Indian industry banks extensively on automation technology
Festo is a reliable partner in industry and in education and training.
For around 50 years, Festo has been a partner to Indian industry, which is relying on an increasing extent on automation technology. This country has one of the most strongly expanding national economies worldwide. The Global Production Centre Bangalore (GPC) manufactures around 2,000 different products and components. Over 90 percent of its production is destined for the local Indian market. India is thus an important factor not only for Festo, but also for the global economy; in 2015 it is the partner country of the Hannover Messe trade fair.
“In the past, there was seen to be little need for automation technology in India, with its large number of available workers and its low wages; today, by contrast, the market has a growth potential for automation amounting to far more than 10 to 12% per annum. Since Indian consumers are demanding high-quality products to an increasing extent and with higher rapidity, the demand for automation technology is also increasing,” said Rashmikant Joshi, Managing Director of Festo India.
Festo recognised this demand and has been represented in India since 1986 with its own national company: with 550 employees and 14 sales offices, Festo Controls Pvt. Ltd. in Bangalore is in close proximity to all Indian machinery and equipment customers in the most significant industrial regions. Simultaneously with the sale of automation technology, Festo initiated the manufacture of standard products for the local Indian market: around 90 percent of the 2,000 different products and components are produced for the local market. The plant in Bangalore is integrated into the global development, production and logistics network with various functions. With its broad-based range of services along with individualised offers for industrial education and training, the Indian national company rapidly achieved market leadership.
The most important partner industries for automation technology are the automotive, food and packing, paper and printing sectors and the textiles and machine tools industries. The special applications provided by Festo India include the sorting of rice and grain with fast-shifting valves, and the grinding of spices by means of the MAS pneumatic muscle.
India is faced with great challenges not only in automation, but also in the development of education and the infrastructure. Festo therefore places great emphasis on education and training. This is exemplified by the establishment of training centres and cooperation programmes with universities and other educational intuitions: Festo Didactic opened a Festo Authorized and Certified Training Centre (F.A.C.T.) for process automation at the C.V. Raman College of Engineering in 2014. Under the Festo brand, expertise and know-how are imparted here both to the industry and to students. As the world market leader in industrial education and training, Festo with its Didactic business unit and state-of-the-art near-industry learning systems is closing the gap between theory and practice, thereby catering to the growing demand for qualified employees – both for the company itself and for its Indian customers.
