Lessons on Robotics and Automation in India from a Visit to Mumbai

We correct returned from one week in Mumbai, India, visiting Automation Expo 2024, one in every of that country’s premier automation commerce exhibits. The search the advice of with used to be section of an even bigger effort by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) to grow U.S. and India industry partnerships and pressure U.S. exports as section of a three-365 days Division of Commerce grant.

A3 final visited this commerce indicate 16 years ago. On the time, the Indian robotics industry had barely taken root. One in all the principle auto producers had hardly ever any robots deployed in 2008 — and seen itsy-bitsy the clarification why they would want more of them. This day, they use hundreds of robots in highly computerized manufacturing vegetation.

The landscape has clearly changed since then. As of 2022, India ranked 11^th globally in annual robotic installations, in step with files from the International Federation of Robots.

Nonetheless we would possibly well perhaps also watch the fun with our non-public eyes. The Expo featured a ground stuffed with robotics, machine vision, industrial machine, and A.I. capabilities. It used to be also stuffed with means customers from a spectrum of industries. Some perceived to are looking to dip their toes in the water, while others were having a leer to scale their operations at a blistering tempo.

As section of our search the advice of with, A3 hosted a panel discussion and networking dinner. The session, known as “How U.S.-India Partnerships Can Develop Automation in India,” featured Madhav Kulkarni, managing director, Nexteer Car India; Hari Parthasarathi, application engineering leader – IN, SEA & ANZ, 3M; Dale Deering, senior director industry model, Teledyne Imaging, and Jeff Burnstein, A3’s president. About 100 Indian industry leaders attended the session.

From that panel and other conversations in Mumbai, here are a couple of of our key thoughts and takeaways from per week in India:

QUALITY, SPEED, AND COST: Not like many markets which will be accelerating their deployment of robotics and automation, one in every of the central drivers is now no longer a shortage of labor. India has loads of team. Experts suggested us that the need for precision and velocity — along with the favor to manipulate costs — are pushing more companies, in further industries, to indicate to robotics.

MAKE IN INDIA: Apart from to to those pressures, the Indian executive has launched numerous initiatives, comparable to “Build in India,” which objectives to promote superior manufacturing applied sciences. These initiatives have created a conducive ambiance for the adoption of automation in industries comparable to automotive, electronics, and prescribed medication.

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THE CHINA FACTOR: In the wake of COVID and means U.S.-China commerce tensions, companies strive to search out replacement homes for his or her provide chain. India is proving to be an even attempting vacation jam for industry having a leer to relocate operations out of China — or hedge their bets by along side extra suppliers.

DEARTH OF TECHNICIANS & ENGINEERS: While India has hundreds team, it ought to deal with challenges the same to those confronted by U.S. companies: A shortage of technicians and engineers for robotics and automation systems. India has a strong expertise education infrastructure — and it’s making an strive to add resources. Nonetheless assembly this query is composed a ways off.

A TECH-SAVY, START-UP CULTURE: While it would possibly well perhaps be short of robotic technicians, India has a strong machine model ecosystem and artificial intelligence ride. There’s a stable open-up tradition — which is initiating to indicate its attention toward industrial capabilities, carrier robots, and AI-driven robotics. These open-u.s.a.are an increasing number of attracting investment and partnerships with bigger companies to pressure innovation in automation.

AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY: As in the United States, the automotive industry has led the design in the adoption of robotics and automation. Automation in other sectors has been gaining traction. These areas consist of metal and raw materials, the rubber and plastics industry, and the electrical/electronics industry. In 2022, automotive robots made up 28% of total installations. That’s down from 66% in 2015.

BOOTS ON THE GROUND: Repeatedly, we were suggested that companies would want other folks and operations in India to step into the market. Companies in India fabricate belief over time — attempting alternatives at a itsy-bitsy scale at the initiating earlier than jumping into bigger investments.

INTEGRATORS WANTED: An absence of experienced integration companies in India would possibly well perhaps create a bottleneck for the non permanent enlargement of robotic deployments, however it indubitably would possibly well perhaps even be viewed as an replacement for U.S. and out of the country companies having a leer to achieve industry in India. Integration companies, who associate with native gamers, would possibly well perhaps be purposeful as the Indian automation market grows and seems to rob on more tense capabilities.

COST SENSITIVITY: In nearly about every conversation, industry leaders careworn the cost-conscious nature of the Indian market. Nonetheless, the Indian market would possibly well perhaps be the same to the early days of China’s extensive automation push, where the dimensions of the aptitude operations would possibly well perhaps reward savvy companies with ways to achieve success even with lower margins.

Are you weird about discovering out more about A3’s efforts in India or joining us on our next commerce mission? Test in here to preserve informed of our India activities.