Smart factories are revolutionising the machine tools industry: Ravi Prem

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Smart factories are revolutionising the machine tools industry: Ravi Prem

Smart factories are revolutionising the machine tools industry: Ravi Prem

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Dec 30,24

In this interview with Rakesh Rao, Ravi Prem, Executive Director of Forbes & Company Ltd and President of the Indian Cutting Tool Manufacturers' Association (ICTMA), discusses the impact of the latest technologies on the metalworking industry.

Smart factories are revolutionising the machine tools industry: Ravi Prem

Bradma, a business division of Forbes & Company Ltd (a part of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group), specialises in coding & marking, traceability, robotics, and automation for the manufacturing sector. In this interview with Rakesh Rao, Ravi Prem, Executive Director of Forbes & Company Ltd and President of the Indian Cutting Tool Manufacturers' Association (ICTMA), discusses the impact of the latest technologies on the metalworking industry.

How is Bradma supporting the growth of the Indian manufacturing sector?

Bradma specialises in the Coding and Industrial Automation Business (CIAB) with over six decades of experience, providing traceability and automation solutions across diverse industries. These include automotive, steel & heavy engineering, electrical & electronics, battery pack manufacturing, and renewable energy, all with a strong focus on part traceability and Industry 4.0 integration.

Bradma plays a pivotal role in supporting the Indian manufacturing sector by offering customized solutions, many of which are first-time innovations in India. These solutions enable manufacturers to transition toward smart factories by enhancing operational efficiency, traceability, and digitization. Bradma’s solutions help industries build reliable products, streamline operations, and accelerate their journey toward digital transformation, thereby significantly contributing to the modernization of India’s manufacturing landscape.

What factors are driving the demand for your company in India?

Several factors are driving the growing demand for Bradma’s products and services in India:

Adoption of Industry 4.0: With the rise of smart factories and digital transformation, industries are increasingly adopting automation solutions to boost efficiency and reduce operational costs. Bradma’s solutions align well with this shift, offering real-time data monitoring and seamless integration across manufacturing systems through customized solutions.
Regulatory requirements and traceability: Industries such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, and FMCG face growing pressure to meet stringent regulatory and quality control standards. Bradma’s traceability solutions, including marking machines and track-and-trace software, enable compliance with these requirements.
Government initiatives: Programs like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat have accelerated the need for automation in manufacturing, prompting companies to modernise operations to remain competitive.
Adoption of new technologies: Bradma is continuously innovating and incorporating new technologies into its offerings, particularly in high-growth sectors such as heavy metal industries and renewable energy.

Which end-user industries in India are offering huge growth opportunities to you?

In India, several key industries such as automotive, steel & heavy engineering, electronics & consumer goods, battery pack & renewable energy, food & FMCG, etc are providing significant growth opportunities for Bradma.

Bradma’s automation and traceability solutions are experiencing rapid growth in the automotive and auto components sectors. The company is a leader in Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and chassis marking solutions, leveraging laser and dot peen technologies.

With India’s expanding infrastructure and industrial base, there is a growing demand for traceability and automation solutions in steel plants and heavy engineering sectors. Bradma provides innovative solutions like hot ingot weighing and marking to enhance operational efficiency.

The surge in electronics manufacturing and consumer goods demand has driven the need for automation and part traceability. Bradma’s integrated marking and vision systems address this demand effectively.

With the growing focus on renewable energy and electric vehicles, Bradma has developed tailored track-and-trace solutions to support these sectors.

The rise in packaged food and consumer goods production has created a demand for batch coding and permanent marking solutions. Bradma offers a comprehensive range of laser technologies (CO?, UV, and fiber) to meet the sector's diverse needs.

Which trends are having a profound impact on the machine tools industry?

The machine tools industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the following trends:

Smart manufacturing and IoT integration: The shift toward smart factories is revolutionising the industry. IoT integration, real-time data monitoring, and predictive maintenance are key elements. Bradma incorporates IoT capabilities into its automation solutions to enable real-time monitoring and responsive production control.
Customisation and precision: As industries demand greater customization and precision, Bradma develops flexible and adaptive marking and automation solutions tailored to specific needs.
Sustainability: With growing environmental concerns, Bradma’s solutions help optimize energy consumption, reduce waste, and ensure compliance with environmental regulations, contributing to greener manufacturing practices.

How are new technologies shaping the future of the manufacturing sector?

New technologies are fundamentally reshaping the manufacturing landscape. Robotics is automating repetitive tasks like material handling, welding, and assembly, enhancing speed and precision while reducing human error. Bradma offers customised robotic solutions to meet diverse industry needs.

IoT and Digital Twin technologies enable manufacturers to simulate entire production systems in a virtual environment, optimising efficiency, reducing waste, and enabling predictive maintenance. Bradma integrates IoT into its marking and automation solutions to provide real-time data and remote diagnostics, improving operational performance.

What are your growth plans in India?

Bradma is focused on expanding its presence and driving growth in India through various strategies. We are continuously innovating our product portfolio to include advanced automation solutions, integrating IoT, part traceability solutions, and more customized marking solutions.

To cater to the unique needs of the Indian market, we are expanding our product customisation capabilities, ensuring that our solutions are optimised for cost-effectiveness while maintaining high quality. We are investing in expanding our service and support infrastructure across India to ensure fast and efficient after-sales support for our customers.

We aim to further strengthen our partnerships with industries such as automotive, steel & heavy engineering, electronics, and consumer goods by driving innovation and expanding our product offerings in these sectors.

What are your plans for IMTEX 2025?

Though Bradma is not exhibiting at IMTEX 2025; we will be visiting the show to connect with key industry players and explore new opportunities. We look forward to engaging with manufacturers and partners to discuss how our cutting-edge automation solutions can support the growth and digital transformation of the Indian manufacturing sector.