Centre asked to set up Machine Tool Development Centre

Bangalore, Jan 18 (UNI) The Indian Machine Tools Manufacturers' Association (IMTMA) has submitted a Rs 500 crore proposal to the Union Government to set up a Machine Tool Development Centre (MTDC) to establish synergy between the industry and the academia, IMTMA President C P Rangachar said today.

Addressing newspersons on the sidelines of the inauguration of the 13th edition of IMTEX-2007 and Tooltech-2007 here, he pointed out that China had set up such a centre to go in for more innovative research to sharpen skills and improve technical knowledge. The venture had proved to be a successful one.

Mr Rangachar said the proposal was well received by the Union Government and was expected to be included in the 11th five-year plan. The MTDC could be established anywhere in the country and the IMTMA would give all the required cooperation for it. ''The Indian industry itself is not in a position to invest huge sums to develop such a centre and hence Government intervention was sought.'' He said the IMTMA had requested the Karnataka Government to set up a Machine Tool Park in the city, which accounted for over 70 per cent of the machine tool industry in the State.

UNI