Industrial robotics is a technology used to automate a variety of manufacturing processes in different industries such as Automotive, Food and Beverage, and Electronics. Industrial robots are programmed to automate and control manufacturing processes. These robots help in the automation of processes such as welding, painting, assembly, product inspection, testing, and packaging. This story is an exclusive study by EM Media bought to you some of the developments in Robotics in Industrial applications …
Robotics deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots coupled with computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing. With advancements in time, technology, research, design, and building of new robots have begun to serve various practical purposes – domestically, commercially and militarily. Today, many robots do jobs that are hazardous to people such as defusing bombs, mines and exploring shipwrecks. Our particulate story bought to you perspective of Robotics Industry in the Indian context.
TechNavio’s analysts forecast the Global Industrial Robotics Market will grow at a CAGR of 6.42% in Yr 2013 – 2018. Indian robotics industry expected to double over next 3-4 year. The trend toward robotic automation is increasing in India; however, it is still in its infancy in several sectors – Jamly John, Regional Manager (Western Region), Robotics and Automation, VDMA India
Robotics opens up a surfeit of opportunities for both entrepreneurs and students. Industries across a range of sectors such as automotive, atomic energy, defense, space, metals, textiles and manufacturing use Robotic technologies very extensively. Robotics and Automation has the potential to revolutionize the industrial scenario. It promises to bring the same result as computer systems have brought in services and other sectors. However, many developing nations like India, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines are still to adopt robotics and automation in a big way. The sectors that are best suited for the adoption of Robotics are those with large volumes, frequent demand spikes or are prone to frequent audits/quality checks. Also industries where the volumes are huge enough to occupy large real estate are also prime candidates for Robotics. This makes automation ideal for sectors like retail, pharma, e-commerce, automobile spares and engineering tools.
Technology aspect
Industrial robots have three aspects – bone (linkages), brawn (motive power) and brain (intelligence). While technology advances continue to improve the first two (e.g. improved materials; powerful, light-weight motors), the third aspect yields revolutionary performance. For example, for more precise guidance, robots often contain machine-vision subsystems acting as “eyes.” Rapid improvements in vision and touch technologies are putting within the abilities of robots a wide array of previously completely manual jobs. Improved sensing and related artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly important factors from which new growth inflection points will emerge. Future robot systems are not mere extrapolations of today’s technology. Completely new applications arenas are generated through revolutionary sensors and artificial-intelligence extensions, achieving vastly improved levels of manufacturing competence. These kinds of robotics are becoming key components in the digital factory of the future.
The size of the Indian robotics market is large, and expected to grow substantially in the years to come. Most of the current market growth is in the automotive industry. At Tata Motors, India’s biggest auto manufacturer, the production force has come down by 20% while turnover has increased 250%. Tata’s Pune plant alone has invested in 100 robots and the automaker keeps adding more. Currently, there are only a handful of large industrial robotics manufacturers in the world – the list includes ABB, Fanuc, Kuka, Motoman (Yaskawa) and many more …
Challenges in India
The primary challenges in way of robotics adoption in India the primary ones are, the high cost of adoption, availability of skilled talent and procurement of hardware components. The cost of adopting Robotic technology is very high due to the cost of procuring imported hardware components as well as training personnel. As Robotics is a multidisciplinary field, acquiring and retaining quality talent is a big issue. SME customers need to see visible ROI before they proactively adopt Robotics. In India there are not many commercial applications that are ready to enter the market. Also, that there is a lack of talent that specializes in the many disciplines such as electrical, embedded, software and mechanical that make up Robotics. Importing quality components leads to longer lead times and other excise and licensing woes is also a major concern for them, in addition to finding early adopter customers of Robotics. The challenges to be catered by Indian robotics industry are:
- Increase knowledge and awareness levels about the role of automation and its value proposition
- Help Indian industry leverage cutting-edge automation technologies to be globally competitive
- Enhance top management integrated automation
- Create sensitivity to benefits of automation and build synergy amongst industry, researchers, policy makers and users through seminars and symposia
- Support safety and compliance standards in manufacturing
- Attract job aspiring community to automation
What’s in India perspective
Indian economy is growing, despite the economic crisis that engulfed the world with the national investment rate at around 33-34 per cent and is expected to increase to 36 per cent by the end of 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-17). India is expected to be the 2nd largest manufacturing country in the next 5 years, followed by Brazil. Today India’s GDP per hour worked out is 1/5th of Germany. The global market for industrial robotics projects are close to 143,000 units by 2015, resulting from expanding application possibilities, technology developments, rising value propositions, demographic shifts, and ensuing labor shortages. By the same year, the global robotics industry is estimated to be worth $17.6 billion with the Indian robotics industry worth approximately $750 million and is expected to double over the next 3-4 years.
According to the International Federation of Robotics, almost 170,000 industrial robots were sold in 2011, 38 per cent more than in 2010. The value of sales surged by 46 percent to $8.5 billion, a new record. Including the cost of software, peripherals and system engineering, the market was estimated to be $25.5 billion.
This global trend toward adoption of robotic automation is increasing in India but still in early stages. Automation still being in its infancy in several sectors is a reflection of being in the “low value-addition” zone. India is required to leapfrog to “higher value addition” manufacturing processes. The real drive for automation started only in 1997, and India is lagging behind in comparison to the world growth in automation sector. The factors affecting the automation sector in India is the political scenario. The economy condition is depending on the social and technological challenges. Indian industries have realized the importance of robotics and automation and are willing to make substantial investments as the cost of skilled labor is rising and production processes are getting speeded up without compromising quality standards. These factors are forcing Indian manufacturers to consider industrial robots as a viable option, despite the relatively high-capital costs. Industrial economists recommend that robotics and automation will save costs in the long run. Growing demand for industrial robots has attracted leading global manufacturers of robots to set up facilities in India to serve the Indian market. India’s transformation into an automobile hub, with several leading international auto majors in the country, becomes the primary driver for the robotics and automation industry. The Indian manufacturing arena is poised to grow larger in the coming decades; thereby robotics industry business will remain vibrant. The automation industry is driven currently by the automotive, power, chemicals and fertilizers, and oil and gas sectors. The other sectors that also use automation to lower variance are the pharmaceutical, food and beverages, water and wastewater, cement, textile, metals, and the mining industry.
Future In-Sight
Robotic technologies are all set to change the way things are done in the industries in which they are being implemented. We can see Robotics mainly capturing industries like manufacturing, pharmaceutical, FMCG, packaging and inspection. A bit of Robotics would also be seen in the healthcare sector primarily in the form of assistive and skill development technologies. The other promising sectors are defense and education. Further, due to globalization and high industrialization, Robotics in India is poised for a bright future. Considering that India is already a manufacturing hub catering to the whole world, the use of robots in every aspect of manufacturing will provide the necessary edge to companies. In turn this will propel the requirement of skilled manpower for this technology. Technological advancements have taken a long stride in the India Industrial Robotics market. Rising demand for automation in order to strengthen the product supply and domestic manufacturing has resulted in the growth of India Industrial Robotics Market. India has now emerged as a destination for industrial Robotics manufacturers. Progression in automotive and electronics sector supported by rise in the food and pharmaceutical industries has fuelled the growth of the India Industrial Robotics market. Over the past few years, the performance of Industrial Robots has increased phenomenally while the prices have decreased drastically. Further, payback period of these devices have been curtailed thus creating a viable option for OEMs. According to 6Wresearch, India Industrial Robotics Market value reached over US$28 million for CY H1 2014. Major players such as Yaskawa, Kuka, and Hyundai captured more than 41% share of the market. India Industrial Robotics market is primarily dominated by application segments such as welding, dispensing and material handling.
Conclusion
Increasing demand and increasing trend towards high quality and productivity is the driving factors for robotics revolution in India but there are challenges to be catered by a joint venture of training institutes, Govt & industries.
