Shashank MP, Managing Director of FFG MAG India, reflected on his 18-year journey with the company, emphasising its legacy as one of the world's leading machine tool conglomerates. "FFG has a history spanning over 225 years and a strong global presence across Europe, the United States, and Asia, including Japan, Korea, China, and India," he shared.
Positioning FFG as a unique solution provider for the manufacturing industry, Shashank highlighted the group's comprehensive technological offerings. "We have a wide range of technologies that cater to the entire spectrum of manufacturing requirements. As a leading machine tool company, innovation is crucial for us. At our IMTEX booth, we're showcasing some groundbreaking technologies," he said.
Among the innovations on display was the SPECT 500, a new generation of high-speed and high-precision horizontal machining centres. "This machine is capable of full 5-axis simultaneous machining," Shashank explained. "We've significantly increased the speeds, feeds, and accelerations to help customers achieve high-volume production with fewer machines while consolidating multiple setups into a single machine. This reduces the number of machines and production lines required."
He also introduced a new range of twin-spindle turning machines, twin-spindle and twin-turret turning machines, and twin-spindle vertical machining centres. "These machines come with three patents and offer full axis compensation across all three axes," he noted, adding that FFG's reputation as a full solution provider goes beyond metal cutting. "We focus on delivering holistic solutions by investing in R&D to innovate our machines and enhance customer productivity through digital solutions that optimise equipment performance."
Energy efficiency and sustainability are central to FFG's offerings. "Our machines feature highly energy-efficient designs and comprehensive monitoring systems that provide customers with actionable insights to boost productivity," Shashank said. Addressing global sustainability trends, he added, "There is an increasing emphasis on near-net shape components, which reduces machining needs. We are integrating additive manufacturing processes like 3D metal printing with flexible manufacturing systems to deliver near-net shape objects for the future. Combining multiple operations into single machines provides customers with precision and accuracy advantages."
From an industry perspective, Shashank pointed out that the automotive sector remains FFG's primary business driver. However, he emphasised a growing focus on other industries. "There is significant investment in the railway segment, particularly in rolling stock and components like bogie frames and engines. Energy and medical equipment are also offering exciting opportunities, along with 3C components," he said.
In terms of geographical focus, Shashank emphasised India's promising market. "India, the United States, and China are our key markets. While other regions are transitioning from traditional automotive to electric mobility and hybrid technologies, India stands out with an excellent response over the last three years," he noted. "Our company is growing at almost 30 per cent in India, which is very encouraging. We set up a state-of-the-art facility in 2019, and now we're embarking on phase two of our expansion. This will double our production capacity in India, reflecting our commitment to this dynamic market."
