Rajesh Mandlik, Managing Director, Setco Spindles India Pvt. Ltd., (Formerly Ultra Precision Spindles Pvt. Ltd.)

While most young and dynamic mechanical and electronics engineers struggle to choose between hard core industries and software companies, I personally invite attention of these young forces to machine tool industry.

For an engineer who loves creativity, has the zeal to go the extra mile, and enjoys excelling in every process, machine tool industry is the perfect fit. High design expertise, artisan skills, enthusiasm to work with patience are some of the key qualities that an engineer aspiring to work in the machine tool sector should possess. The satisfaction you get on seeing machines being built is a joyous process. Once completed, you are on cloud nine.

Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers' Association (IMTMA), represents the machine tool industry in India. IMTMA has been instrumental in hand holding of small and medium industries to take them to a new orbit. IMTMA membership is a perfect blend of big companies and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It creates many networking platforms allowing CEOs and other top executives to exchange thoughts. IMTMA conducts a number of engineering courses at its Technology Centres in Bangalore, Pune and Gurgaon to help the industry to update their knowledge on various aspects of the machine tools. Some of these programmes held regularly at Productivity Institute, Finishing School and Design Institute are of longer duration and help engineers to gain knowledge not only on the finer aspects, but also get a deeper knowledge on the subjects.

IMTMA organizes various activities on defining a vision for the industry as a whole. The Association keeps the industry abreast with latest developments and that helps companies to benchmark, take delegations to exhibitions, allow member companies to get into joint ventures, technical tie- ups, and gain access to distribution networks across globe. IMTMA closely works with government agencies to echo industry voice on right ears. Their recent efforts to set up an Integrated Machine Tool Park is an excellent example of how visionaries at IMTMA work in the interest of the industry.

I personally appeal to all related industries to become a member of IMTMA and benefit from the various initiatives. It would not be out of context to invite young breed of engineers to join this wonderful machine tool industry and be part of the 'Make in India' mission.

To let you know the growth prospects of this industry let me quote the vision of IMTMA to which members are committed.

"We will be in the Top 5 Machine Tool Building Nations by 2020 Leveraging World Class R&D, Infrastructure, Systems and People Delivering Innovative Solutions and Services to Create 'Value for Customers.' "

Disclaimer : The views expressed in this article are that of the author and not that of IMTMA.