Harikan Sandhu, Country Manager, FARO India
FARO recently announced its acquisition of ARAS 360 Technologies Inc and kubit. How will this step help the vision of FARO?
FARO recently made two acquisitions – ARAS 360 Technologies Inc. and kubit GmbH – to provide integrated product offerings to our customers.
A global leader in the development of accident and crime reconstruction, simulation and animation software, ARAS 360 was founded in 2010 and has since developed software tools that offer advanced graphics, and advanced analytical tools for this specific industry. FARO is hopeful that the acquisition will help us to create a complementary suite of integrated 3D documentation offerings for our law enforcement customers.
The second acquisition of kubit GmbH, an internationally recognised leader in the development of software for surveying and as-built documentation, will help to guide FARO’s strategy in developing integrated, disruptive 3D documentation product offerings for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction market.
By continuously leveraging on our customers’ input and reinvesting in R&D, as well as in new acquisitions such as these, FARO strives to develop and deliver quality products, and to work towards our corporate vision – to be the world’s most trusted source for 3D measurement, imaging and realisation technology.
FARO launches various products throughout the year. Can you please tell us about your R&D activities?
As a global company, FARO is highly attuned to the industry’s trends and demands. To remain at the forefront of our industry, the company continually invests in developing new 3D measurement technology to cater to its customers’ needs. Research and development activities are an important component of what we do here at FARO. Our customers entrust us to develop quality products that meet their measurement needs, and through our R&D efforts, we develop cutting edge devices that we launch into the market only after they have met our stringent tests.
FARO recently launched Freestyle3D, a handheld 3D Laser Scanner. Please tell us more about it…
In January this year, FARO launched the new FARO® Scanner Freestyle3D, an innovative handheld device for use in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC), Law Enforcement, and other industries. The Freestyle3D is the latest addition to our 3D laser scanning portfolio and reflects FARO’s commitment to democratising 3D scanning.
It has been designed keeping our customers in mind. The user-friendly handheld portable 3D laser scanner is equipped with a Microsoft Surface™ tablet and allows the user to view point cloud data as it gets captured. With no warm up time required, the self-compensating optical system also features memory-scan technology, enabling users to pause scanning and resume data collection easily without the need for artificial targets.
After two years of recession, industrialists believe that the market demand is growing in India and that the future looks promising. Your comments…
The recession years have affected industries globally, and economists have forecasted modest to moderate growth for the global economy in 2015. As mentioned earlier, India is increasingly growing as an attractive market, especially for manufacturers keen on expanding in this region. This is evident from strong-performing industries in India including the Metal Fabrication, Die-and-Mold, Automotive, Heavy Machineries, and Construction industries.
With regard to FARO’s views on the recession years, we continue to remain expectant and hopeful of good growth, especially with the recent launch of the FARO® Scanner Freestyle3D and the two recent software company acquisitions. For our business here in Asia Pacific, we continue to expect a 20-25% year-over-year (YoY) growth.
FARO recently announced its Asia Pacific 3D User Conference 2015 Sessions scheduled in China, India & Japan. Can you please tell us more about the same?
FARO recently unveiled the third edition of the annual FARO 3D User Conference for the Asia Pacific region. Catering to 3D documentation communities from various industries, the 2015 conferences will take place in China, India, and Japan between June and September. Attendees can look forward to a series of cross-vertical interactions across different sectors, and can learn more about application trends and 3D terrestrial laser scanning technology.
The objective of this conference is to create an exclusive platform for 3D users in the Asia Pacific region to learn about the latest 3D products and technology solutions, as well as to share expertise, applications, and technological know-how. The conference also aims to provide networking opportunities, create new business leads, and encourage face-to-face interaction amongst the 3D user community.
A one-day event, the 3D User Conference will take place in Bangalore, India, on September 4. With active participation from partners and delegates, the FARO 3D User Conference aims to be the destination for truly connecting 3D communities.
What are the latest demand trends that you witness in the Indian market?
Over the years, there has been an increase in demand for accuracy, reliability, and ease of use across the sectors and industries that FARO serves. As manufacturers’ measurement needs become more complex, precision and speed in quality checks become more sought after. We expect these demands to continue to grow well into 2015 and beyond, as measurement standards improve and evolve over time. Especially in India, FARO believes there is still much potential to uncover, as manufacturers strive to achieve and maintain international standards and certification.
This year, 3D printing – also known as addictive manufacturing, will continue to grow in popularity. Additive manufacturing is a process by which three-dimensional (3D) objects are made from digital model data. True to its name, the process is ‘additive’ (as opposed to ‘subtractive’) in nature and involves a sequential layering of material in quick succession.
FARO is well-prepared with a suite of advanced solutions to target this specific market need. Our FARO® Laser Scanner Focus3D and FARO® Edge ScanArm HD offers powerful functionality and simplicity in small packages, and FARO’s Laser Scanner line of products (FARO® Laser Scanner Focus3D X Series) are capable of capturing high-resolution point clouds that can be processed into data models for re-production of objects. We will continue to monitor this growing segment and remain committed to developing more targeted products that will meet our customers’ needs.
You participated in the recently concluded BLECH India? Please share your experience with us…
This is the third time that FARO participated at BLECH India. The show is held every alternate year and FARO has been an exhibitor since 2011.
FARO chose to attend BLECH India 2015 because we recognise that the Auto-sheet metal applications industry is one that is important to India. Recognised as one of the more established business platforms available, BLECH India is also an event where manufacturers from key industry sectors such as the Automotive and Construction industries come to source for suppliers. The event has generated much local and international interest, and by being here, FARO is assured of creating a greater awareness for our devices in the region.
Participating at BLECH India 2015, FARO hopes to generate more business leads. We also look forward to catching up with our current customers and partners, updating them with our latest product offerings and technology at the show.
What did you showcase during this edition of BLECH India? How do the products fit into the Indian manufacturing eco system?
At BLECH India 2015, FARO showcased its cutting-edge technologies, including the FARO® Edge ScanArm HD (Laser Line Probe HD), the FARO® Laser Tracker Vantage, and the FARO® Gage.
The FARO® Edge ScanArm HD is the latest addition to our best-selling FaroArm® product line. This high performance contact/non-contact device supports rapid point cloud collection with extreme resolution and accuracy. A noteworthy addition to FARO’s existing product line, the ScanArm HD is an affordable measurement device that features an extra wide scan stripe that increases scanning coverage, plus a new blue laser that offers noise reduction. The ScanArm HD is an ideal tool for product development, inspection, and quality control.
Daily product demonstrations were also held during the four days to help visitors in their understanding of FARO’s metrology solutions. Visitors approached FARO representatives for demonstrations on the FARO® Edge ScanArm HD, the FARO® Laser Tracker Vantage, and the FARO® Gage.
As a customer-oriented company, FARO closely monitors the markets we serve to help us better serve our target audience. FARO has always regarded India as a growing market with much potential as the country becomes developed due to growing literacy levels and thriving talent pool. On multiple occasions, FARO employees have reported that Indian manufacturers have high regard for products that can abide by and meet international standards. In this regard, FARO’s ISO-certified devices allow customers to achieve various certifications (ISO and API accreditations) in their respective industries, while fulfilling manufacturers’ demands for intricate measurement, quality control, and inspection needs.
Please tell us about your future plan for the Indian market…
India is an important market for FARO. Locally, our offices are in New Delhi (Head Office) and Chennai, and our presence here has enabled us to provide better ground support to our customers in the region. FARO is committed to our business in Asia Pacific and as we enter Q2 this year, we will invest in sustaining and growing the market’s awareness for the company and its products. We believe that brand awareness efforts need to be regular and consistent, and that the volume of business leads generated and the eventual sales conversion is dependent on the level of awareness and brand recall. In this regard, FARO actively participates in major trade shows, producing webinars, conducting customer visits, as well as sharing new product launches and success stories via media channels. This model has worked well for FARO, and we will continue to do likewise.
FARO’s strong relationship with customers has also enabled us to understand their needs more clearly. We regularly collect feedback from our target audiences, and invest accordingly in R&D to apply the latest advances in technology to improve our product offerings. FARO will constantly look towards expansion, though future growth and development will always be in tandem with business needs. We remain dedicated to our customer base and will spare no efforts in ensuring that assistance is provided adequately and consistently.
