HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Machine tools were manufactured as early as 1890, but were poor in quality and lacked standardization. After 1930 machine tools of a reasonably good quality began to be produced in India principally by P N DATTA & COMPANY in Calcutta. Cooper engineering works at Satara & The Indian Machinery Company at Dasnagar near Calcutta.
These enterprises, which were the pioneer of the machine tools making in India, Made mostly sliding, surfacing and screw cutting lathe of the head stock types. However all the enterprises suffered from the absence of the ready, Market for then products, mainly because of competition from established Manufactured in England. M. P. Birla Institute Of Management Page 3 The Outbreak of the 2nd world war India became the main base of supply & production of the war materials for the British & the ally’s army in the east. There was tool, although, import of machines tools continued on a reduced scale.
Throughout 1936 & 1940 the situation became increasing more precarious. In 1941 the government of India passed the machine tools control over whose main object was to make an inventory of machine tools that could be obtained in India & Regulate & improve production so as to meet the needs of the ordinance factories & other war industries. The machines tools control laid the foundation of machine tool industry in India.
MANUFACTURING RANGE
The Indian machine tools industry manufactures almost the complete range of metal cutting & forming tools. Customized in nature, the products from the Indian basket comprise conventional machine tools as well as Computer Numerical Controlled machines (CNC). There are other variants offered by Indian manufactures too, including special purpose machines, Robotics, handling systems & TPM friendly machines & provide further value additions at lower & lower cost to meet specific requirements of users. Based on perception of the current trends and demands, CNC segment could be the driver of growth for the machine tool industry in India.
CURRENT TRENDS
A slowdown in the Indian company since mid-1999 had its fallout on prospects of Indian machine tool manufactures. The Indian machine tools industry is facing lack of adequate business opportunities that has stemmed from sluggish in the home market of all user industries.
EXPORT PERFORMANCE
In the view of an imminent slowdown in the Indian economy, most Indian machine tool manufacturers focused on potential overseas marketers for business opportunities. Indian machine tools are currently exported to over 50 countries major one being USA, Italy, Brazil, Germany & the Middle eastern countries Lathes And Automates, Presses, Electro discharge machines from Indian basket are generally favored in overseas markets primarily due to their cost competitiveness as compared to that available elsewhere. The visions of Indian machine tool industry are now step out and establish a relative presence in other potential markets. World over market leaders have been those who have looked to increase their presence beyond their national frontiers.
INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
Machine tool industry in India comprises about 450 manufactures with 150 units in the organized sector. Ten major companies of the industry contribute almost 70% of production of India. And over three quarters of total machines total production in the country comes out of ISO certified companies. Many machines tool manufacturers have also obtained CE marketing Certification, in keeping with the requirements of the European markets. The industry has an installed capacity of over Rs. 10000 million & employees a workforce totaling 65,000 skilled and unskilled.
Bangalore is considered as hub for the Indian machine industry. The city for instance house HMT Machines Tools LTD, a company that manufactures nearly 32% of the total industry’s output. Machines tool industry in India is scattered all over the country. The hub of manufacturing activities however is concentrated in places like Bangalore, Jalandhar & Ludhiana in Punjab.
MACHINE TOOLS
Machines tools industry is in a position to export general purpose & a standard machine tool to even industrially advanced countries. During last our decades, the machine tool industry in India has established a sound base & there are around 160 machine tool manufactures in the organized sectors as also 400 units in the small ancillary sector.
The industry however lacks in engineering capability to undertake very high precision CNC machines. Some companies have taken manufacture of CNC machines, but there is an upgrade R in this field. Indian machine tools are manufactured to the international standard of quality, precision & reliability.
A number of collaborations have also been approved for bringing in the latest technology in the field of modern machines tools and the industry is now exporting conventional as well as CNC high tech machine tools. In the field of R, central manufacture technology institute, Bangalore has been doing research for more appropriate designed machine tools. There is a gap in technology for special purpose machines & even some categories of CNC. Import of technology is encouraged to bridge a gap.
