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We are planning to set up an assembly unit for gear-cutting machines in the next two years and will start manufacturing gear-cutting machines in the next five years, says Jiri Horacek, Managing Director, GearSpect India, in an interview with Huned Contractor. Excerpts of the interview.

What connects GearSpect to the automobile industry?
GearSpect Group, a ?90 million company, is a leading manufacturer of gear-cutting machines as well as gear measuring instruments that find application with automobile companies, and automotive ancillary manufacturers. We supply products and services to the markets of Europe, USA, Asia and Russian-speaking countries. Having manufacturing facilities at Celakovice in the Czech Republic, GearSpect started its engineering activity in 1990 by establishing IPG v.o.s., a company for the reconditioning of gear-cutting machines. In 1993, the company expanded under a new name, Strojirny Celakovice s.r.o., with the addition of a machining workshop, laboratory and research & development activities.

In line with the hundred-year-old tradition of our parent companies TOS Celakovice and Praga Praha, which specialised in the production of gear-cutting machines and truck gearboxes, we started using our own brand GearSpect in 1995. Our main product portfolio comprises gear-cutting machinery, profile gear-grinding machines, gear hobbing machines, gear shapers, gear-shaving machines, milling machines and grinders for the production of spiral bevel gearing, including devices and instruments for measuring gear tooth deviations.

What are the major focus areas of GearSpect in India?
GearSpect India started as a sales subsidiary in February 2011 at Pune. It facilitated the supply of our products by importing them. However, looking at the rise in demand, we decided to set up an SSI unit in Pune, making us the only company in India to manufacture gear-lead profile pitch inspection equipment. We have a dedicated service unit.

Spread over 6,000 sq ft and built with an investment of Rs 6.5 crore, the manufacturing facility at Pune will eventually manufacture gear- measuring equipment and gear-cutting machines required for automobiles, automotive ancillaries, aeronautics, heavy engineering, construction equipment and defence sectors. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to design, develop and manufacture gear measuring equipment. It will help us deliver quality products at cost-effective prices. We will initially be manufacturing 12 units per annum and then increase our capacity in the future. Our long-term plan is to use this facility for exports as well.

What is the market for gear lead profile testers in India?
Our study indicates that there is a market of about 30-35 units per year. We are targeting a 30 per cent market share. Apart from automotive giants, Pune has a large number of gear manufacturing companies, which is why we have chosen to set up the plant there. Moving forward , we also plan to set up sales offices at Chennai and Gurgaon both of which have a significant base of automobile manufacturers.

What kinds of gear measurement machines do you make?
There are machines to measure the geometric accuracy of gears. The DO3PC for example, is capable of complete measurement of geometric deviations of involute gearing like profile deviations, lead deviations, pitch deviations, redial run-out, diameter over ball ball, span, etc. There are also machines for measurement by the double flank rolling method such as the DO1PC, which enables computerised double flank evolution of spur/helical gear and is also cable of diameter over ball measuring.

Tell us about your gear-cutting machines.
We have several models, including the SF 80/200 CNC which is a gear hobbing machine with a high productivity rate. It has a modern mechanical design with a torque motor that ensures excellent dynamic machine characteristics for using efficient tools. Then there is the SF 350/500 CNC which is a gear hobbing machine with 6-axes CNC controlled gear generating machine with high mechanical rigidity and high operating machine accuracy. We have up to nine such different machines in our portfolio.

What are your future plans?
We are planning to set up an assembly unit for gear cutting machines in the next two years and will start manufacturing gear-cutting machines in the next five years.