Mudhra's fine blanking facility inaugurated

The Chennai-based Mudhra Group of companies is all set to inaugurate a fine blanking facility on June 7 at the SIPCOT Industrial Park at Irungattukottai, near Chennai.The facility, called Mudhra Fine Blanc (MFB), marks the group's foray into the area of fine blanking, a high-tech metal forming process with applications in the automotive and light engineering industries.Phase I of the facility has been set up at a cost of Rs 18 crore.

Feintool Technologie AG of Switzerland is working closely with Mudhra in this venture by way of technology support, according to Mr Surojit Mukherjee, Managing Director of MFB.Feintool provides total solutions including presses, tools, consulting and training support, he added.The MFB plant features high-speed, fully automatic, heavy-duty presses that represent the "latest generation of fine blanking technology available anywhere in the world, and would be the first of their kind in India," a statement said.

With this facility, MFB would be in a position to deliver highly engineered, high-precision components in large volumes, it added.The Group plans to progressively ramp up MFB's capacity to 100 million components in the second phase.Fine blanking is an advanced precision stamping process wherein a component with precise geometry and smooth cut surface can be produced without additional secondary operations.The process is cost-effective in high-volume situations. It originated in the Swiss watch industry in 1923 and was extended in 1960 to the light engineering industry in Europe, including the automotive industry.

The technology finds wide application in the automotive industry, which is a major user of fine blanked components, accounting for more than 80 per cent share.MFB has already bagged significant orders with customers in India and is in the process of negotiating export orders with leading tier 1 and tier 2 firms in Europe, according to the statement.The Group is also looking at strategic acquisitions, in line with its strategy to establish a technology-driven manufacturing enterprise.The Mudhra Group was established in 1995 with the setting up of Mudhra Pressings, an integrated press shop and tool room, at the SIDCO Industrial Estate at Thirumazhisai, also near Chennai.Mudhra Pressings is now a leading supplier of brake system-related components and sub-assemblies for all vehicle categories, especially passenger cars and light trucks.