Prashant Sardeshmukh, Director, MMC Hardmetal India Pvt Ltd.
Please tell us more about your solutions?
Mitsubishi Materials is not just a tool manufacturer. We are committed to promptly respond to customer’s challenges with the dedication of a professional craftsman and doing our best to actively contribute to their success.
We strive to become the only tool manufacturer globally offering “your personal craftsman studio”, a unique service to our customers. It is the place where our customers can find state-of-the-art technologies and products. It is the studio where we think, share, create and develop together with our customers exciting solutions to meet their specific needs.
What are the recent technological developments in the cutting tool segment?
All the recently launched products are made using the latest technologies invented by Mitsubishi viz Miracle Sigma PVD Coating, 2in1 CVD Coating, patented TOUGH-Grip Coating Technology, SMART MIRACLE Coating, Seamless Cutting Edge grinding technology, Ultra micro grain cemented carbide substrates, Diamond Coated Drills & Endmills for hard & brittle materials, New Generation Solid Carbide Drills with TRI-Cooling Technology etc.
There are talks about smart technologies like smart CNC, smart boring bar, smart tools, etc. Are you working on such solutions?
MMC, Japan is working on many such solutions, a few on its own and a few in collaboration with various research institutes in Japan. However, we are not in a position to disclose the details at the moment and request our customers to wait for the official announcement from MMC, Japan.
How can your technologies impact customer’s business and productivity?
Having the best technology with you is one thing but applying it for the optimum results needs lot of up-gradation in technical know-how. In-house training programs needs to be conducted by manufacturing companies to transfer technical knowledge to the end users. This gives the desired application knowledge together with hands on experience about usage of new technology.
We have many customers who have benefitted by our technologies and successful implementation of these technologies by our close interaction with the production teams of customers.
What are the current demand trends in India?
In today’s world, rapidly changing market demands requires special efforts to implement new technologies at competitive price, stipulated time frame & user friendly ways. This is one of the biggest challenges for tooling solution providers in India.
Currently Indian Manufacturing Industry is going through a tough phase, while upcoming projects are looking for high-tech ultramodern technological solutions, existing customers who are facing sluggish demands are looking for low cost solutions. Hence, industrial supplier needs to have total solutions in their basket.
Do you think Make in India kind of program is impacting the industry in a positive way? What are your views on Make in India program?
Make in India is little more than 18 month now. Designed to kick-start India’s lagging manufacturing sector, the national program has affirmed the business-friendly atmosphere for investors worldwide. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fronted the Make in India program during his official visits to 28 countries in the past 18 months.
Even though we have witnessed many FDIs flowing in due to this campaign, it may take at least couple of years to see the actual growth in manufacturing sector.
The original idea of Make in India and export may take some more time since the global demand might take years to recover from the recent economic crisis. India should hence boost manufacture for the domestic market. This needs economic reforms, creating good transport infrastructure (reforming the railways), adopting the GST and reducing state wide taxes.
Yet, even as Make in India has made the country a more competitive investment destination, it will take several years before the program’s effectiveness can be fully gauged.
What kind of growth have you witnessed in India and what are your projections for the next five years?
MMCI registered double digit growth for the past three years and we would like to continue to grow at the same pace for the coming five years.
What are your future plans in India?
In India, the customers expect MMCI to provide total solutions, so our sales and marketing strategy revolves around this. We are in talks with more companies to join MMCI as business partners in its effort to provide quick and uninterrupted service to customers.
