India’s process industries are undergoing a transformation driven by safety, sustainability, and digitalisation. WIKA is supporting this transition through advanced instrumentation, smart sensors, and IIoT-enabled solutions across sectors, says Gaurav Bawa, Senior Vice President, WIKA Process Solutions India Pvt Ltd (WIKA India), in this interaction with Rakesh Rao. 

Could you provide an overview of WIKA India’s journey?

WIKA India is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Germany-based WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE & Co. KG, specialising in pressure, temperature, level, flow, and force measurement solutions for critical industrial applications. WIKA has been present in India for over 29 years and operates state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Pune, Chennai, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad, along with an R&D centre in Chennai.

Our strategy in India has been focused on strengthening market leadership across our key segments through strategic localisation. Over the years, our growth has been driven by continuous innovation, expansion of product offerings, and development of solutions aligned with the evolving requirements of modern industries.

As industries move towards digitalisation, WIKA India is enabling smarter operations through intelligent sensors and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)-based solutions. These technologies help customers achieve improved process control, predictive maintenance, higher efficiency, and enhanced reliability.

In line with our global strategy and to strengthen our calibration and service capabilities, we acquired Godrej Calibration Services last year. This acquisition has expanded our calibration portfolio and enabled us to provide a wider range of precision measurement and calibration solutions to meet diverse industry requirements. Presently, we have 6 labs across India.

WIKA’s journey in India has been built on precision, innovation, and sustainability. We continue to invest in expanding our manufacturing capabilities and developing advanced instrumentation solutions under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

How do you view the growth prospects of the Indian manufacturing sector?

India’s manufacturing sector has immense potential to strengthen the domestic economy and establish itself as a key player in global supply chains. The country is well-positioned to benefit from changing global economic and geopolitical dynamics, particularly with the increasing adoption of the China Plus One strategy.

At the same time, sustainability is becoming a critical factor for global competitiveness. Manufacturers must adopt energy-efficient technologies and practices that reduce resource consumption, as global buyers and regulators are increasingly focusing on the environmental impact of products.

Indian companies are increasingly targeting global markets, making compliance with international standards related to quality, product safety, and sustainability essential.

Government initiatives such as Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes and the Make in India programme are strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities. Combined with global supply chain diversification, these initiatives are creating significant opportunities for Indian manufacturers.

The government's focus on Industry 4.0 and digital transformation is further accelerating the adoption of smart manufacturing practices. Precision measurement is the foundation of connected manufacturing, where industries require not only accuracy but also real-time intelligence for faster decision-making, improved asset availability, and sustainable operations.

As industries scale up, the demand for reliable, high-quality instrumentation solutions that meet global standards is increasing. WIKA aims to support this transformation through innovative measurement technologies and customised solutions.

Which end-user industries are driving your business growth? Are there any emerging segments offering new opportunities?

WIKA provides precision measurement solutions across pressure, temperature, level, force, and flow applications for a wide range of industries. While oil and gas has traditionally been a significant contributor to our business, sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverages (F&B), chemicals, solar, hydrogen, and nuclear energy are witnessing strong growth.

Alternative energy segments, including solar, wind, hydrogen, and nuclear, are becoming central to India’s industrial strategy. India’s expanding nuclear energy sector presents significant opportunities for WIKA, where our high-precision instrumentation and safety solutions support compliance with stringent industry requirements. WIKA provides specialised measurement and monitoring technologies across the entire lifecycle of nuclear power plants, from project planning and engineering to operations.

In the hydrogen sector, we offer instrumentation solutions across the complete value chain, from electrolysers for hydrogen production to transportation, storage, and refuelling applications.

For pharmaceutical and food & beverage manufacturers, hygiene, safety, accuracy, and traceability have become critical priorities due to increasing regulatory requirements and consumer expectations. WIKA’s hygienic product portfolio, designed for CIP/SIP processes and compliance with FDA and EU standards, includes pressure, temperature, flow, and level measurement solutions.

Our IIoT capabilities, including smart sensors, connectivity solutions, and monitoring tools, enable condition monitoring and predictive maintenance. Going forward, we will continue to introduce innovative measurement and calibration solutions for pharmaceutical and food processing industries.

With electronics becoming one of India’s leading export segments, the government is focusing on strengthening domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. This presents significant opportunities for WIKA, as our ultra-high purity (UHP) pressure transducers and gauges play an important role in ensuring safe and reliable semiconductor fabrication processes.

How is digitalisation transforming industrial measurement and instrumentation?

Digitalisation is fundamentally changing the way industries monitor and optimise their processes. Traditional measurement systems are evolving into intelligent solutions capable of collecting, analysing, and communicating real-time data.

Smart sensors and IIoT-enabled instrumentation allow manufacturers to move from reactive maintenance towards predictive maintenance. This helps reduce downtime, improve asset utilisation, and enhance operational efficiency.

At WIKA, we are continuously developing connected solutions that integrate measurement accuracy with digital intelligence, enabling customers to make faster and more informed decisions.

What role does localisation play in WIKA India’s growth strategy?

Localisation has always been a key pillar of our strategy in India. By strengthening local manufacturing, engineering capabilities, and supply chains, we can respond faster to customer requirements while supporting India’s vision of becoming a global manufacturing hub. Our investments in local capabilities also enable us to develop products specifically suited to Indian market requirements while creating solutions that can be exported globally.

What are WIKA India’s future plans and growth priorities?

Industries today are increasingly seeking smarter, connected, and reliable solutions that enhance operational efficiency while supporting sustainability objectives. WIKA’s advanced instrumentation technologies and IIoT-enabled solutions help customers optimise performance, improve process reliability, and prepare for the future of industrial automation and energy infrastructure.

Our objective is to double our revenue every three years in India through localisation and innovation. For example, we have developed Pyranometers in India for solar applications and are creating products not only for the domestic market but also for global exports.

We have experienced strong double-digit growth in India in recent years. Going forward, our focus will remain on integrating IoT and Industry 4.0 technologies to improve efficiency, accuracy, and predictive maintenance capabilities.

India offers significant growth opportunities due to rising domestic demand and its emergence as a reliable global sourcing destination. We will continue investing in local manufacturing capabilities, R&D, and development of products for both domestic and international markets.

Emerging sectors such as semiconductors, nuclear energy, and hydrogen, along with traditional industries, will continue to provide growth opportunities.