The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Coimbatore Zone organised the 7th Edition of the Conference on Effective Metal Cutting with the theme “Smarter, Faster, Cost-Efficient” today, 19 December 2025 at Coimbatore.
Sarkar, Senior General Manager – Operations, ZF Wind Power, Coimbatore, in his Special Address on “Sustainable Machining Practices for a Greener Manufacturing Ecosystem”, provided deep insights into sustainability beyond its conventional environmental perspective.
He elaborated on how sustainability in manufacturing also encompasses operational efficiency, resource optimization, waste reduction and long-term business resilience.
Sharing best practices from his organization, he demonstrated how sustainable machining can drive both environmental responsibility and commercial viability.
Rajkumar, General Manager & Zonal Head, Union Bank of India, delivered a Special Session on “MSME Banking in the Digital Era”, where he spoke about the crucial juncture at which India’s MSME sector stands.
He reflected on the challenges MSMEs have historically faced from a banking perspective, particularly in areas of compliance and access to finance.
He highlighted that the government, through initiatives such as Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and simplified compliance frameworks, has taken significant steps to support MSMEs, with industry bodies like CII actively representing MSME concerns to policymakers.
He also noted a significant shift in MSME financing, where interest rates have become more affordable and competitive compared to earlier years. Addressing another major concern, he emphasized that collateral-free loans are now more accessible for MSMEs with proper compliance and documentation, marking a positive transformation in the banking ecosystem.
Ramesh, Past Chairman, CII Coimbatore Zone & Managing Director, Alphacraft, in his Welcome Address, highlighted that metal cutting forms the cornerstone of manufacturing across industries.
He noted that the global metal cutting industry is projected to grow to USD 120 billion by 2030, underlining the sector’s immense potential. Emphasising Coimbatore’s critical role, he stated that the region contributes nearly 40% of India’s industrial sewing equipment manufacturing and is home to over three lakh MSMEs.
He stressed that to remain competitive in global export markets, Coimbatore’s MSMEs must focus on value- added products, eco-friendly processes and sustainable manufacturing practices.
Ramachandran, Co-Convenor, Manufacturing Panel, CII Coimbatore Zone & Chief Executive Officer, Lakshmi Electrical Drives, in his Context Setting Address, described the metal cutting sector as the backbone of the manufacturing ecosystem.
He highlighted that the sector is poised for double-digit growth and emphasized the need for industries to move towards advanced manufacturing practices. He pointed out that cost optimisation, productivity improvement, sustainability and the transition of shop floors into smart factories are critical for long-term competitiveness, aligning closely with the theme of the conference.
Praveen Kumarr Bassker, Chief Executive Officer, Balaji Diamond Tools, in his Closing Remarks, thanked the speakers, sponsors and organising team for bringing together industry stakeholders on a relevant and timely theme.
He noted that the conference provided valuable perspectives on cost-efficient manufacturing, sustainability and the future-readiness of MSMEs, reinforcing the importance of collaborative platforms such as CII in driving industry growth.
The conference brought together industry leaders, MSME entrepreneurs, bankers and manufacturing professionals to deliberate on emerging trends in metal cutting, sustainability, digital adoption and cost competitiveness in manufacturing.
