Coimbatore-based Lakshmi Machine Works Limited (LMW) has come out with two world-class machines, one a vertical machining centre (VMC-J1 and the other a turning centre machining which is a linear tooling lathe called Smart LT. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel inaugurated and launched both machines at Engimach 2021 in the morning.
Lakshmi Machine Works Limited, Coimbatore, on Wednesday, by the hands of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhari Patel launched two new machines for the Gujarat market at Engimach 2021. Sharing details with Machine Maker, U Periasamy, Deputy General Manager, Business Development, LMW, described them as state-of-the-art machines and said this was being showcased for the first time for the Gujarat market.
He said the Vertical Machining Centre (VMC)-J1 and the Smart LT machine are equivalent to any of the imported machines and are at par with international standards. Compared to any Indian machine, the VMC-J1t is a superior machine on specifications. “For Gujarat market, we are also launching at Engimach 2021 the turning centre machining, linear tooling lathe called Smart LT.”
This machine is suitable for small parts components manufacturing, particularly the bearing industry. “We can avoid grinding operations to some extent, which is a bottleneck in any machine shop. That strain will be avoided. The finished part of the component will be 50 per cent equivalent to the grinding operations so that the grinding stress will come down”
Mr Periasamy said the machine can be used in any fitting industry, aerospace, any short cycle components, it has a very small footprint, is compact, and is at an affordable price. It can be used in small part machining and bearing raise machining.
He said the VMC J1, as far as specifications go, is superior to any Indian product. In addition, we have an in-line spindle. “It is a directly driven spindle”. The motor which is there for the drive can deliver up to 90-newton metres, which is 15 kW capacity.
Mr Periasamy said the Gujarat market needs a small footprint and this it is the cutest machine for this segment. “This product is suitable and versatile, is suitable because it is an in-line spindle with 8,000 rpm standard and goes up to 12,000 rpm, the rapid rate is the 48-metre rapid rate so the cycle time is reduced”.
Giving out more technical details, he said “ It comes with 24 tool ATC with two seconds tool change. In addition, it comes with a deliberated LMW specific screen which will bring convenience to the operator and maintenance for setting and operations. “The competency of the service engineer may not be required at the spot as far as breakdown is concerned. So the customer themselves can do the maintenance. They do not have to depend on external help”.
Asked about how the company dealt with the pandemic situation, he said LMW was prepared during the first pandemic and we were able to dispatch 150 machines because our manufacturing unit has a state-of-art machine and we have a designed manufacturing inventory. “As soon as payment is made, we can deliver it in two days. We have demonstrated this quick response, in some cases, we have delivered in four days”.
Mr Periasamy said customers want immediate delivery so that return of investment should come immediately, no one wants to wait for ROI. We have delivered 300 machines in a month and during the second pandemic, we were catering to the aerospace, defence and medical industry in a very big way. Almost 20-30 per cent of dispatch goes to these industries. “We were dispatching 200 machines. After the pandemic, we supplied to the automobiles sector and other industries. We have a backlog of 1,000 orders post-pandemic, the market is positive, and we should be able to fulfil the orders in about four months.