16 | commercial micro manufacturing international Vol 7 No.3

Amidst challenging economy, the manufacturing industry isfacing stiff competition, and this has made each of themanufacturing industries look at Innovation as the

competitive weapon to create differentiation in the marketplace. Inthe automotive industry, this is more relevant since the expectationsof consumers are going up day by day, in lieu of wider exposure totechnology and comfort. In today’s age, style and aesthetics have anadditional focus, versatility is in higher demand, and hence theoverall requirement in the automotive industry – especially theautomotive component industry – is on an increase. They say,Necessity is the Mother of Invention, and it is also true withInnovation. All the global product designers are hungry for newtechnology and processes that can help them accomplish suchrequirement from the market.

MIM technology has an inherent innovation capability thatdifferentiates it from the other conventional metal cutting and metalforming technologies. Its feature of being able to injection mouldcomplex contours, however difficult they are, gives it a unique statusamong the crowd of manufacturing technologies. This has made itpossible for many designers to be able to bring unique productfeatures for the first time in the manufacturing world, and excite themanufacturing staff. This technology has given scope for thedesigner’s dream to turn into reality. There have been areas wherechallenging materials suggested by designers, were difficult toproductionise owing to non-availability of production-friendlycutting tools or machine tools. MIM has made such difficulties fadeaway, by its unique ability of forming shapes and giving themstrength. MIM technology is a four-step process, that uses very fineparticle powders (typically 15 ~ 20 micron size) as the basic rawmaterial. The process needs a mould, in the shape of thecomponent, so as to use the MIM feedstock to accord requisiteshape to the feedstock. Subsequent to this process is a debindingprocess that removes the binders, and finally a sintering process thatallows densification and renders the full strength to the component.In this way, MIM is able to accomplish strength in the componentthat is equivalent to the one achieved through stamping, forging,casting or machining. The process is a boon to the manufacturingindustry owing to the expertise it delivers in realising the complexshapes, which otherwise would mean longer throughput time andhigher cost.

Indo-MIM, based at Bangalore in India, has been in the business ofmanufacturing complex shaped parts using MIM process since1997. It has now become the world’s largest company in this field,

and has developed more than 3500 varieties of parts in variousmaterials and shapes for global customers. The main differentiatorof Indo-MIM is its willingness to take up challenging jobs from itsvarious customers, owing to which it has become the industry’sfavourite. With customers spanning across 45 countries, Indo-MIMhas been a supplier to various market leaders and Fortune 500companies in every field — automotive, consumer electronics,mobile phones, hand and power tools, sporting goods, machineryand equipment, locks, medical devices, sewing and textile machines,mountaineering equipments, aerospace, marine equipments etc.Some of the specific advantages that Indo-MIM brings for itscustomers are: fully finished products including any post-MIMmachining and surface treatments, sub-assemblies as per customerrequirements, re-design support for new launches, prototypecapability for validation of design and mass production.

Moving forward, Indo-MIM has now begun conducting technicalseminars at various countries at customer locations and variousindustrial areas, so as to disseminate information about thisinnovative technology facilitating technical teams of variousindustries to be aware of the capabilities. These seminars includecase studies of successful MIM parts, with information about thebackground of their earlier process. This approach has been wellreceived by the industry and seems to be beneficial to them.

Indo-MIM is a Lean Six Sigma company that uses Kaizen as its DNA,and works on improving process capability for all the processes ofindividual parts that it manufactures at both its plants in Bangalore.Each part that is made at Indo-MIM goes through a very systematicfeasibility study and thereafter a methodical process design. Thestructured approach used by the Indo-MIM team has helped to puttogether a robust process in place, which can be sustained monthafter month and year after year. This is the main reason that thequality assurance at Indo-MIM is sustainable and consistent.

The visitors who have visited the manufacturing plants of Indo-MIM,have been impressed with the facility, cleanliness, systems and thepeople. The capabilities of the company have also been wellacknowledged through getting awarded three prestigious awards atMPIF 2013, at a function held at Chicago, USA. This was a fittingrecognition of Indo-MIM’s endevaour in its march towardscontinuing leadership in this industry and providing support toglobal customers.

www.indo-mim.com

MICRO MOULDING | FEATURE

INNOVATION is the KeyManoj Kabre, Indo-MIM

CMM 7.3 QUARK8 proofed_Layout 1 16/05/2014 10:35 Page 16