A Nano Manufacturing Technology Centre (NMTC) is being established at CMTI, with state of the art infrastructure and highly experienced scientists. NMTC will focus on the application /manufacturing of nano materials in products; development of machines for nano surface generation, and of nano sensors and control systems; and on nano fabrication and nano metrology services. Funding for this project, to the tune of Rs.120 crores over a period of 5 years, has been approved by the Government of India (GOI) under the Eleventh Plan.

A Digital Design Centre is being set up by CMTI at a cost of Rs. 5 crores. The purpose is to enable all aspects of the product to be visualized right at the design stage.  This would include everything from functionality, lifetime performance, product life cycle management and after life issues such as environmental hazards.  In addition, the knowledge acquired while developing new products, is to be documented and stored in such a way that it can readily be reused

An Applied Mechatronics Integration Facility is also being set up at a cost of Rs. 5 crores, to harness CMTI’s considerable exposure to Mechatronics.  It has been recognized that mechatronics competencies have become a necessity in product development.  This facility is expected to help the development of advanced technology products.

The Eleventh Plan also approved a fund allocation of Rs.19 crores towards setting up the Academy of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AEAMT). The aim is to create state of the art facilities such as advanced technology labs, with the most modern machines and equipment to do research in advanced manufacturing technologies. It will be modeled on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), USA. The facilities will be accessible to scientists, technologists, R&D engineers and research students.

Several R&D programs in collaboration with reputed foreign universities and institutes, in the field of nano manufacturing, are also planned. 21 collaborative R&D projects have been identified under the Nano Manufacturing Technology Project. The Director of CMTI, Mr. B. R. Satyan and Prof. S. Mohan of IISc along with CMTI scientists visited several of these universities/organizations. The organizations include the Western Michigan University, University of Michigan, University of North Carolina, University of Arkansas, Oklahoma State University, University of Nebraska, Lawrence Technological University, Wayne State University and the National Institute of Science and Technology. Also, collaborative linkages are being pursued with organizations and Universities in Germany, and Sweden covering the aspects of Parallel Kinematic Machines, Nano artifacts, nano surface engineering for applications of boundary lubrication in metal cutting, bearing, gearing, Networked Virtual Laboratories, etc.

Collaborative programmes are also being offered by the AEAMT. These include online programs and distance learning in Engineering Management, Non-Traditional Machining, Micro Engineering, Nano Technology, Advanced Machine Tool Planning, Assembly and Packaging of nano Devices and Products, Advanced Precision Engineering, Machine Tool Vibration Identification and Mitigation.  Collaborative Masters and PhD programmes are also envisaged

CMTI is well placed to coordinate and promote manufacturing initiatives on a national basis, with its wealth of accumulated technical acumen, and the tacit knowledge that it has gained over the years of its existence.  It was set up in 1962, under technical collaboration with the Institute for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (VUOSO), of the Czech Republic.

Conceived by the government to promote the development of post-Independence India’s nascent machine tool industry, CMTI was originally known as the Central Machine Tool Institute.  The role of the institute soon expanded, to make it the leading R&D organization not only for Machine Tools, but also Production Engineering and Manufacturing Systems.  In 1992 the name was changed to Central Manufacturing Technology Institute to better reflect its initiatives in the manufacturing and related domains. 

CMTI focuses its activities on three major spheres, in keeping with the current national policies of the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC), Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor, the Planning Commission and Ministry of Information Technology (MIT), and is supported by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and Department of Science and Technology (DST). These include creation of the facilities and development of the competencies required to facilitate development of advanced technology products; establishment of inter-linkages between R&D institutions, Academia and Industry in a viable and sustainable manner; and HR initiatives in developing industry-ready engineers with research experience and practical exposure.

The research advisory board of CMTI comprises eminent persons from industry and academia, who guide and help the institute in undertaking R&D with a practical orientation, to ensure that the research actually spurs technology generation and new product generation in the country. The governing council has also been upgraded to include eminent members from the aerospace and other strategic sectors, the IITs, IISc, government and so on. 

CMTI has already proved its mettle in the past by developing many machines and equipment for the Indian industry.  It has played a major role in supporting the strategic sectors in crucial stages, by successfully developing equipment that were not available, but nonetheless essential for the nation’s technological and strategic growth.  Director CMTI, Mr. B. R. Satyan is confident that, "With all these activities our scientists and engineers will get exposure to the latest developments in these domains and get opportunities to upgrade their knowledge and skill sets to keep up with the ever advancing technologies.  The new initiatives would help CMTI to really become a bigger player in the national context."