CELEBRATING SUCCESS WITH CUSTOMERS

Improving productivity for its customers and helping them win is Blaser Swisslube’s main goal. The leading manufacturer of high-quality metalworking fluids not only ensures meeting this goal but also celebrates with its end-users their mutual success at the Blaser Productivity Trophy event. Highlights of the recent India edition of the award ceremony that was held in Chennai and more from the leaders at the helm.

Productivity, economic efficiency, and machining quality in the manufacturing process depend decisively on the choice of the right coolant. To make this connection visible, Blaser has launched the Blaser Productivity Trophy which aims to acknowledge and honor its customers’ extraordinary cooperation and celebrate mutual success.

“The 4^th edition of the Productivity Trophy India was a great success. Over 120 participants accepted our invite, which makes us very proud,” shares Marc Blaser, CEO, Blaser Swisslube AG.

The 2022 edition of the event comprised interesting speeches and a panel discussion about the opportunity of digitalization in the industry, a topic that is becoming more and more important and offers great potential for productivity increase. “As always, we highlighted, in the Liquid Tool Gallery, the achieved improvements together with our customers in terms of productivity, economic efficiency, and workpiece quality. Regarding the response to the event, we see that the customers were very much looking forward to attending a physical event again. The face-to-face exchange is needed and much appreciated,” he adds.

Liquid Tool for enhancing productivity

Machining coolants are an important component of metalworking operations. They improve machinability, increase productivity, and extend tool life by cooling and lubricating the part and the cutting tool.

According to Punit Gupta, Managing Director, West Asia (India & SEA), Blaser Swisslube Solutions Pvt Ltd, the company’s Liquid Tool Solution is its value proposition to its customers. “All of us at Blaser have a strong belief and we are convinced that it is the right way to move ahead. This belief becomes stronger when we see more and more customers getting benefits out of it,” he adds.

When asked how Blaser keeps a tab on the performance of Blaser Swisslube coolants at its customers’ site, he replies, “We are fully committed to providing customers with comprehensive solutions rather than merely products. It triggers the role of good maintenance and monitoring systems onsite by customers. We help customers by imparting the know-how and training to their people.”

Blaser Swisslube is continuously investing in know-how and facilities – in India and globally. The recent investment in the Country Competence Centre in India (named CCC) is an example of the future-oriented journey of the coolant company. The CCC gives Blaser customers an opportunity to monitor their critical coolant parameters. The CCC is equipped with state-of-the-art laboratory equipment. It is also open for customers and partners for visits and training.

Towards a greener planet

For the Productivity Trophy 2022, the results in the following categories were evaluated: Sustainability, Tool optimization, Productivity increase, Total costs of ownership, Metalworking Fluid optimization, and Process optimization, with Sustainability being the addition this year.

“Sustainability has been the core foundation of the company since the beginning. In today’s manufacturing world, it has become a global requirement for all manufacturing industries to contribute towards a greener planet. More than four decades ago, Blaser Swisslube introduced Blasocut Bio-Concept, a concept that works in perfect harmony with nature. The technology has been able to contribute to the robust process of machining, high productivity, and better machining quality. These emulsions have a unique way of maintaining the long-term bio-stability of metalworking fluid emulsions,” explains Gupta.

“With the categories of Tool optimization and Productivity increase, we show that with a tailored coolant solution, the coolant can stay much longer in the tank without exchange. This pays to the account of sustainability and the environment, which is very important as we must take care of the environment,” adds Blaser.

He gives an example of FIAT India Automobiles, the winner in the award category, at which the Blasocut 4000 Strong has been stable and running smoothly for 15 years now. In this case, he says, zero disposal in 15 years is a tremendous contribution towards a greener planet. “It has saved 1.5 million lt of coolant being disposed of. In addition, it has also been a big monetary saving. Over this period, `36 million could be saved. Such contributions toward a greener planet are only achievable with mutual trust and a strong commitment from our customers and our side.

Therefore, I am very proud that we have been awarded a sixth category with such a great result. Congratulations to FIAT India Automobiles and our team in India for this great achievement,” he notes.

Knowing the process

With its unique mix of machining experts, customized service, and excellent products, Blaser Swisslube wants to turn the metalworking fluid into a key success factor – a Liquid Tool, says Blaser. “That means whatever material, application, or industry, we want to help our customers to fully capitalize on the potential of their machines and tools,” he adds.

He then shares the process implemented by Blaser in analyzing the customers’ requirements and handholding them to achieve maximum gains by using Blaser’s metalworking fluids, “In our first step, we make a comprehensive analysis of our customers’ current production process. We offer this analysis free of charge, as we are confident that we can generate added value for them.”

In the next step, the company shares the status report and shows the improvement recommendations. “There we work with our customers to set specific goals and define how they can be achieved. In the third step, we start with the on-site testing. We test our recommended solution in the customer environment. So, our customers see the Blaser coolant in action and experience the improvements firsthand. Finally, we want to assure that the test results match the set goals. This includes on-site training and support also,” Blaser adds.

R&D is crucial

Research and Development is very important to Blaser Swisslube to uphold its benchmarking lead. Its unique R&D facility at its Headquarters in Switzerland is where it tests its latest metalworking fluids and recreates the versatile machining operations of its customers and partners in a realistic way. More than 70 specialists in the laboratory spend every day working together in various disciplines: analysis, chemistry, microbiology, metallurgy, physics, and manufacturing technology.

“At present, research is carried out using four CNC milling machines and a state-of-the-art grinding machine. The latest high-precision measuring devices and sensors enable the data acquired to be interpreted correctly. So, at this in-house facility, our laboratory research team works hand in hand with our manufacturing experts to ensure that our latest metalworking fluids meet the expectations in the customer production halls. For this purpose, we have set up various performance tests in our Technology Center. Only when a new development has cleared all hurdles it is ready for the market,” he explains.

“Thanks to our Technology Center, we gain a better understanding of the highly complex manufacturing processes and the interaction of chemistry, microbiology, and mechanics, so that we can continuously improve our cutting fluid developments,” says Gupta.

Individual criteria like high-pressure stability, tool wear protection, and additives durability are systematically tested. There is a dedicated expert team, which is constantly looking at the machining of different materials at the center, which helps to judge the impact on productivity.

The Technology Center is equipped with the latest CNC machines as well as state-of-the-art CAD/CAM systems for optimally simulating and thoroughly understanding the customers’ production situations.

Catering to Indian customers

Blaser Swisslube has successfully established itself in India over the last 20+ years as a leading technology company. “Our focus has always been to bring solutions that add to customers’ competitiveness and productivity. Very high capabilities in R&D ensure that we do everything to maintain and improve our technology. New materials, technological innovations, and ever-improving machine performance constantly challenge our metalworking fluid development and we are happy to bring out innovation for our customers. We want to address the needs of the markets in the best possible way,” notes Gupta.

The Product Portfolio is reviewed and adjusted every year. While developing new formulations, Blaser Swisslube always keeps its customers’ needs at the center. “We take continuous feedback from the customers in the market, so that the right solution can be given to our customers,” he adds.

The company’s new products, particularly in the areas of Neat Oils and Water-miscible Metalworking Fluids including the latest B-Cool Motec 501, and B-Cool MC 610 are already available in the Indian market.

The recent investment in the Country Competence Centre in India (CCC) is an example of the future-oriented journey of the coolant company. The CCC gives Blaser customers an opportunity to monitor their critical coolant parameters.

The Technology Center is equipped with the latest CNC machines as well as state-of-the-art CAD/CAM systems for optimally simulating and thoroughly understanding the customers’ production situations.

Poonam Pednekar

Chief Copy Editor

Magic Wand Media Inc

poonam.pednekar@magicwandmedia.in