3D rest material machining
The open, deep, steep and flat areas of cavities can be machined in one job with collision avoidance. The rest material areas that are recognised during the collision avoidance are transferred automatically to the subsequent job. To this end, optimal tool selection and positioning once again take place. For example, a longer tool or modified position. This process is repeated until the required contour is achieved. Work here has been greatly simplified for CAM programmers.

hyperMAXX® improvements
hyperMAXX®, the high-performance cutting (HPC) module for hyperMILL®, was also supplemented in some places. This includes plunging the milling tool into the material at pre-drilled holes. This saves ‘ramping-in’ of the milling tool at the start of machining. The greatest advantage of this method is that it protects tools, particularly in materials that are difficult to cut. The machining process is also collision-checked. Furthermore, it is now possible to select a zigzag mode in hyperMAXX®. This mode is particularly suited to machining large workpieces, as it prevents time-consuming repositioning movements, thereby significantly shortening machining times.

2D plunge milling
2D plunge milling is another new feature. Here, material is removed solely by plunging a milling tool. The new cycle is suitable for both roughing and finishing. The advantage here once again lies in the fast machining and particular suitability for materials that are difficult to cut.

Precihole Machine Tools, a leader in deep hole drilling technology with more than 50% sales outside of India in markets like Europe and US unveiled the next generation of the already popular GVN series of deep hole drilling machine at the ongoing IMTEX exhibition. Precihole is exhibiting at Hall No 3B, Stall C-109 at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bengaluru.

Technologies Precihole is showcasing:

Single Axis Gun Drilling Machine
Precihole’s GVN Series Single Axis Gun Drilling Machines cover all major requirements needed in a Deep Hole Drilling solution: high precision, high productivity, compact footprint, affordability and reliability. These Machines can be tooled up for a wide range of components and cover the whole spectrum of gun drilling range from Φ 1.5 mm to Φ 40 mm

Some additional highlights of these machines include:

• Modular Construction that allows high level of flexibility for standard components
• Covers all major applications spread across a myriad of industries like Defense, Oil & Gas, Medical, Automotive, General Engineering, Heavy Engineering, Power, Nuclear, Die and Mold, Instrumentation, Steel, Earth moving equipments and many more.
• Option for 2 spindle or 4 spindle configuration provides higher productivity
• These machines are designed with prime focus on operator safety and ease of operation
• The setup change-overs are quicker and extremely operator friendly
• Different levels of automation can be incorporated to satisfy custom requirements

Three Axis Gun Drilling Machine
Precihole XYGVN Series Three Axis Gun Drilling Machines are designed for prismatic components and for holes on PCD. Designed for precision and high productivity, these versatile machines are ideal for gun drilling in complex components.

Features of the machines includes:

• CNC Controls for precision positioning of horizontal and vertical axes
• Compact footprint and ease of use for operator
• Option of 1 spindle or 2 spindles for high productivity
• Fixturing capabilities to stack and drill multiple components

Precihole Machine Tools is a leader in providing deep hole drilling solutions. The company manufactures state-of-the-art machine tools and special purpose machines. Precihole also provides precision machining and component manufacturing services for the engineering industry.

The Taiwanese company Kent Industrial is showcasing its high end KGS-84AHD surface grinding machine at the ongoing IMTEX 2015. Product range from the company includes surface grinders, CNC surface grinders, CNC universal cylindrical grinders, creep feed grinders, double column surface grinders, vertical machining centers, high speed vertical machining centers, and double column machining centers.

The KGS-84AHD surface grinding machine Featurs automatic down feed for fully automatic 3 Axis operation, adjustable in 5 steps. Machine base, table, saddle and column are made from MEEHANITE cast iron with precision treatment for constant accuracy. Table longitudinal ways are one flat and one “V” way,lined with Turcite-B, hand scraped to assure slip-free movement Saddle cross ways are Double V design, lined with Turcite-B, hand scraped to assure slip-free movement. Crossfeed leadscrew is hardened and precision ground to provide optimal accuracy. The machine also has electronic cross feed control
and automatic lubrication

Standard Accessories:

• Above listed Special Package Items
• Wheel balancing base
• Wheel balancing arbor
• Grinding wheel,and wheel flange
• Table dresser
• Leveling pads and bolts
• Halogen work light
• One set of maintenance tools