MAKING MACHINE TOOLS FUTURISTIC

January 2, 2021 10:42 am

Indian machine tools market is presently witnessing an invariable growth. Machine tools are extensively employed across various segments like, cutting, forming, grinding abrasion among the others. With the advent of technologies towards machining and technology, Indian machine tools industry is adding mileage by having an optimistic approach towards innovations. This optimism has led to an increase in demand for flexible designs that can be easily aligned with technical transformations.

With Government push towards “Vocal for Local” and having indigenous manufacturing under Atmanirbhar Bharat, we see that Indian machine tools acting as a catalyst in enhancing India’s manufacturing vision in the long run. It further offers wide opportunities for indigenous manufacturing and technologies further reducing dependency on imports. 

On this note, experts from machine tools sectors share their collaborative views on increasing India’s share in the global manufacturing market with the advent of advanced and futuristic machine tools. 

Foreseeing India as a global hub for machine tools

When we talk about machine tools or Indian manufacturing sector, it’s not just the machine learning, is about the available and newer integrated technologies. Moreover, with the kind of technologies we have been talking about, and with our acceptance towards industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0, we are moving towards futuristic tools to strengthen the significance of Indian Machine Tools. Most of the tools which we are talking about are definitely going to be based on IoT and other technologies. I would rather say that the machine tools will become more interactive, within the language of machine with each other and decision will be taken on the shop floor. And the old traditional technologies won’t be used at large as it won’t be relevant, as futuristic innovation is the need of the hour. 

Inderpreet Singh, Vice-President, Sales, Addverb Technologies, highlights that Addverb Technologies is actively involved into robotics and have even seen their robots communicating to each other. “In fact, our robots and our hardware are entirely IoT based and they communicate to each other. Addverb have recently implemented few robots in the U.K., and if w want to do some changes in the hardware, from the coding stand point also, we have integrated the communication systems such a way that command changes to one aspect of the robot, will automatically translate the changes to all the robots. So you can imagine the kind of technology we are talking about, and this will continue. In fact, I feel a lot of companies will start analysing the significance and gradually move towards it, as they have started understanding the broader aspects.” Here, the pandemic has played a key role in triggering the industries to shift towards innovation in almost every segment. Today, industries are more open towards automation, they even moved towards advanced technology machines; even we have automated laser cutting machines. It’s entirely IoT based, and are highly interactive; these machines communicate with each other and every single part is made with near precision with automation.

So, I think machines should have that kind of interactive tools. When we give inputs in one particular robot, the rest of them should be aligned with the same instructions and get the job done. These are the future drivers of the market, and it will intensify even more in coming days. Now that it is already started off, I think India has to play a vital role as various manufacturers are already coming to India and are preferring businesses in India; earlier it was China, but the trends are changing and there is a lot of grants over into India and Vietnam. These are the two countries which really are doing very well and I really feel this going in very strong fashion” Singh added.

Talking about the legal aspects, we don’t need to worry too much. We don’t face any issues like infringement of IPs and others, because India as a country has very holistic view about businesses, our industry leaders particularly those who cater the space requirements where you need a very high level of investment” We are talking of industry leaders, industry captains, and I think they are mostly respected and acknowledged for their integrity” says Vineet Seth, Managing Director, Mastercam APAC – India. So we don’t have to be anxious on that part.

Investments in Technology – a cure or just a panacea 

Nothing is free, we need to invest to attain something; but the pandemic has left many people scattered. A lot of people are now considering of a lot of things which they never cared for. “I think the pre-COVID and post-COVID have changed a lot of things in the industry, and the technology is getting updated”, says Iranna Sidnal, General Maanger, BLUM-Novotest Testing & Measuring Technology Pvt. Ltd. If you notice, the technological pressures have resulted into drastic changes with increase in adoption of latest technologies. Every country has adopted these technological changes. Earlier, people preferred to have their specifics from their preferred location like only from the north, south industries preferred south; but this pandemic has brought us together and we today are open towards accepting technological advancements from anywhere.

Indian manufacturing has been highly active only in the recent years, and the manpower is also one of the major concerns. “I think the industrial economy is unevenly distributed across the country. Skilled labour was relatively available, but due to this pandemic, in certain areas people have shifted their base location which again has resulted into manpower crisis. The unavailability of sufficient man power has led the industries to invest more on technologies”, Sidnal adds. Since labours, people have returned to their place, but the industries will have to run the machine. Manpower shortage should not affect the processes, and hence adoption of these automated technologies will bring ease to the job. Suddenly, there is an increase in the automobile industry, and only technology can address the unavailability of man power. 

So industries have calculated the overall investments on the manpower and investments on technology, they also calculated the long term returns before investing in it.  So, this automation and digitalization is nothing but a replacement of manpower and skilled labour at some places so as to bring ease in the processes with precision and accuracy. Investments in technology don’t mean eliminating manpower, it’s a tool to bring precision in certain things which manpower cannot meet in the prescribed time. A robot can do things on its own, detect the errors, but it cannot correct them, it can’t function on its own. It works on commands, it can analyse but can’t ideate, can’t be creative. Creativity can be achieved with manpower and accurate implementation can be achieved with technologies like automation, IoT and robotics.

Investments in Machine tools

Investment in machine tools is like a chain because, as a manufacturer I am expecting someone to get my job done on time. And industry is being dependent on somebody, to get the job done; that may be a second arm, a sister concern or a third party. A manufacturer is paying someone for the project and he has some expectation from him which can be investments or services like free installations or free maintenance for a prescribed period. I think this establishment of internal chain of funding must be reassigned appropriately. “For instance, in Germany, if you buy any BLUM Systems, the insulation everything will be done by BLUM, the purchasing party will confirm the contract but, here, he will pay us the installation cost,” says Sidnal. But, here, the scenario is different; we demand and we offer after safe service, and I think this whole circle must be transformed. 

Measure to maintain safety of employee and enterprise

According to Maulilk Patel, Executive Director, SLTL Group and Sahajanand Laser Cutting Pvt. Ltd., challenges will be there in every country. But one of the challenges is that people are looking at the China model, and this is is something we must change challenges like, you know, we are a democratic country. So, you know, we have, we have to frame our own model. So there is no single point approach where, you know, it is going to be helping, but its industry or government, and also the workforce, they all need to get it synced as a mindset, on then only it is possible. Because, let’s be very honest, and this is a competitive world. And, you know, if you want to grow our economy to a $1 trillion by 2025, we need to make sure that it is achieved because everyone is so focused towards that goal and are putting all possible efforts towards achieving the same. But as you know, with the governments’ initiatives like skill India campaigns, Moreover, we, as a company are working towards making people much more skillful, as well as on the HR policy. The new policies which are which government is taking in place, I think they’re on the right track and this will help us for sure.

Indian machine tools and manufacturing going global

“It’s not just the manufacturing ecosystem or manufacturing ability or the skilled investments in machines or software; we must collectively work towards a higher goal”, Seth says. According to him, the focus today is more on India and some of the other economies which are relatively adjoining to us at our arm’s length. So, we must be prepared with a lot of things being put together. Also, I think some countries got the advantage of using reverse engine re-engineered products as their base for development. But thankfully India is not indulged too much in it; which is a great thing. And which is why the prowess of the Indian manufacturing ecosystem is higher than various others, and nations today are looking upon to India.

There are two ways to look at it. One, how does the Indian manufacturing fraternity go out of the country and expand? Let’s not forget that India is a great consumption economy. And that is one of the biggest reasons why we weathered the storm in 2008 and 2010, when the world was falling apart, our internal domestic consumption like car manufacturing or any other goods allowed us to remain afloat. To cut short, we have a huge potential within ourselves. 

Secondly, when it comes to the very high-end factoring applications like energy, aerospace, space applications, its better that we venture out; and we do have a few companies who cater space requirements. They know who are going out, who already have those associations or ventures over there and hence they are ready to look for investments outside. 

Continuing on the same, Singh agrees to Seth’s comments. He says, the mentioned three areas are rightly said to be the key parts and I feel that India has already started experiencing it, and underwent the changes. Addverb already have its offices in Singapore and Netherlands, and we are willing to venture into the European market, Asia Pacific and Australia. Under the present scenario, we will have to consider the COVID-19 impacts in the countries while venturing. The COVID-19 impacts have changed the business modules in several cases. This is surely impacting the businesses, even the Indian companies; Indian manufacturers have been facing the crux of pandemic. Expectancy and acceptance is still intact, especially in America, they still prefer India, Vietnam and other Asia Pacific regions. So the three things will be the key towards our future. 

While, Sidnal feels that India is very big country and it’s not simple to deal with the varying demands of people. With this, it becomes essential for us to focus more on domestic markets. It’s a great thing that India is going global but we must stick address the local domestic market demands as well because, India the biggest consumer of all types of goods. If you participate and participate in the activities, then I think funds will automatically start to show up. Investments will increase from the consumers as well as from the suppliers. But the focus should be on domestic market requirements. Cost compliance will remain to be the challenge as we are importing diluted materials and the challenge is again the cost at which we’re importing, the process and the deliverables because both seller and the customer has to deal with separate set of challenges.

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It’s not just the manufacturing ecosystem or manufacturing ability or the skilled investments in machines or software; we must collectively work towards a higher goal.

Vineet Seth, Managing Director, Mastercam APAC – India 

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We need to frame our own model structure towards safety. Government, industries and the entire work force should join hands to ensure safety and quality in an enterprise.  

Maulilk Patel, Executive Director, SLTL Group and Sahajanand Laser Cutting Pvt. Ltd.

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I think this establishment of internal chain of funding must be either stopped or it should be reassigned appropriately.

Iranna Sidnal, General Mananger, BLUM – Novotest Testing & Measuring Technology Pvt. Ltd.

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I think India has to play a vital role as various manufacturers has already started coming to India and are preferring businesses in India;

Inderpreet Singh, Vice-President, Sales, Addverb Technologies. 

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