Terrence Miranda, MD, Haas Factory Outlet, Mumbai
MTU: What are the latest technologies offered by Haas Automation?
TM: We have launched several new products in the recent time and at this edition of HaasTec we are displaying 5-axis UMC 750. , which provides extremely good efficiency in a compact manner. This is a new product and we have sold over 700 such machines worldwide in two years. This number speaks about the quality and demand of this product.
I would say this is Haas’s way of making five-axis machines affordable. The machine is also very accurate and pricing is very aggressive.
MTU: Please tell us more about HaasTec?
TM: This is the 7th HaasTec in India. The entire idea of the show is to present the full range of Haas machines to local customers where they can get the live demonstration of the machines. Since this show is in Pune, our focus in mainly on customers from Maharashtra. We have welcomed around 3000 visitors in these 4 days from in and around Pune.
Other important point of the show is that we have five technical experts from USA, along with our local technical persons to answer each and every query of the customer. The purpose of the show is not just sales but also to educate customers about latest innovations in the CNC industry.
We started HaasTec few years ago in Chennai and it has become a well-known show in India. We also organize it in cities like Manesar, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. The next HaasTec would be held in February in Bengaluru.
MTU: What are the other technologies that are shaping the CNC industry?
TM: Several customers across the globe are looking for more automated solutions. Making automation means loading and unloading of component in the machine automatically and other factors to reduce human intervention is growing. So this demand is pushing CNC manufacturer to make machine that are highly automated and smart in nature.
MTU: We all know that automotive industry is the biggest consumer of machine tool, but for the last few years the industry is not in its best shape. What are the other avenues for CNC builders like Haas?
TM: Automotive is traditionally and even today the biggest consumer of machine tool. Since we are having a wide variety of product range, we cater to various other industries like aerospace, medical, power & energy, general engineering and die mould, among others. In India we see a good demand from aerospace industry.
Joins the conversation Chris Mchugh, Business Manager, Haas Automation, Inc.
MTU: How is your experience working with the Indian customers?
CM: So far it’s been pretty good, I find that Indians are an intelligent group of people and are well aware of the machining processes. Indians are also very particular about what they want; I get more questions from Indians than any other market
.
MTU: Which continent contributes most to Haas sales?
CM: Around 53% of our sales are from the USA market and rest are exports. We really control the CNC machine industry in USA.
MTU: How is competition from Asia, as there are many cost effective machines coming from Taiwan and China among others?
TM: Competition is everywhere but what makes us different is our expertise when it comes to CNC machines. We have huge experience backed with some of the most skilled technical manpower in our factory, where we only focus on innovations. Also, we have good number of sales support team who can serve customer at any given point.
MTU: What are your plans for Indian market?
CM: Growth! We believe India has a lot of potential and we are very much focused on the Indian market.
