Even as the yearly supply of industrial robots in 2005-06 declined in many Asian countries, it grew in India. The shipment and operational stock of multi-purpose industrial robots in India is expected to touch 4,500 units by 2010 from 540 units in 2005. The numbers are still far less than other countries, but considering India's late entry, the potential seems tremendous.  

Dr. V. Krishnamurthy, chairman, National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC) said, “Personal safety and enhanced productivity are becoming increasingly important for the manufacturing sector. These require enhanced effort in the area of robotics and automation.” V. Govindarajan, member secretary, NMCC said that robot applications are possible in a range of areas, including entertainment, sports, productivity improvement and industrial use.  

The application of robotics and artificial intelligence technologies in India is quite new. Initially, companies were apprehensive about using robots in manufacturing or any other industry. But now, as India is becoming an international manufacturing hub, domestic players are realizing the advantage of robotics and automation. At present, the growth in India is much faster than in Japan or other Asian countries, says sources at PARI. The Pune-based company is introducing its “Golfing Robot,” which, it says, can play golf with 97 percent accuracy.  

Tranter, a Swedish company with U.S. headquarters in Wichita Falls, Texas that manufactures gasketed and welded-plate heat exchangers, has replaced manpower with robots that it acquired from PARI, one of India’s biggest robotics firms. PARI’s robots now take care of the entire production process—from pouring milk to boiling, condensing and placing it in the conveyer. “The company used to spend about five minutes on every unit; now it spends only a minute. You can imagine the cost savings,” says PARI Director Mukund Kelkar.  

Going global  

PARI claims its industrial robots are used by global companies including Caterpillar, Hitachi, Bosch, Emerson Power, American Axle, Honeywell and Indian subsidiaries of multi-national companies (MNCs) such as Samsung, Philips, LG, Suzuki, Renault, Ford, Honda and Hyundai.  

“Our robots at Tata Motors were installed for welding and pressing automation when Indica was launched, but became useful also during the production of Indica V2 and the Indigo,” says Mangesh Kale, who co-founded the company. PARI has recently joined hands with Valient, a Canadian company, to increase its share in North America. According to sources in the finance department of the company, “Opportunities inside and outside India, in the field of robotics, are tremendous. So in the near future, we may see Indian companies become billion dollar firms.”  

Sectors such fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) are increasingly embracing these technologies, but automobile firms account for the biggest share of the market. “Robots can cut cost, maximize efficiency, productivity and safety, and can also overcome the problem of manpower shortages. The demand in medical equipment, FMCG and entertainment is on the rise. Tata Motors’ order for 300 robots for one of its project is the biggest order for us,” says Raj Singh Rathee, managing director, Kuka Robotics India, ...