Faro Technologies, designs, develops, and markets portable, computerised measurement devices and software used to create digital models - or to perform evaluations against an existing model - for anything requiring highly detailed 3-D measurements, including part and assembly inspection, factory planning and asset documentation, as well as specialised applications ranging from surveying, recreating accident sites and crime scenes to digitally preserving historical sites. Amrita Gokhale, Marketing Specialist, Faro Business Technologies India (P) Ltd, talks to Bhargav TS about the company's game plan. Excerpts:

What are the products that you offer?

We have a wide range of products for measurement - sophisticated portable and non-portable systems for different applications (see box). Principal products include the measuring arms Quantum FaroArm, Fusion FaroArm, FaroArm Platinum, FARO Laser ScanArm; FARO Gage, Gage-PLUS and PowerGAGE; Digital Template; the Laser Trackers FARO Laser Tracker X and Xi; the Laser Scanners FARO Photon 80 and 20; and the CAM2 family of advanced CAD-based measurement and reporting software.

Why should the customer opt for Faro products?

Quality is essential in every manufacturing process and what we deliver are the tools to keep quality in check. Our solutions enable our customer's products and processes to be the best in the world. Ease of use, reliability, flexibility of use, technologically advanced are but a few of the advantages the customer experiences when the Faro products are used.

How unique are Faro's 3D measuring devices?

It's a very competitive product in the market and we are very much good in technology. When it comes to accuracy we give 100 per cent on different products.

How does Faro help the automotive industry?

We support OEMs, auto component manufacturers, press tools and mould making. The automotive manufacturing process typically takes the form of an assembly line, whereby auto parts of a large size, shape and nature are fixed together to create the end product. In ensuring product quality, our product performs routine checks by measuring the assortment of parts used. This includes car parts, stamping parts, plastic parts, as well as jigs that hold pieces in place while they are being worked on.

Where do these products fit?

The main applications which we cover in day-to-day environment are: a) Alignment; b) Calibration; c) Inspection; d) Reverse Engineering; and e) As built Documentation.

How strong is the after sales service?

We have a full team of After Sales Support engineers in various locations within India. All engineers are fully qualified to technically support the customers' post-sales queries. Over and above that, we have a team of inside sales support staff who handle all customer queries and liase with our onsite technical team as well as the in-house team. Technical service is also carried out in our facility in Delhi and from time to time, with the support of our Regional HQ in Singapore and WW HQ in the US.

What are the future plans for Faro?

Faro will continue to provide solutions, to enable customers' products and processes to be the best in the world. We are looking at expansion in India, with sales/application support offices in various other locations in India. Our aim is to provide the customer with a one-stop shop for technologically superior measuring instruments for their quality control needs, added with the full after sales support that Faro typically provides to the customers worldwide.

Do you have plans for setting up a manufacturing facility in India?

Currently we have sales and marketing, service and technical application support in India. We are however looking at starting manufacturing in the near future.