Toshihide Takahashi, Managing Director, Panasonic Welding Systems India, dwells on the company’s presence and activities in the country.

What are the specialised welding systems offered by Panasonic to the Indian market?

Panasonic Welding Systems India (PWSI) is a leader in Indian Market and works continually to upgrade the technology of arc welding equipment and arc welding robots so that customers can produce output with higher productivity and enhanced quality.

As regards arc welding equipment, we have products from basic machine to high end digital machine. The digital machine is able to carry out welding which was not possible with earlier machines, e.g., thin sheet MIG welding. Thin sheet welding is now possible with digital MIG machine, which was earlier done with TIG for the reasons of warping, burn through and excessive heat affected zone.

As regards arc welding robot, we have products ranging from basic robot to high end robot. For example, the latest model “Active TAWERS” is helping customers to weld thin sheet welding with stable arc with negligible spatter level.

We also have capability to provide complete turnkey welding automation package to customers.

A revolutionary product, 4 kW Direct Diode Laser welding system “LAPRISS” is being launched in India. This is nearly 4 times faster than existing spot welding in automotive industry. LAPRISS is also expected to replace thin sheet arc welding as it works with extremely low heat input and is approximately 5 times faster than conventional robotic arc welding.

What are the latest trends in welding and automation of the welding process?

Customers want to reduce cost and this is driving them to improve the efficiency of welding. They are shifting from manual to automatic to fully automatic welding. Increased productivity is achieved through a high deposition rate, higher welding speed, good and consistent quality and minimised operator skill requirement. 

Presently, automation is one of the most important growth areas. The drive for higher productivity and reduced cost will keep automation at the forefront. Other reasons for increased automation are safety concerns and efforts to free welders from getting tired, long term exposure to fumes. Automation and robotisation are to be taken as key technologies for improved productivity and consistent quality.

To what extent is the Indian industry adapting to the modern concepts in welding?

This is an era of economic globalisation where goods and technology are no more limited by borders. Indian industry need to be globally competitive to be able to sell in India and to overseas market.

In order to be globally competitive, Indian industry needs to follow modern concepts. Welding is a critical metal working process and is an important constituent of manufacturing. Some customers have awareness about latest technological trends and are implementing the same to achieve higher productivity.

However, majority of customers are not aware about latest technology, which can support them to achieve global standard output in terms of higher productivity and enhanced quality.
Panasonic Welding Systems India conducts many training programs in India to create awareness about latest technology. We also work with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Ministry of Skill Development (MSDE) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to organise such training programs.

Customers have high appreciation for these training programs and some of them have implemented latest technology and found the benefits and others are gradually adopting modern concepts.

The welding industry in India is highly unorganised with just a handful of major players and a large number of SMEs. Is there a possibility of consolidation?

Welding industry is strange in a way that unlike other industry, more than 50% market share is of unorganised small manufacturers. This is because fabrication customers are very much fragmented and it is extremely difficult for organised players to create awareness to them about “What is good welding”. Small customers think that welding is just joining of two metals.

I think that consolidation seems difficult in next 5-10 years and when customers are aware about good welding after 5-10 years, there seems a slow process of consolidation will start to take place.

What is the USP of Panasonic Welding Systems?

Panasonic Welding Systems has expertise on arc welding process. We have both equipment (hardware) and process know-how (software) for welding solutions to our customers.

Panasonic Welding Systems India is a single window for customers looking for solutions right from manual welding machine to arc welding robots to complete turnkey welding automation system.

These products are designed and manufactured by us. Panasonic Welding Systems is the only company in its range of solutions which owns the design, manufacturing and process support to customers.

What is the nature of the company’s operations in India? Any manufacturing activity or just distribution of products imported?

We have state-of-the-art manufacturing facility equipped with R&D at Jhajjar, Haryana (near Gurgaon). We design and manufacture welding machines for Indian market there. Arc welding robots are imported from Japan and integrated into system with support of system partner.

We have invested in India with a commitment to providing long term service to Indian fabrication industry.

How strong/effective is the sales network across the country and after sales service?

We have our Sales & Service Engineers at all major industrial cities in India. We also have Channel Partners who cover almost 90% geographical area in India. They are equipped to supply products as well as can offer best after-sale support.

The Indian Welding Society is highlighting serious shortage of welding skills in the country. Any comments?

If India has to achieve projected growth rate there seems a potentially acute shortage of skilled manpower in welding.
There are two kinds of solution to this issue, one is increase the number of skilled manpower, provide them latest equipment for higher productivity and second is reduce dependence on manual welding.

Panasonic Welding Systems India conducts process training, which can create skilled manpower and also provide latest technology equipment, which can support them to increase their individual productivity.

On the other hand, for customers looking at automation, Panasonic Welding Systems India has the capability of meeting their requirement also, we can provide complete turnkey welding automation system to these customers.

How is present business environment?

The Indian government is promising to provide a conducive environment for investors with “Make in India” campaign. For this the government is required to fast-track investment proposals and remove bottle necks that make it difficult to invest in India. 

Presently market has picked up and it seems that Government’s efforts will bring better results in future as there is scope for much faster growth. It is expected that manufacturing sector in the country could reach USD 1 trillion by 2025, the manufacturing sector accounting for 25% of the GDP and creating 100 million domestic jobs by that period

What are the future plans?

We are presently providing welding products and solutions to our customers and future plan is to become a manufacturing solutions provider. 

We want to interconnect all welding equipment with Pre-welding and Post welding equipment and thereby creating an interconnected welding system. Gradually connect this welding system to other non-welding manufacturing process.

Integrated communication along the entire chain will result in process optimisation, optimised resource consumption, real time monitoring etc  and support customer to reduce cost significantly.