Satish Sadasivan, Managing Director
The major focus for Schunk India this year would be two major verticals. One would be the quick change balance system for the machining centres where the company has partnered with Indian machine tool manufacturers like Ace Micromatic and Jyoti CNC. The concept is quick changeover without wasting any time. So that would be one of the focuses in the business vertical of clamping technology. On the other hand, the company is also showcasing electrical systems such as long-life grippers, pneumatic grippers and electrical grippers, which it sees as the future in automation. And this has a much longer life time compared to its predecessors.
In terms of willing buyers, Sadasivan thinks that they face a dilemma. On one hand, there is an intent of getting deeper into automation and smart factory, but on the other hand, India is yet to realise high volumes or efficiency rates and has not even saturated existing capacities before venturing into newer systems. Schunk believes that it will take a couple of years to stabilise manufacturing, when these new concepts will start stepping in.
He finds it encouraging for know that Indian machine tool companies have done much better last year than the previous year, and the proportion of imported tools has fallen. The second point is the company’s ability to value add to the Indian machine tools industry, which is at par with international standards and if that happens, he is sure that in the next five years, the proportion would be 40% imported and 60% Indian.