Indore (M.P.), The Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT), the R&D unit of the Department of Atomic Energy, celebrated its 40th Foundation Day function on 20th Feb 2023. As a part of this event three technology transfer agreements were formally signed for the companies to commercialise DED technology developed by RRCAT
Idea AM System, Vfuse Metal 4 Manufacturing Pvt. Limited and Lokesh Machines Limited are the companies look to commercialise the indigenous technology developed at RRCAT. Idea AM System and Vfuse Metal 4 Manufacturing are young start-ups working in additive manufacturing, and Lokesh Machines Limited is an established company in the CNC machines business.
The additive manufacturing incubation was related to the “Laser Additive Manufacturing System using Powder-fed Directed Energy Deposition (LAM-PF-DED)”. Foreign companies sell the machines of incubated technology of laser additive manufacturing systems for 5 Cr and above, whereas the incubation by RRCAT aims to deliver cost-effective products.
The Laser Additive Manufacturing System developed by RRCAT was named “Tvashtr.”, inspired from the name of an ancient sage from Rigveda who was a skilled craftsman and designed and developed beautiful objects.
Dr. C P Paul, Head, Laser Additive Manufacturing and Incubation Centre-RRCAT said, “Following the transparent DAE incubation framework, we received five expressions of interest from various startups and industries. After discussing and understanding the value addition components, business plan, and availability of facilities at technology developer laboratory, it is decided to go with the three incubators”. He added, “Then we discussed with the selected incubators about value addition and curated the concept. Now RRCAT will work with the incubates for 2-3 years to resolve any challenges related to the product, to establish the product in the market.”
(l-r) Technology transfer agreements with Idea AM Systems, V Fuse Metal 4 Manufacturing and Lokesh Machines
Mr. Hrishikesh Iyer, CEO of Idea AM System, Mumbai, received documents for the company’s incubation. They aim to develop the technology for academia and research labs as a cost-effective solution. Mr. Manoj Jain, CEO of Vfuse Metal 4 Manufacturing, Bhopal, incubated the technology to develop a hybrid manufacturing solution involving conventional additive sources. The target customers for Vfuse metal 4 manufacturers are National Labs and Indian industries. The third incubation was with Mr. M. Shrinivas, Director, Lokesh Machines Private limited. Lokesh Machines is a listed company and has a rich experience in the business of CNC machines. The company incubated the technology to combine additive and subtractive manufacturing technology.
COMPANY
TARGET CUSTOMERS
Idea AM System
Academia and Research Labs
V fuse Metal 4 Manufacturing
National labs and Indian industries
Lokesh Machines Private Limited
Indian and foreign industries
The incubation will strengthen the position of India in the metal additive manufacturing ecosystem and provide a cost-effective solution to customers. In addition, the Incubation center at RRCAT aims to develop new solutions for a wide range of technology challenges for additive manufacturing.
Technical Writer, AM Chronicle
Chinmay Saraf is a scientific writer living in Indore, India. His academic background is in mechanical engineering, and he has substantial experience in fused deposition-based additive manufacturing. Chinmay possesses an M.Tech. in computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing and is enthusiastic about 3D printing, product development, material science, and sustainability. He also has a deep interest in "Frugal Designs" to improve the present technical systems.
