‘Additive Manufacturing assists in manufacturing end-use parts without any additional costs’

Indian manufacturing sector is witnessing correction post-Covid. It is evolving by the day with the sector getting a big fillip following unlock declared by the government authorities. From machine tools to cutting tools to metrology to software, the sector is getting the much-needed boost bringing in a positive sentiment.

In this context, CNCTimes.com, the gateway to the machine tool world, has been instrumental in gauging the market sentiments through a tete-a-tete with industry experts.

In an informal conversation with Bhalchandra Chorghade, Editor, CNCTimes.com, the Director of Imaginarium, Mr. Priyesh Mehta shares his views on the recent developments and correction in the market.

Q. Tell us about your company? What is the product range?

A: With an experience of over a decade, Imaginarium is a leader in additive manufacturing and advanced digital manufacturing technology housing India's largest set-up of 3D printers. Imaginarium offers an end-to-end ecosystem of advanced design and digital manufacturing, enabling the leaders of tomorrow to create today. Our suite of manufacturing services includes Additive Manufacturing (Metal & Polymer), CNC Machining, Vacuum Casting/Urethane Casting, Reverse Engineering, Rapid Tooling and Allied Services. We take care of all your manufacturing needs that involve taking digital designs to finished products in just a few days. Imaginarium has helped disrupt manufacturing by enabling enterprises and individuals to design better, manufacture faster and create high-quality end-use parts. Our customer base ranges from automotive, EVs, aerospace, electronics, white goods, lifestyle, electronics, foundry, medical, packaging etc., and we provide solutions to all the above-mentioned problems. We are in the business of on-demand, end-use production without any quantity limitation for fast turnarounds. 

Q. According to you, what is the major change within the manufacturing sector, post-Covid?

A: The world was brought to a standstill due to the Novel Coronavirus pandemic disrupting the entire manufacturing sector. The logistics factor was most impacted as everyone was facing difficulty in the demand and supply chain. This led to the rise of hyperlocalised manufacturing set-ups. Additive manufacturing proved to be a turnkey for such set-ups. The logistical difficulties were solved easily through the additive manufacturing technology as one can produce on demand without investing in inventory. 

Q. What are the major challenges and is the industry ready to accept those?

A: One of the significant challenges in the industry is product design. This is because the products were designed based on their manufacturing ability. However, with additive manufacturing, people are opening up to design constraints. Conventional manufacturing processes are riddled with constraints. Design for Manufacturing (DfM) methods attempt to work around these limitations while staying true to the intended design goal. Additive manufacturing allows manufacturers to produce end-use parts with complex organic geometries, multi-part consolidation, mass customisation, and lattice structures using functionally graded materials. 

Q. Which factor plays an important role while selecting a technology—quality, performance or pricing?

A: In additive manufacturing, there is no added premium on complexity. No matter how complex the design is, additive manufacturing assists in manufacturing the end-use parts without any additional costs. A design can get as complex as needed for the right functionality of the application. Our team suggests the best technology based on the functionality of the application and the client’s budget. Our expert and experienced team ensure that the quality is never compromised on the services, and all the products are tested thoroughly for Form, Fit and Functionality based on the exact requirements. 

Q. Where does the Indian machine tool market stand today?

A: India's machine tool industry is proliferating. Both additive and subtractive manufacturing technologies work hand-in-hand depending on the technology. Today, many believe that additive manufacturing substitutes traditional or conventional manufacturing technologies. However, additive manufacturing compliments subtractive technologies and the best technology is selected based on the application functionality. While additive manufacturing is the right choice for end-use parts with complex designs, they also provide the needed tolerances. Therefore, it can be rightly said that both additive and subtractive manufacturing technologies are essential in today's market. 

Q. Any other point you would like to highlight?

A: Imaginarium has successfully scaled from a small prototyping job shop to an on-demand end-use product manufacturer. Our industry-specific application engineers help all producers to enhance their product functionality. In addition, we have also invested in software and a project management team to ensure a seamless experience for our clients. This also includes auto quotations and continuous part feedback. We have already incorporated newer materials and technologies to bolster end-use applications for Defence, Aerospace, Medical Implants, Automotive, Tooling and other industries. Design knowledge is one of the biggest hurdles to the mass adoption of additive manufacturing technologies. We have set up a dedicated Design for Additive Manufacturing team that handholds clients in identifying opportunities and challenges of metal Additive manufacturing. The coming years will be about co-creating new applications with our end customers and taking our expertise to as many markets worldwide as possible.