Marc Jarrault, Managing Director, Lapp India Pvt Ltd, on the company’s participation at IMTEX 2017.

What are the products you are bringing at IMTEX 2017?

IMTEX is a flagship event for the Indian metal cutting industry. IMTEX 2017 edition will showcase the exhaustive range of innovations and technological refinements in the complete product segment of metal-cutting machine tools.

Apart from our standard product offerings in cables, connectors, glands and accessories, there will be greater focus on showcasing Ölflex® Connect, our customised solution especially for machine tool segment, and other products which are unique to the machine tool industry – Ölflex® Robot 900 P, Ölflex® Robot F1 and Ölflex® Chain 808. These cables have been designed keeping in mind the requirements and challenges faced by the machine tool/manufacturing segment with regard to flexibility, compact machine design and harsh environmental conditions during manufacturing.

The global machine tool industry is now adopting the concepts of Industry 4.0. Is the Indian industry ready for this? Introduced by Germany, Industry 4.0 or the fourth industrial revolution concepts are in harmony with worldwide initiatives, including smart factories, industrial internet of things (IIot), smart manufacturing, and advanced manufacturing.

The Indian manufacturing sector looks to be heading towards a major facelift now. We are on the edge of Industry 4.0 where technologies such as big data, improved data analytics, machine-to-machine communication, advanced robotics and 3D printing are transforming the fundamentals of manufacturing. Industry 4.0 is all set to become a reality in India soon, transforming radically the way industries work and do business today. India’s thrust towards “Make in India” should keep in cognizance Industry 4.0 and begin its positioning in this space.

What is the demand status at the moment? India is also a large importer of machine tools.

Machine tools contribute to the overall manufacturing output and play a vital role in a country’s industrial development. The sector is well established in India and the automotive industry is one of the largest consumers of machine tools. Machine tools are used extensively by companies across several applications such as die moulding, part manufacturing, aerospace, shipbuilding, electrical and electronics, healthcare, and consumer durables.

Also the development of automotive industry has been key growth driver of Machine Tool segment. Automotive and auto components sector accounts for 40% of machine tools consumption in India.

India is a high importer of machine tools from countries like Japan, Germany and Italy. However, we now also see indigenous players like Bharat Fritz Werner, Ace Micromatic, Jyothi CNC Automation and HMT Machine Tools that contributes to the growing demand for machines in India.

Has the government initiative of Make in India resulted in any increase in demand?

The machine tool industry is key to the Government’s flagship ‘Make in India’ and ‘Skill India’ initiatives as it makes machines required for the manufacturing sector. Currently, India stands 13th in production of machine tools in the world as per the 2016 Gardner Business Media survey.

India is now in a position to export general purpose and standard machine tools to even industrially advanced countries. Also, with industrial production touching a new high with an emphasis on capital investment by the government, the Indian machine tool Industry is all set to witness unprecedented growth.

What are the problems machine tool manufacturers have to face?

The machine tool industry is small but it is the backbone of the manufacturing sector, as it helps machines to cut, form, and shape metals upon which about half of the manufacturing industries are dependent. As the industry is inherently complex, the aim is to build machines, which will work towards reducing operational downtime for customers. There is demand for innovative and easily configurable machines which can help customise production requirements to meet customer demands.

What are the expectations from the government?

While the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative has promoted a healthy environment for the growth of this sector, it will require the Government, public and private companies to come together and frame policies and initiatives that will further help in scaling up the country’s economy.