Waste into Wealth: The Concept of Resharpening Worn-out Inserts
Founded in 2008, Globus Engineering Tools,, has carved a unique space in the Indian manufacturing ecosystem by offering specialized re-sharpening and regrinding services for cutting tools and inserts. Headquartered in Coimbatore, the company under the leadership of its visionary founder S. Rajmohan & S. Rajkumar, has helped numerous engineering and CNC workshops drastically reduce tooling costs without compromising on performance or quality. In this exclusive interview, Cutting Tools World delves into the journey, services, technological approach, and growth vision of Globus Engineering Tools, a company that’s redefining value through reusability. Excerpts:
Rajmohan
CEO & Founder,
Globus Engineering Tools
Rajkumar
Director & Co-Founder
Globus Engineering Tools
Q. Globus Engineering Tools has built a strong identity in the niche area of insert re-sharpening. What inspired the inception of the company back in 2008, and how has the journey evolved since then?
In the beginning of my career when I was engaged in machining, I realized that tooling costs can impact the bottom-line like anything. That ignited my thought process. I was bent upon helping manufacturers reduce these costs. I echoed this thought that money saved is money generated, and one could save a substantial amount by not discarding the worn-out carbide inserts, and by regrinding and refurbishing them for reuse. This laid the foundation for our business. Today we help companies not only save money but also enhance their productivity and operational efficiency.
Q. Re-sharpening cutting tools is often underestimated. Can you elaborate on how this process contributes significantly to cost reduction and sustainability in modern manufacturing?
Research has revealed that most companies do throw away their worn-out inserts without stopping to consider carbide inert recycling. As a matter of fact, these can be re-sharpened and reused. Carbide insert recycling is an aspect that most end-users are unaware of. We pioneer this concept. Carbide insert recycling reduces tooling cost, and enhances productivity. It also helps achieve sustainability in modern manufacturing.
Q. What types of inserts and tools do you typically regrind and coat, and how do you ensure the reconditioned tools perform at par with new ones?
Well, we recondition all types of inserts CBN / PCD, turning, milling, ceramic and cermet inserts. We also refurbish threading and grooving inserts. The reground and recoated inserts will be 70 – 90% as efficient as the new ones. This is why several MNCs are using our services for rejuvenating their carbide inserts. The savings are enormous.
Q. Could you share some insights into the technology and equipment you use for re-sharpening and coating? Have there been any recent upgrades or process innovations?
We use proven re-sharpening processes like island grinding, chip breaker grinding, radius conversion grinding or LH / RH tools grinding methods depending on the material. The edge preparation is done using honing or polishing. And we use the proven PVD for recoating the inserts. Our state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge technologies help us achieve optimal results.
Q. You mentioned conducting awareness programs for manufacturing companies. How receptive are clients to the idea of re-sharpening, and what kind of mindset shift is required for mass adoption?
Yes, we do conduct awareness programs to educate the customer and prospects. Manufacturers are now conscious that in order to remain competitive, they have to reduce manufacturing costs. And in that, reducing the tooling costs can make a big difference. Many of our customers, ranging from small specialty shops to large automotive and aerospace companies throughout India, have realized substantial savings with regrinding / recycling of inserts. They are quite delighted at the performance of the recycled inserts. Our skilled technicians leave no stone unturned in their efforts to ensure total customer satisfaction.
Q. Your operations are centered in Tamil Nadu. Do you plan to expand geographically to other parts of India or even overseas?
No, our operations are not confined to Tamil Nadu. We have customers spread across India- Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, New Delhi and Gujarat included. We are striving to expand our customer base even beyond our shores. We are creating awareness of our proven technologies, resourcefulness and prompt services through different avenues of communication and promotion using technical press and trade show participation.
Q. With the growing focus on Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing, how is Globus aligning itself to stay relevant and competitive?
We are keeping abreast of the trends in technologies relevant to us and keeping ourselves in step with them. We are an ISO 9001-2015 certified company and are known for our quality and reliability. Our production-line comprises sophisticated machines, and we have a dedicated, committed workforce that cannot settle for anything but the best. Our qualified team of young and energetic engineers responds to every reflex of the customer with innovativeness and commitment.
Q. Client satisfaction seems central to your business. Could you share a specific customer success story that highlights the impact of your services on their productivity and cost-efficiency?
Our portfolio is replete with testimonials from companies big and small, expressing great satisfaction of the quality we deliver, reliability and prompt service. They are appreciative of our customer-centricity which is interwoven in our work ethos. So it is difficult to single out one testimonial.
Q. Tooling costs can be a major burden in sectors like automotive and aerospace. How does Globus cater to the demands of such high-performance industries?
We have a revolutionary concept which has been tried in various CNC machines; it supports various materials; brings increased insert life; and reduces tooling costs phenomenally. It is all proven. Our quality is uncompromising. We have a sprawling facility to meet any demand from our esteemed customers. We are on the verge of expanding our facilities further with more high-end production machines and qualified people. So Globus will not be found wanting to meet any existing or emerging customer needs.
Q. Looking ahead, what are your strategic goals for the next five years, and how do you plan to position Globus as a thought leader in the cutting tool re-sharpening space?
The growth drivers for the future encompass effective leadership which is capable of building teams with a strategic outlook, defined purpose, deliberately focused on a global perspective. It also construes managing disruptions and innovating new products for both existing and new markets, thus making a global footprint. Our vision is to be the best company for cutting tool re-sharpening, recoating and rejuvenating solutions. Manufacturers should think of Globus, the re-sharpening experts, before they throw their worn-out inserts in the scrap yard.
