EIFCO, a legacy of precision and innovation since 1958, has emerged as a key player in the gear machine manufacturing industry. From its humble beginnings, the company’s strategic shift in 1976 towards conventional gear hobbing machines laid the foundation for over three decades of excellence.

In 2010, EIFCO embraced CNC technology, marking a paradigm shift and setting new standards in precision engineering.

Beyond its 4-axis and 7-axis configurations, they responded to market dynamics and customer feedback, venturing into automation to offer end-to-end solutions.

Today, EIFCO stands as a global player, with exports to Europe initiated in 2023, showcasing a commitment to delivering world-class products.

Mr. Abishek Ramesh, Managing Director, EIFCO spoke with Sushmita Das and sheds light on EIFCO’s ‘Make in India’ triumph, that emphasizes the advantages of indigenously built CNC gear hobbing machines, and more. They envision a significant role in the ongoing “Make in India” campaign, with joint ventures on the horizon and a customer-centric philosophy at its core.

How has the “Make in India” initiative influenced your gear manufacturing operations and strategies?

The “Make in India” initiative has led to a significant number of foreign companies establishing gear manufacturing units in India, creating substantial demand for locally-produced CNC gear hobbing machines.

What are the key advantages of your indigenously built CNC Gear Hobbing machine?

CNC gear hobbing machines built domestically are cost-effective, leading to a lower cost per component. Service for these machines is readily available, and their lead times are comparatively short.

Could you elaborate on any specific challenges you’ve encountered in the process of developing this machine?

Manufacturing gear machines is a highly intricate process, and the knowledge required to construct these machines is not easily accessible.

There is a lack of consultants available to provide guidance when encountering challenges. Therefore, individuals must delve deeply into their resources and conduct extensive research to achieve success.

How do you ensure that EIFCO’s indigenously built CNC Gear Hobbing machine meets global quality standards while being manufactured in India?

We examine our German and Japanese counterparts for the features they offer in their gear hobbing machines.

To attain comparable performance levels and incorporate those features, extensive in-house research and development efforts are undertaken.

What type of control system does the CNC gear hobbing machine use, and what programming languages are supported for creating machining programs?

Any controller providing flexible synchronous control is suitable. Our primary choices include Fanuc, Siemens, or Mitsubishi.
We’ve designed proprietary software for executing macros. It takes only four hours to train a machine operator with minimal skills.

Can you provide details on the spindle speed range and the corresponding feed rates achievable with the CNC gear hobbing machine for different materials?

This is highly dependent on various factors. The speed and selection criteria rely on:
The hardness of the component
The module being cut
The hob material and its coating
Whether dry or wet, hobbing is used
Considerations for chip thickness
The number of gashes on the hob
The number of starts of the hob
The desired quality after gear hobbing

Without addressing these aspects, it is not possible to pinpoint specific speed and feed selections.

How does the machine handle different module sizes and pitch diameters in gear hobbing? Are there any considerations for specific gear configurations?

Typically, we categorize modules into micro, small, medium, and large, and we have a dedicated machine for each of these categories.

How do you envision the future of gear manufacturing in India under the ongoing “Make in India” campaign?

There is a significant occurrence of joint ventures taking place.

Abishek Ramesh

Managing Director, EIFCO