- UB Cryogenics Solutions is the only company in India that offers advanced cryogenic technology for manufacturing cutting-tools, press-working tools, injection-molding-tools.
- This technology can decrease the industry’s tooling cost by 30-35% through productivity improvement and reduction in tool inventory over a period of time.
- The company plans to open units in South India by 2022-23 and even in Germany by 2025 to cater to the European market.
The word ‘cryogenic’ has been tossed about without much heed to the technology itself. But Bhushan Sonawane wouldn’t have it. He took up the mantle from our predecessors who had vowed to make India a leading world market again and decided to put his knowledge to work.
Sonawane’s Tryst with Cryogenic Technology
Indians have always been the ones to put green chilli and lemon on our doors to ward off evil or the ones to eat curd before embarking on a new journey without ever pondering on the reasons behind such superstitions. But when it comes to science, we have not been as kind.
Sonawane had to experience this peculiarity of the Indian consciousness very closely. He worked for India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation for a decade, especially in designing and mechanism. He worked with Tata Power Company in the Strategic Engineering Division (SED) on various projects like up-gradation of tanks, the Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher and more. After gaining experience here, Sonawane went to the US and discovered the world of cryogenic technology. He learnt everything, amassed all the data about this technology that his country was unaware of for 2 to 3 years before coming back to India. After that, he did what any sane person would do. He started a company.
Introducing India to Cryogenic Technology
The company was named UB Cryogenics Solutions LLP. The machines were imported from the US and Sonawane was all set for the exciting journey that was introducing this amazing technology to the various industries in India. Little did he know that this foreign name would leave their left eye twitching, and we all know what that means.
The people were unaware of the cryogenic technology and its use in the mechanical industry. Till then, the use of this technology had been limited to Defence.
People were wary and cynical about Sonawane and his ability to deliver on the promises he had been making. Sonawane would reach out to people and tell them about the tool-life-enhancement power of this technology but was disappointed with the response he got. “People said to me that if something happens to their tools, I will lose my job,” says this disappointed entrepreneur who can’t accept the market’s reluctance with a technology that can only lead to growth.
It was only after the successful use of his products that his idea received some acknowledgement and acceptance. He started with a gear-cutting tool which is one of the most critical tools used in the industry. Sonawane’s is the only company in India that offers such unique services to the Mechanical Engineering Industry and can be used for making cutting-tools, press-working tools, injection-moulding-tools etc. According to Sonawane, this technology can decrease the industry’s tooling cost by 30-35% through productivity improvement and reduction in tool inventory over a period of time.
The company supplies to Tier 1 OEMs or Original Equipment Manufacturers and Tier 2 companies, especially in the Press Tool Industry and the Gear Manufacturing Industry where tooling plays a very significant role. The demand for these products comes from Maharashtra, Indore, Bangalore, Haryana, Faridabad and many more cities.
Through the efforts of Bhushan Sonawane, India is opening up to the potential of a new and evolved technology and people are slowly realising the need for such cost-effective technology that is indigenous to the country.
Teething Problems
Even after much success, Sonawane still had to scrimmage with unawareness and lack of faith in science. The industry’s comfort with using archaic methods instead of a new, simpler and more efficient one bewildered him. He still tried and pushed for change. “Give me a tool. I won’t charge anything. I’ll process it and you see the result,” he would tell them. It did make some difference but not by much.
Coming up with an example to explain the impact of this technology, Sonawane reminds us of the staplers that used to get stuck in the middle of being used and we had to grapple with it till it would finally work again only to get stuck sometime later. He mentions that ‘Kangaro’ was the largest supplier of these staplers. To relieve his customers of this issue, he had used cryogenics to improve the maintenance of the dimension of a significant part of the stapler for it to stay in place. It is still taking people a lot of time to accept this technology. There is too much prejudice in the Indian minds.
People are not interested in how he makes the products, what the process is and how much work has to be put in it. They’re more concerned with the result and cost of it. They’re more interested in the ‘what’, not the ‘how’.
Envisioning a Cryogenic India
UB Cryogenics Solutions LLP is a member of the Cryogenic Society of America, and through their webinars, publications and articles, Sonawane has been continuously learning and incorporating the advancements in the field of cryogenics. Nothing will stop him from becoming the ‘Cryogenic Man of India’.
He remembers how, about 20-25 years ago, the coating process was seen as alien and unacceptable, much like cryogenics today. People refused to indulge in a technology they thought was too good to be true. Over time, they realised its usefulness and it has emerged as a standard practice in the industry now. Every tool has to be coated before use. Sonawane hopes for a similar future for cryogenics as well, as there is no alternative for this technology.
His hope for his country to adapt to new technologies faster to be at par with the leading countries in the race for development is evident.
Although he declined to comment on government’s efforts in this field, he does agree with the Defence Minister’s decision to decrease imports for defence because we too have companies and the capability to build defence equipment in the country.
Mr Sonawane plans to open a unit in South India by 2022-23 and another unit in Europe, specifically Germany by 2025 as the European market to has not been introduced to this technology. There is not a single player in the market except the UK. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way”, they say. Perhaps the sheer will of this one man will change the world for the better.
For more information visit: https://ubcryogenicsolutions.com/