MMC Hardmetal : Technology innovation with perfection

Q. Being the key player in the industry, Please brief us company’s journey from inception & share some of the milestones achieved?
MMC Hardmetal India Pvt Ltd, popularly known as MMCI, is a fully owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, Japan. Mitsubishi is a world leader in offering Metal Cutting Solutions to varied industries. Mitsubishi started its Indian operations in a very small way as representative office of its Singapore subsidiary in 1998. MMCI was established in 2006 with its head office & stock center at Bangalore. MMCI crossed 100 Crores sales in fiscal 2010-11. We are celebrating 10th anniversary on our Indian operations this year. We inaugurated our first manufacturing facility last month in Aurangabad, Maharashtra State.

Q. Please brief us about company’s infrastructure & what are the technology alliances that has been made in order to out-front the competition?
Mitsubishi believes in using world’s latest manufacturing technology to keep ahead of competition.  Many new machines and new measuring equipment are now available mainly from Global Makers to ensure manufacturing accuracy of cutting tools.

A further noticeable feature of new generation grinding centers is their considerably extended software for the measuring process with a 3D touch probe which ensures consistent size control over a large batch quality. Similar developments have also taken place in insert grinding technology. Machines for complete periphery grinding in single set up with contactless measurement is now possible.
Mitsubishi acquired 51% stake in Hitachi Tool Engineering last year and there is a synergy between two companies to produce world class products by combining expertise of both the R&D centers.

Q. What are the products manufactured by your company?
Mitsubishi is a world leader in providing metal cutting solutions. In its range are PVD & CVD coated carbide inserts, coated & uncoated cermet inserts, a wide variety of PCD & CBN inserts, state of the art technology milling cutters, solid carbide drills & endmills, special tooling solutions as per customers demand etc Mitsubishi caters to almost all segments like automotive, aerospace, oil & gas, railways, die & mould, medical engineering, energy etc

Q. What is your marketing strategy for India?
In India, the customers expect MMCI to provide total solutions, so our sales and marketing strategy revolves around this. We are discussing with more companies to join MMCI as business partners in its effort to provide quick and uninterrupted service to customers. Also, we hear customers’ voice and take decision before providing tooling solutions. MMCI will selectively use its new manufacturing facility in Aurangabad to provide total tooling solutions. We would like to continue to grow with double digit growth year on year.

Q. Product innovation through R&D is vital to be a leader in the competition, as per your opinion, how does R&D plays the role of catalyst in the success process?
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 tasks before cutting tool industry. We, at Mitsubishi Materials, are spending a major portion of our revenue on research & development and already came up with series of new products, making us one of the leading cutting tools brand globally.

“Driving The Future” is MMC’s slogan. We develop the tools well in advance which the industry in going to need in future. For this, MMC, Japan works hand in hand together with various machine makers and CAD/CAM suppliers. This gives us an added advantage of knowing the latest trends in machine building and software both.

Q. Quality standards are benchmarked by the product performance; please brief us how do you maintain the quality norms since from solution development to implementation?
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 for our customers.

Q. According you what are the factors affecting to your business?
Currently Indian Manufacturing Industry is going through a tough phase, while upcoming projects are looking for high-tech ultramodern tooling solutions, existing customers who are facing sluggish demands are requesting us to provide low cost solutions. Hence, cutting tools supplier needs to have total solutions in their product basket.

Even though it is not a reason to worry but it is putting lot of pressure on bottom lines of all cutting tool makers.

Q. What are the key technological trends that are driving the industry?
Conventionally, metal cutting industry was governed by machining of alloy steel, cast iron & aluminum alloys. But due to strict environmental policies, higher demands and to increase the resilience of the product, work materials are changing. High temperature alloys, high strength materials or composite materials are on demand.
To cope up with these changes,
MMC Japan is investing handsome amount of revenue on research and development to launch new grades, geometries or coating technologies. For example, we recently launched “SMART MIRACLE” end mill series with irregular helix & improved gash geometry for effective chip evacuation. This product is also powered by innovative coating technology called “TOUGH-Σ” to enhance both smoothness & sharpness of the cutting edge for a longer tool life.

Q. How do you perceive the future of the industry?
Challenging materials, complex geometries, increasingly specialized quality and performance requirements are the main factors putting enormous pressure on development of cutting tools. As a result product life cycle has reduced significantly, increasing development cost, manufacturing cost & service costs. Apart from this, skilled man power to establish the technology is a major concern. With Mitsubishi’s core strengths in developing varieties of cutting tool materials and coatings, opportunities are plenty.

Q. What is your vision for your company for near future?
In the metalworking industry, there is no other choice except to adopt advanced technology by innovation.

The machining demands in future would be so stringent that only advanced technology will be able to meet them.  We at MMC sensed this well ahead of the actual needs and already came up with series of new products by marginal rise in the end price, making us one of the leading solution provider globally.
Bottom line improvement is a prime requirement of all the customers & innovative technological products only will able to achieve required results which will ensure a WIN – WIN situation for both customer and us.