. Shibaura Machine India (SMI) is a fully owned subsidiary of Shibaura
Machine, Japan, a global leader in high-precision injection moulding
machines, die casting machines, extrusion machines, machine tools, high
precision machine tools, micro pattern imprinting machines, high precision
optical glass mould press machines, industrial robots, electronic control
systems, and castings
. Fresh investment is set to increase the annual manufacturing capacity from
about 1200 machines to 4000 machines
Chennai, July 11, 2024
Shibaura Machine India (SMI), a subsidiary of Japan’s Shibaura Machine, the leading
manufacturer of high-precision injection moulding machines in the world, has
inaugurated its Unit 2 factory, adjacent to its existing factory in Chembarambakkam,
Chennai, India. Built with an investment of Rs. 225 crore, the new facility is all set to
expand SMI’s manufacturing capacity in the country.
SMI has a world class facility in Chembarambakkam that manufactures about 1200
injection moulding machines and auxiliary equipment in a year. The machines find their
applications in automotive, electrical, household & furniture, material handling, medical,
packaging, preforms, PVC, toys, writing instruments, and other industries. The
company has a growing customer base in India and over 45 countries in North
America, the Middle East, East & West Africa, and the SAARC region. With the new
factory, the manufacturing capacity of SMI will be increased to 4000 units a year in a
phased manner.
SMI began its operations in 2012 with the takeover of the plastics machinery business
of Larsen & Toubro founded in 1990. The company has laid the foundation stone for
the construction of a new manufacturing facility at a sprawling 11+ acres, adjacent to
its existing plant in November, 2022. In the next 3-4 years, SMI is expected to create
new jobs, increasing the team size. In addition, about 50 MSME vendors will be
developed to support the capacity expansion.
The unit 2 factory features: a) technical demo centre to showcase its products in
running condition with customers mould, b) clean and fully air-conditioned factory
capable of producing electric injection moulding machines with latest technology, c)
green certified infrastructure with roof top solar and other energy saving systems, d)
state-of-the-art high-human safety painting facility, e) high load capacity and high
ceiling height for the production of extra-large injection moulding machines of up to
3500 tonnes, f) simple and flexible factory capable of producing not just injection
moulding machines but also a variety of machines in response to changes in the
market.
Announcing inauguration of its Unit 2 factory in a press conference here today, Mr.
Shigetomo Sakamoto, President, Shibaura Machine Group, Japan, said, “India has
been a strategic investment destination for us, and it represents a growing market for
our products. However, what make the country even more attractive are its skilled and
dedicated people. Over the years, the teams in Japan and India have nurtured a strong
and fruitful partnership – as a result, SMI is able to carry out improvements in
manufacturing processes, increase production, and bring to market the latest
Japanese technology, all quite effectively and quickly. SMI has been recognised with
the prestigious Shibaura Machine’s President Award for its performance and
technology innovation. The Indian unit has won this coveted prize twice in three years.
We are confident of what our Indian team can achieve in design, manufacturing, and
customer service, in the years to come. We are equally committed to the government’s
Make in India program. Our new unit 2 factory will see doubling of production capacity,
and rapid strides in the adoption of advanced material technology, control,
mechatronics, and IoT in our Indian factories, in the next three years.”
In his comments, Mr. M. Kumar, Managing Director, SMI, said, “As we celebrate this
inauguration, we remember the tremendous faith our parent company, Shibaura
Machine Co., LTD has reposed on us, and their support in our growth. Since the
commencement of our operations in 2012, SMI carried out improvements in
manufacturing processes and increased production capacity from 600 to 1200
machines per year and tripled sales revenue. We have made steady progress year
after year, and crossed the milestone of selling our 10,000 th machine in 2019 and
14,000 th machine in Oct 2023. With the new investment, we will continue to grow our
capacity and team. We will add new products, and increase our customer base,
buoyed by the track record of being able to meet varied requirements of our customers
and the stringent standards of importing countries USA, Africa, Middle East, Europe,
South & Southeast Asia.”
Shibaura Machine Group was founded in 1938 as Shibaura Machine Tool Company
with investment from Shibaura Engineering Works (now Toshiba Corporation). It
changed its name to Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd in 1961. Later, in 2020, the company
was rechristened as Shibaura Machine Co., Ltd after becoming fully independent from
the Toshiba Group in 2017. It has been a market leader and industry benchmark in
high precision injection moulding machines in the world. Its product portfolio also
includes Die casting machines, Extrusion machines, Machine tools, High precision
machine tools, Micro pattern imprinting machines, High precision optical glass mould
press machines, Industrial robots, Electronic control systems, and Castings, etc.
Shibaura Machine entered into manufacturing in India in 2012, acquiring 100% stake in
L&T Plastics Machinery Limited, then market leader in hydraulic injection moulding
machines in India. It was incorporated as Toshiba Machine Chennai private Limited,
and in 2020, it was renamed Shibaura Machine India Private Limited.
In 2019, the company has won the 10 th National Awards, instituted by the Union
Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers, for Technology Innovation in Petrochemicals &
Downstream Plastics Processing Industry, for its ‘multi-colour/material’ Injection
Moulding machine meant for the production of anti-counterfeit articles. For this
innovation, SMI also won the coveted President’s Award from Shibaura Machine.
SMI is strongly committed to CSR. As part of its skill development program, the
company is running a Basic Training Provider program, recognised by the Ministry of
Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, to provide on job
training to Class 10-12 students. Till now 100+ students were qualified for internships
under the National Apprenticeship Certificate Scheme. It has constructed buildings for
government schools, and funded overhead water tanks and roads in villages.
