Wohlhaupter optimistic about Indian market despite challenges

By OEM Update Editorial August 31, 2020 2:13 pm IST

Right now in this pandemic, the market situation is uncertain. I am sure that as soon as COVID-19 fades away the market will again pickup at a faster pace than the beginning of Q1-2020.
Keshav Khurana, Executive Director, Wohlhaupter India Pvt. Ltd.

Wohlhaupter India Pvt. Ltd. provides engineering, technical support, and onsite application services within India for Wohlhaupter GmbH and Allied Machine and Engineering Corp., the leading manufacturers of holemaking and finishing tooling systems. In an interview with OEM Update, Wohlhaupter India’s Executive Director Keshav Khurana talks about his company’ offerings for the aerospace segment, upcoming products, expansion plans etc.

Could you enlighten us about AMEC & Wohlhaupter’s offering in the aerospace segment?

Wohlhaupter India, a subsidiary of Wohlhaupter Gmbh and Allied Machine and Engineering (AMEC), offers a variety of high-precision tooling systems for manufacturers of aerospace components. Our tooling excels in machining key components which include jet turbines, valve actuators, landing gear, wing hinges and more.

We also specialise in a wide range of holemaking applications specific to the aerospace industry. Our precision tooling addresses the unique challenges of material used in aerospace component production including hard plastics, carbon reinforced polymer fiber, 4340 alloy steels, 6061-T6 aluminum, ductile stainless steels, and high-temperature alloys like 6Al4V.

Aerospace components demand precision finishing. What are you doing on this front?

We are the world’s only manufacturer to offer finish machining tools with continuous digital traverse measurement from Ø 3mm – 3,255mm. Since 2003, our customers have appreciated the rapid, precise and convenient digital adjustment of our DigiBore precision boring tool. Now with automatic internal balancing facility and tools in lightweight Alu-Line construction from Ø 65mm, Wohlhaupter is consistently further developing the digital precision adjustment of the Balance series. The precision boring tool from the 537 digital series also offers the advantage of µ-accurate digital tool adjustment from Ø 100mm – 3,255mm. Innovations that get you where you want to go, faster.

Free online utilities help customers navigate through the tool selection process. In fact, Tool-Architect and ToolMD allow customers to virtually configure and customise tools based on customer specifications in just a few clicks of the mouse. They can build, save, edit and download 2D drawings and 3D models for use in facility software for collision testing, etc. We also offer Insta-Quote, a user-friendly utility designed to help customers not only design customised tooling but obtain quotes and place orders in minutes.

What are the USPs of your Balance finish boring systems?

The Balance line is one of the world’s smallest self-balancing digital boring tools with a feed-in accuracy of 0.0001-inch (0.002mm). This finish boring system was designed with a hard-anodised surface treatment, internal auto-balancing and coolant-through capabilities.

The 565 (564) Balance series includes six sizes which cover a diameter range of 1.968 inch – 8.070 inch (50mm – 205mm). Tools with a diameter range of 1.968 inch – 2.579 inch (50mm – 205mm) are made of steel while those between 2.559 inch – 8.070 inch (65mm – 205mm) are made of light-weight aluminium.

Aerospace components demand hole finishing precision, and the digital display on Wohlhaupter boring heads provides easy adjustment resulting in dimensional corrections accurate to within a µ. The series also features auto-balance for optimal finish machining. Any resulting imbalance is compensated by mass balancing, which takes place automatically and minimises the residual imbalance produced by adjustments to the insert holder diameter.

The Balance 565 (564) boring head series is also versatile. The insert holder can be rotated 180-degree for back boring applications, and the system can also be used for OD application via a semi-standard insert holder or with our AluLine serrated slides with suitable adapters.

What are the advantages of your DigiBore boring tool?

DigiBore boring tools have the ability to display size changes in micron values. This display can be integrated or removable. The size moves in positive or negative direction as per application requirement and the display moves only when the internal mechanism moves while setting the size. This avoids backlash which affects each & every boring tool in the world, since any part being mechanical, they have backlash due to the friction in mating parts. Digital display moves when the backlash is over during size setting.

Are you planning on adding more products?

We have a new high-speed replaceable insert drill launching this fall as well as a new boring tool.

Now that the Indian government has raised the FDI limit in the defence manufacturing from 49% to 74% under automatic route, how do you see the opportunities for domestic manufacturers?

This has opened many opportunities for manufacturers as earlier defence manufacturing was very much limited and only available to PSUs companies. With more manufacturers there will be newer ideas for more efficient machining. Cost of developing a component will also reduce due to competition. There will be reduced time for making the components too.

What opportunities can the move bring for machine tools and cutting tools industry?

It will open up a wider customer base and can be a new area of growth for all of us. We will see a lot of infrastructure developments and job opportunities for our youth in India.

What are your plans for the Indian market for the next few years?

We are optimistic about the Indian market. Right now in this pandemic, the market situation is uncertain. I am sure that as soon as COVID-19 fades away the market will again pickup at a faster pace than the beginning of Q1-2020.

We are positive in our efforts and are looking at an aggressive growth in coming years. Over the last three years, we have worked to form a cohesive “Allied–Wohlhaupter” identity in India and have made a strong impact by providing outstanding service to our customers. In the next three to five years, our strategy entails expanding our field support to provide outstanding engineering and technical support locally to more areas within India.

In addition to supplying superior holemaking and finishing tools, our technical teams are present all over India for your support. We also service our boring heads as an exclusive benefit for our customers.

AMEC & Wohlhaupter’s offering in aerospace segment

• The APX drilling system, developed by AMEC, caters to processes involving deep hole drilling such as in jet turbine engines.
• Wohlhaupter’s 364 boring head is excellent for reducing lengthy cycle times when boring aluminum aerospace body assembly components.
• AMEC’s T-A drilling system lowers production cost. It also improves tool life for manufacturers drilling cast stainless steel gear actuators or aluminum aerospace connectors.
• The BT-A (STS) offers a double effective cutting which allows up to two times the penetration rate over conventional BTA heads and is a great choice for cross holes in landing gear components.
• Solid carbide drill ASC 320 is the optimum choice for drilling aerospace fittings, the inner diameter of pressure-sealed stainless steel rotor housing, and small bushings composed of 625 Inconel.
• The Wohlhaupter VarioBore with 3E Tech Digital Module provides precision boring for rod ends and the Wohlhaupter 365 boring head produces quality holes in deeper length-to-diameter ratio applications. The 365 also delivers consistent hole size and superior surface finish with its internal balancing system, perfect for wing hinges.