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Schmersal is committed to safety for man and machine
Articles- Mar 10,25
The Germany-based Schmersal Group develops and produces systems and solutions for its customers worldwide to help boost machine safety and occupational health and safety. In this interview, Ranjith Kumar, Deputy General Manager (West), Schmersal India Pvt Ltd, highlights on the evolving manufacturing landscape in India and explains importance of machine safety for the success of Make in India initiative.
The Germany-based Schmersal Group develops and produces systems and solutions for its customers worldwide to help boost machine safety and occupational health and safety. In this interview, Ranjith Kumar, Deputy General Manager (West), Schmersal India Pvt Ltd, highlights on the evolving manufacturing landscape in India and explains importance of machine safety for the success of Make in India initiative.
How is Schmersal supporting the growth of Indian manufacturing?
Schmersal is supporting the growth of Indian manufacturing by enhancing safety—or, in other words, providing peace of mind—to all manufacturers. Here are a few highlights:
- Enhanced safety standards: We help Indian manufacturers improve workplace safety and reduce incidents. Our solutions not only protect workers but also enhance productivity and reduce downtime.
- Improved efficiency: Our advanced safety technologies help Indian manufacturers optimize their production processes. For example, our solutions enable faster machine setups, minimize downtime due to safety incidents, and improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
- Technology transfer: Our presence facilitates technology transfer, bringing the latest safety technologies and best practices from around the globe to the Indian manufacturing sector.
- We cater to all sectors and end-user industries with our safety products and solutions.
Are you seeing an increase in awareness about machine safety in India?
Yes, there is a growing awareness of machine safety in India. We have a dedicated safety service division, tec.nicum, which is part of the Schmersal Group. It offers a comprehensive range of services to Indian industries to ensure compliance with machine safety regulations as per ISO standards and Indian standards (BIS). By prioritizing safety and risk reduction through appropriate control measures, we help improve the overall productivity of machines.
tec.nicum’s expertise, combined with Schmersal's extensive product range, enables us to provide tailored solutions that meet the specific needs of each industry. This makes us a valuable safety solutions partner for various industries, helping them create safer and more efficient work environments. Advanced solutions such as Safety with IoT and safety software like Digital LOTO allow Schmersal to provide intelligent safety solutions to Indian industries.
What are the key challenges in the path of Make in India? What are the probable solutions to overcome these challenges?
The Make in India initiative aims to transform India into a global manufacturing hub by encouraging both domestic and foreign investments. Our manufacturing facility in Ranjangaon, Pune, produces Make in India products. While we do not face significant challenges, addressing the following issues can further strengthen the initiative:
- Regulatory complexity: Simplify and digitize regulatory procedures through single-window clearance systems to avoid lengthy approval processes, bureaucratic hurdles, and policy ambiguities. Regularly update policies to align with industry needs and reduce compliance burdens. Enhancing the ease of doing business with predictable tax regimes is crucial.
- Skill gap: There is a lack of specialized skills required for advanced manufacturing processes. Strengthen vocational training programs and industry-academia partnerships. Focus on skill development through initiatives like Skill India and apprenticeship programs while incentivising companies to invest in employee training.
- Technology adoption & R&D limitations: Indian manufacturers often lag in adopting cutting-edge technologies due to high costs and limited collaborations. Encouraging joint ventures with global firms, offering tax incentives for R&D, and fostering innovation hubs and incubation centers can help bridge this gap.
- Policy consistency & global competition: Maintain uniformity in national and state-level policies. Establish a feedback mechanism with industry stakeholders to ensure effective policy implementation. Compete with countries like China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh by offering competitive financial incentives such as subsidies, tax breaks, and improved credit availability. Strengthening trade agreements will further integrate India into global supply chains.
By addressing these challenges with targeted solutions, the Make in India initiative can unlock its full potential and position India as a global leader in manufacturing.
With sustainability becoming a critical factor across industries, how is Schmersal tapping into these trends?
Our sustainability journey begins with a commitment to gradually reducing company-related CO? emissions. We rely on renewable energy at our production site and have built a solar power plant covering 2,500 m², a ground-mounted system with a capacity of 300 kW. This plant supports the factory’s power consumption, generating up to 50 per cent of our daily power needs, approximately 1,100 units per day.
Additionally, we ensure that every machine we purchase is energy-efficient, reducing power consumption. Our Energy Management System helps monitor and track power usage, aligning with our innovation roadmap to transition towards clean and sustainable energy sources. This ensures a more resilient and environmentally friendly future, both for Schmersal and for society.
What emerging trends do you foresee in the manufacturing sector in the near future?
We foresee several emerging trends shaping the manufacturing sector in the near future, including IIoT, SaaS, and Industry 5.0:
- Industry 4.0 & 5.0: The continued rise of Industry 4.0, followed by Industry 5.0, will integrate advanced technologies such as AI, IoT, robotics, and cloud computing to further automate and optimize manufacturing processes.
- AI-powered predictive maintenance: Using AI to predict equipment failures and schedule maintenance proactively, minimizing downtime.
- Robotic Process Automation (RPA): Automating repetitive tasks to free up human workers for more complex and value-added activities.
- Cybersecurity: Strengthening cybersecurity measures to protect critical infrastructure and data from cyber threats.
- Green manufacturing: Increasing focus on sustainability through energy efficiency, waste reduction, and renewable energy sources.
- Circular economy principles: Encouraging product designs that enable reuse, repair, and recycling, minimising waste and maximising resource utilisation.
Additionally, Make in India initiatives will continue to boost domestic manufacturing in high-growth sectors such as electronics, automotive, and pharmaceuticals. India's strong IT services industry will expand further, driven by global demand for digital solutions. Renewable energy sources like solar and wind power will fuel growth in power generation and manufacturing, while the healthcare sector will create opportunities for medical device manufacturing. The rise of e-commerce will also drive demand for efficient logistics and supply chain solutions.
By embracing these trends and capitalizing on these opportunities, India can solidify its position as a global manufacturing and technology hub.
What are your growth plans for Schmersal India in the coming years?
India has made impressive progress over the past decade. When we established our facility in 2013, India's GDP was $1.8 trillion. Today, it has grown to $3.7 trillion. Exports have also increased significantly, from $200 billion to over $750 billion.
Schmersal aims to target renewable energy usage by 50 per cent of the total by 2026. We are also planning to start an electronic product assembly at our plant in India. As part of a BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) committee, we contribute to enhancing Indian safety standards to align with ISO norms, ensuring sustainable growth in machine safety. We also aim for in-house accredited QC labs by 2026.
At Schmersal, we see tremendous opportunities in the automation segment and remain committed to ensuring safety for both man and machine.
Schmersal Group
Ranjith Kumar
Indian manufacturers
BIS
Digital LOTO
R&D
sustainability
energy-efficient
manufacturing sector
Make in India
renewable energy
automation
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