Embracing trending technologies for automated future of manufacturing

March 2, 2020 11:40 am

Nilesh Chanchad, Director, Chanchad Machine Tools Company in an interaction with EPR Magazine talks about embracing technologies like automation, IoT and laser that will boost the industrial requirements further, enabling the industry to widen its reach in both the domestic and international market.

What kind of products have you launched at IMTEX 2020?
At IMTEX 2020, we showcased our Servo Hybrid Press Brake Machine which comes with 11 axes in total, which is one of our unique products. We also showcased plate roll bending machine, iron worker machine, profile (section) roll bending machine and mechanical shearing machine. IMTEX 2020 was a great opportunity to present our new technologies. In our press brake machines, we have important features like smart tool locators, hydraulic tool clamping, sheet follower feature, six-axes baggage, servo hybrid technology, energy saving, less noisy, faster, and more accurate and compact hydraulic as well as safety systems complying to the European standards.

How can fibre laser technologies bring in greater precision in manufacturing?
Fibre laser cutting is a relatively new technology, and since 2010, DURMA is involved in manufacturing of fibre laser cutting machines. Fibre laser cutting is helping the market and the companies improve their cutting quality, production, and cost calculations that were very high earlier. DURMA is known for providing automation, handling systems, and laser cutting machines together. We provide special handling systems, load/unload systems, storage systems and so on. So, we have a completely integrated range of solutions along with laser bending machines and robotics.

With the inclusion of Industry 4.0 and robotics, what kind of future do you see for the industry in India?
We are now embracing the demands and requirements of the new generation by collaborating with technology to make our processes faster. The new generation demands automation and faster production because nowadays procuring skilled labour as well as other resources has become very difficult. So, in the Indian market, the scenario is changing; people are moving from old technologies which operated manually to NC control, CNC control unit and automation. So, automation has a bright future in the Indian market. Moreover, we at DURMA follow Industry 4.0 in our manufacturing and it has a good future for manufacturing plants in India.

What are the growth prospects of the sheet metal fabrication industry?
We think that there is a good opportunity for the next five years in the Indian market for sheet metal fabrication. The new government has introduced some good policies for the development of defence and infrastructure, especially for railway and road construction, which can positively affect the sheet metal fabrication industry in the next five years. Our railway coaches are exported to other Asian countries and also domestic needs. It makes a good opportunity for sheet metal fabrication. We further feel that the government will make big changes in the energy sector, especially in power transmission through monopole (similar to European countries) instead of power transmission tower which will save lots of land cost, money and save fertiliser land. Many defence projects with indigenous manufacturing also show good opportunities for the sheet metal fabrication industry.

What is DURMA’s USP?
DURMA is known for machine sturdiness, high power machines, high design machines and high performance. Our performance by price ratio is significantly high. Among all the good European brands, we are the most economical. So that sets us apart from other European brands.

How do you project the growth of the company in the next three to five years?
DURMA as a brand in India definitely has a good future for the next five years. For the first time, we have introduced small machines at IMTEX as we understand that the market size is huge in India. So we feel that there is a big possibility in the domestic market even for small machines. Apart from automation and high-technology products, we have a good opportunity for these kinds of machines as well. DURMA has a wide range of products like press brake machines, shearing machines, fibre laser cutting machines, turret punching machines, plate roll bending machines, profile roll bending machines, iron worker machines and so on. So, we have complete solutions for the sheet metal fabrication industry. We feel that there is a good opportunity for the next five years in the Indian market for sheet metal fabrication. We have a good future in the Indian market. DURMA brand along with Chanchad is one of the economical brands from the European segment. We are not selling our brand. We are selling our performance.