Ring gear

By: Sushmita Das

Founded in August 1972, Research Development & Manufacturing Corporation (RDMC) has evolved into a global leader in high-precision gear manufacturing. Specialized in crafting tailored components for the engineering sector with over 50 years of experience, Gear Technology India caught up with Tarun Nahata about his company’s role in custom gear manufacturing, and more.

Can you provide an overview of your company’s background and activities?

Established in August 1972 in Bangalore, Research Development & Manufacturing Corporation (RDMC) embarked on a journey with the ambitious vision of serving the engineering sector and establishing a global footprint. With over five decades of experience, RDMC has emerged as a premier manufacturer of High Precision Gears, specializing in the precision machining of components tailored to meet our customers’ exact specifications.

As an ISO 9001:2015 certified company, we uphold quality standards that rival the best in the industry.

RDMC looks forward to new ventures, with its parts encompassing higher precision and driven by innovation.

What is your manufacturing capacity for different types of gears (spur, helical, bevel)? Can you share details about the largest gears you’ve produced and their applications?

Over five decades, RDMC has meticulously developed a cutting-edge machine shop that seamlessly integrates both CNC and Conventional machines.

Our unwavering commitment to excellence is evident in our strategic investment in the latest technology, aligning our capabilities with the dynamic demands of today’s market. RDMC proudly boasts a collection of top-tier machines sourced from industry leaders.

Within our state-of-the-art facility, our robust machines stand ready to manufacture External Gears with precision finish cuts in both Spur and Helical configurations. These machines excel in handling a wide range of diameters, spanning from 10mm to an impressive 1800mm, with Module specifications ranging from 0.75M to 24M.

The versatility of our operations extends to Internal Gears, where finish cuts are achieved with diameters ranging from 50mm to 1000mm and Module specifications from 0.5 to 12 Modules.

Moreover, our capabilities extend to external ground gears, offering a range from a minimum diameter of 10mm to a maximum diameter of 1100mm, and supporting a maximum module of up to 25M, all while maintaining a gear quality standard of DIN 5. Internal Grinding processes cover a diameter spectrum from a minimum of 230mm to a maximum of 1000mm, also adhering to a gear quality standard of DIN 5.

Complementing our comprehensive gear shop is our sophisticated machining setup, featuring a battery of CNC Turning & CNC VTL (with a turning capacity of up to 1800mm), VMC, HMC, and a range of other allied machines.

RDMC proudly houses an impressive Inspection Facility, equipped with a Klingelnberg P100 Gear Tester and a CMM capable of measuring parts up to 1500mm x 1200mm x 1000mm. This underscores our commitment to ensuring the highest standards of quality and precision in every aspect of our operations.

At RDMC, our dedication to staying at the forefront of technology and quality assurance positions us as a reliable and versatile solution provider in the ever-evolving manufacturing landscape. The largest gear manufactured at RDMC was Dia 1800mm x 16 module (Cut Gear) for a Tyre Machine Manufacturer. In the past, we have also manufactured tailor-made precision large-size gears for Dams, Paper, Sugar, Cement and Steel Mills.

What’s the largest custom-built gearbox you’ve supplied, and who was the recipient? Additionally, could you share the applications for which this gearbox was used?

In the year 1989 RDMC exported gearboxes for industrial application to the then-Soviet Union of Russia and has since pioneered the capability of manufacturing gearboxes of all sizes and applications. RDMC also emphasizes on having its manufacturing skills in Planetary gearboxes for applications like windmills, marine engines, industrial gearboxes, and so on.

Gearbox 2

Have you supplied any gears or gearboxes to the aerospace industry?

RDMC has not only supplied gears but has also machined and supplied complex components for the aerospace industry namely HAL, AERDC, GTTC, NAL, ISRO, ISTRAC etc. RDMC has had the privilege to be a part of projects like Agni & Prithvi, Cheetah Chetak helicopter, ALH, LCA, KAVERI Engine Project and more, for which we have been appreciated by both Ministry of Defence & Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Kaveri Engine

What is the highest level of accuracy that you have achieved in gear production?

At RDMC, we always strive to give the best of quality to our customers, and we take pride in saying that we have been consistent in our gear quality while maintaining DIN class 5. In exceptional cases, we have also achieved DIN class 4 for projects from ISRO, HAL, & AREDC.

Have you developed gears or gearboxes as alternatives to imported products? If so, what applications do they serve?

RDMC is one of the preferred suppliers across the gear manufacturing industry when it comes to indigenization or alternative to imported products. We have been associated with the industry’s best in gearbox manufacturing like Flender, Renk, and Bonfiglioli to name a few.

Gearbox 1

Could you describe the key high-precision machinery in your facility used for manufacturing high-accuracy gears?

High Accuracy Gear Manufacturing not only requires high-precision machinery but also requires a robust process & tooling. The key machines to get accurate gears are gear hobbing, gear grinding and most importantly the right gear testing machine. It is the feedback from the gear tester that helps generate the desired high-accuracy gear.

We have the state-of-the-art Liebherr gear hobbing machine, which is complimented with the industry’s best Hofler (now Klingelnberg) gear grinding machine that is further validated by the Klingelnberg gear tester.

KLP 100 gear tester

Please explain RDMC’s design and development capabilities.

We have a team of highly trained, dedicated, innovative, and passionate individuals specializing in CAD (Computer-Aided Design), CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing), and CNC programming across a spectrum of machines. Our adept CNC programmers are well-versed in operating gear hobbing, gear shaping, gear grinding, CNC turning, VMCs, and HMCs. They possess the capability to seamlessly guide the production process, from manufacturing to self-inspection, ensuring that stringent quality requirements are met at every stage.

What sets your products apart?
What is your unique selling proposition (USP)?

RDMC’s key USP is the rich experience we have garnered over five decades, which is one of the main contributing factors that gives us an edge over our competitors. At RDMC, we not only supply parts but also partner with our customers and provide solutions. One of the most gratifying compliments that our customers give us is “If no one in the industry can do it, then go to RDMC,” and this is the most assuring accolade that we have earned in the past five decades.

Can you please mention a specific sector to which RDMC has uniquely contributed?

RDMC has been mainly into earth moving and off-highway equipment, and we are one of the leading suppliers to all the big brands in this field. Currently, we are involved in a very prestigious defence project under the Make in India scheme by indigenising the transmission for T-72 tanks.