We enhance customer productivity

By OEM Update Editorial December 29, 2023 7:20 pm IST

Vijaykrishnan Venkatesan, Managing Director, Kennametal India Limited talks about the innovative solutions offered by Kennametal India, how they enhance productivity for customers, and future expansion plans for the company.

Please talk about Kennametal products, solutions and other manufacturing activities. 
With Kennametal’s history spanning over eight decades, the company’s journey in India commenced in the 1960’s when Widia India Private Limited was incorporated in Bengaluru. In 2002, Kennametal acquired WIDIA, leading to the establishment of Kennametal India. The company  offers innovative solutions across three main product groups: metal cutting tools, wear resistant solutions and machines

Metal cutting tools are crucial for machining various metal components in aerospace, automotive, wind energy, and other industries. These tools, including inserts, drills, and endmills, play a vital role in manufacturing. The second product category focuses on wear resistant solutions, which we showcased in events like EXCON. These solutions find applications in road milling, foundation drilling, coal mining (underground and surface), and even in processes like drawing steel wires. Tungsten carbide coatings are provided for equipment requiring high resistance. The third product line consists of machines supplied to automotive OEMs and tier suppliers, including special-purpose machines, tool and cutter grinders,   deep hole drilling and vertical turning lathes.

How does Kennametal contribute to disseminating knowledge about best practices in machining, potentially through workshops and training programs to benefit the industry? 
Kennametal has maintained its position as a leader in technology and engineering, focusing on delivering solutions to customers through knowledge dissemination. This involves conducting technical seminars and training individuals on the shop floor in manufacturing or construction settings. Information is shared through various mediums, such as technical articles, trade magazines, webinars, and the company’s website. Application engineers play a crucial role in knowledge transfer, offering on-site training and participating in symposiums and seminars. Kennametal adopts a comprehensive approach, encompassing conventional methods like conferences, in-shop training, as well as new-age digital platforms. The company’s strength lies in introducing new knowledge and technology to enhance customer productivity at an optimal cost. The strategic emphasis on training and knowledge distribution has remained pivotal to Kennametal’s strategy over the years. .

What are your future expansions and the products in the line? 
Focusing on product development, the primary goal is to enhance customer cost-effectiveness and productivity across the machines, wear resistant solutions and cutting tools that we offer. The longstanding focus has been on innovation, with a commitment to delivering solutions that significantly improve customer productivity.

Our expansion plans extend beyond mere capacity increase. We intend to integrate new technology and create products that represent innovation and also have the potential to revolutionise the industry. Therefore, any discussions regarding expansion include not just considerations of capacity but also the modernisation of facilities, but also incorporating new equipment for a more sustainable approach to production. The emphasis is on sustainable manufacturing practices and sourcing, coupled with introducing highly innovative products to the Indian market. This strategic approach defines Kennametal’s direction when addressing expansion and modernisation initiatives.