Kochi: The Kalamassery unit of HMT Machine Tools Ltd has played a key role in the success of second moon mission ‘Chandrayaan-2’.
“Our unit was the main agency engaged with assembly of components of the GSLV vehicle control system. We’ve been working on this project for last nearly three years and proud of being able to play a small role in the mission,” S. Balamurug-esan, general technical manager, told DC.
A group of 30 experts were engaged in the complex process at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre of the ISRO in Thiruvana-nthapuram. “The GOCO (Government Owned Company operated model) centre within the LPSC Thiruvanant-hapuram campus was managed by the HMT Kalamassery unit,” he said.
The Hyderabad unit of the HMT Machine Tools Ltd has indigenously designed and developed the ‘three Axis CNC Vertical Facing Mill’, which was used for machining of the solid rocket motors at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
“So far we’re importing the machine which cost Rs 40 crore. We were able to develop it indigenously and hand over to the ISRO for Rs 18 crore. This helped cut the project cost. We’re manufacturing another three similar machines for ISRO,” the official said.
The HMT is now planning to produce two to three such machines every year.
