India is an exciting place and progressing rapidly

By Niraj M Wanikar, Chief Editor, CNCTimes.com, 2015-02-16 12:14:21

Sandvik Coromant is the world’s leading supplier of tools, tooling solutions and know-how to the metalworking industry. With extensive investments in research and development, the company creates unique innovations and set new productivity standards together with the customers. These include the world's major automotive, aerospace and energy industries. Sandvik Coromant  is represented in 130 countries. In conversation with CNCTimes on the sidelines of IMTEX 2015, the President of Sandvik Coromant in India, Mr Shailesh Prabhune expresses his views on the present market condition apart from the future plans of the company in the next 10 years.

What are your expectations from IMTEX 2015?

IMTEX exhibition provides a meeting place where professionals can come together,  discuss and exhibit the latest technologies .   Here they can also share their vast experience in   manufacturing   and help  ‘shape the future’ of this industry.

What are your views about current market scenario in India?

Last couple of years were tough. The Make in India initiative will surely boost the market. Rise in the GDP will enthuse lot of confidence within the industry.  Indian Cutting tool market is presently dominated mainly by the automobile industry and I think it will change as other  industry segments are upping their investments  in green field projects, capacity additions and introducing new technologies.

Do you feel that Indian market is price sensitive?

Not really,  maybe in certain segments,  yes, but this is changing quite rapidly.  Customer today wants end-to-end solutions and value deliverance.  Increasing CAPEX is getting difficult and hence the customer would like to extract maximum productivity from the available capacity.  Cutting tools is a very small part of his total cost but has dramatic influence to his productivity.   Customers today want consistency, reliability, innovation, speed (productivity) and security of supply !  This is where  Sandvik Coromant is ideally positioned.

What is Sandvik Coromant’s vision in the next 5-10 years?

If you look at the manufacturing industry today, it is undergoing rapid changes and is continuously developing and growing.   Our vision is to lead  this curve by investing in breakthrough technologies and products and developing solutions with our customers.   Our R & D investment is one of the largest amongst our peers which helps us and our customers to stay ahead.  Customers today want information on their fingertips and we have made this possible through our ‘best-in-class’ on-line presence !  We want to be our ‘customer’s –first choice ! .. Always.,,

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