Great Time for Great Beginnings

With the aim to enhance its manufacturing capacity in India and tap the growing market demand, Coimbatore-based S&T Machinery Pvt Ltd (STM) recently inaugurated its second machine tool manufacturing facility. The company has joined forces with software manufacturer Autodesk to make high-end technology affordable and easily accessible to its customers.

Market acceptance, improved business performance, and tremendous support from its customers have paved way to expand S&T Machinery Pvt Ltd’s (STM) existing product lines. The

company has recently inaugurated 7,000 sq ft of new Corporate Office Premises and an expanded new STM Factory Bay of 33,000 sq ft in Coimbatore. James Hsieh, President, Manford Machinery Co. Ltd (Taiwan) officiated the
inaugural events.

Taking the leap

Earlier STM was a full-fledged trading company mostly into the distribution of conventional machines. Its vast experience in the machine tool industry made it understand the needs and requirements of the machining industry. “On our way to achieve our lifetime dream of becoming a recognized machine tool builder and making technology more affordable, we entered into the manufacture arena of CNC machines about two and a half years ago,” said D Shanmugasundaram, Managing Director, S&T Machinery.

“In June 2015, we launched the STM range of Machining Centers, a ‘co-production venture’, with our trusted Principal Manford Machinery Co. Ltd, aligned with the ‘Make in India’ initiative launched by our Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi,” he added. With this joint venture strategy, STM provides global technology

at an affordable cost to Indian customers. While completely assembled frames come from Taiwan, CNC controller integration, the guarding, electrical works, application testing and final
inspection is done at STM factory unit in India.

STM had been talking to the President of Manford (Taiwan) about foraying into manufacturing for about eight years. Finally, in 2015, Hsieh agreed and motivated the company to go ahead. “Manford is a strong team in R&D of Machine Tools. We have been associated with STM for almost 30 years. It was three years ago that I spoke to Shanmugasundaram to set up a factory. STM is our most important partner in India, so we will do our best to support it,” said Hsieh.

The upscale

“In the existing facility, we can build about 30 machines monthly. With this expansion, we expect to build 75 machines,’’ said Shanmugasundaram.

With the new bay in existence, the company has double sized its manufacturing capacity to produce 5 models of CNC Turning Centers and 9 models of Double Column machines. Horizontal Machining Centers and Vertical Turning Centers will also be added into STM product range in the coming years.

Partnering with Autodesk

During the inauguration event, STM announced its collaboration with Autodesk to provide integrated hardware and software solution. Autodesk is a global software giant enabling the manufacturing sector to evolve and adopt advanced CAM solutions.

“Autodesk is committed to making affordable cutting-edge manufacturing solutions available to customers to help them transform their businesses. This resonated with Shan (Shanmugasundaram). It’s a win-win situation for everyone,” said Pankaj Gauba, Head – Digital Manufacturing – India & Middle East, Autodesk India Pvt Ltd.

PowerMill as the milling solution

With this one-shop-stop model, customers will get original licensed Autodesk software along with best-in-class STM machines. The target industry vertical for this hardware-software solution is dies and moulds market.

“Subscription-only model provides greater flexibility and affordability for businesses in adopting advanced CAM solutions. Autodesk’s PowerMill is one of the most comprehensive milling solutions for high-speed and 5-axis machining,” stated Gauba while briefing the benefits of the software.

The software promises expert performance, high-speed roughing, comprehensive finishing, and toolpath optimization.

Some of the features of PowerMill include:

Ribbon Interface: PowerMill 2018 includes a new user interface designed to shorten the learning curve for new users whilst making it easier for existing users to discover commands that are relevant to the task in hand.

2.5D Programming: It provides an improved workflow for 2.5D programming. New interactive feature detection allows slots,
pockets and chamfers to be created, grouped and edited dynamically using simple click and drag commands. New 2.5D toolpaths offer greater programming
control and efficiency.

Rib Machining: The software includes improved toolpaths for the machining of deep, thin rib and slot features found in moulds and dies. New toolpath offsetting ensures a constant tool load is achieved for prolonged tool life and reduced likelihood of premature tool failure.

Every CAD Support: Imports surfaces, solids, or meshes from mainstream CAD systems. Creates high-quality NC code regardless of model quality.

Autodesk is the only CAM vendor that offers a professional onsite training to the customers to ensure that the software is used in the best possible manner.

Poonam Pednekar

Chief Copy Editor

Magic Wand Media Inc

poonam.pednekar@magicwandmedia.org