FARO : The World’s Most Trusted Source for 3D Measurement Technology
Mr. Hakiran Sandhu, Country Manager, FARO India
Q. Please brief us about the company’s Indian and global infrastructure?
FARO is a global technology company that develops and markets computer-aided coordinate measurement devices and software. We provide portable equipment that will assist our customers in achieving high-precision 3D measurement and comparison of parts and compound structures within production and quality assurance processes. Our devices are useful for component and assembly inspection, production planning, and inventory documentation. Our global headquarters (HQ) is located in Lake Mary, Florida, with a European head office in Stuttgart, Germany, and an Asia-Pacific head office in Singapore. In addition, FARO has branch locations worldwide including Japan, China, India, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, and The Netherlands. Locally, FARO offices are in New Delhi (Head Office) and Chennai. Our presence here has enabled us to provide better ground support to our customers in the region.
Q. Please highlight the latest initiatives in your industry?
FARO believes that non-contact optical measurement technology will continue to inspire newer initiatives in the industry, as both research and observations of industry development suggest that awareness for Additive Manufacturing is increasing globally. Also known as 3D printing, Additive Manufacturing is a process by which three-dimensional (3D) objects are made from digital model data. As the name suggests, the process is ‘additive’ in nature (as opposed to ‘subtractive’) and involves a sequential layering of material in quick succession. As demand for additive manufacturing continues to grow, technology will continue to advance, as well as become more widespread and affordable – a natural ‘life cycle’ that various modes of technology have gone through. The trend looks set to continue even into 2015, and FARO is well prepared with solutions such as our FARO® Laser Scanner FARO® Laser Scanner Focus3D and FARO® Edge ScanArm ES to meet our customers’ needs. Both devices offer users powerful functionality and simplicity in small packages, and we will continue to invest in technologies to meet this need.
In addition, we have also observed that 3D printing is becoming a worldwide phenomenon. For one, it is increasingly common for tradeshow organizers to have a dedicated feature area for 3D printing-related technologies, a move that is well received by both exhibitors and visitors. In particular, companies that do rapid prototyping appreciate 3D printing, because it positively impacts their product design process by way of two very important factors – time and confidentiality. 3D printing is speedy and it eliminates the need for model fabrication at an external vendor’s facility, both of which are attractive attributes. FARO has developed several products to target this specific market need. FARO’s Laser Scanner line of products (FARO® Laser Scanner 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. The digitized information allows key design specifications and requirements of the prototype to be checked or modified easily and quickly.
Q. What are the market opportunities for your company’s products in India?
India is a market with much potential, with growing literacy levels and a thriving talent pool. Manufacturers in India refer to international standards when it comes to quality benchmarking. Naturally, they spare no effort to ensure that their equipment and products match up to those strict standards, standing up to close scrutiny. In this regard, FARO is glad that its ISO-certified devices allow customers to achieve various certifications in their respective industries, including ISO and API accreditations, to name a few. Increasingly, manufacturers have higher demands for precision and speed in quality checks. As their products and measurement needs both become more complex, quality control and inspection tasks are becoming more intricate, requiring more sophisticated measuring equipment like FARO’s. Since quality is of essence, high-precision equipment like FARO’s becomes crucial for manufacturers. For this reason, FARO regards India as a key market and we believe that our products will continue to find favor here.
Q. What is the future prospect for your industry?
Last year, we observed an increase in demand for accuracy, reliability, and ease of use across the sectors and industries that FARO serves. Logically, it is almost certain that these demands will only continue to grow. Consequently, as technological advances continue to gain new grounds, companies with measurement technology that cater to users’ needs are the ones that will lead the way in this industry. Fortunately for FARO, our strong relationship with our customers allows us to understand their needs. Armed with that insight, we invest accordingly in research and development (R&D) to apply the latest advances in technology to improve our product offerings. By doing so, we ensure that we meet market needs today and anticipate new ones tomorrow – securing FARO’s leading position in the measurement industry.
Q. Are there any plans for expansion and new investment, in terms of product development or new technology adoption to cater to the demand of the industry?
FARO is committed to our business in Asia-Pacific and will constantly look towards expansion, though future growth and development will always be in tandem with business needs. FARO remains dedicated to its customer base and will spare no efforts in ensuring adequate assistance for customers. One of our priorities is to provide top class sales and after-sales support to our customers, and resources will always be allocated accordingly to support those needs.
Q. What is the top line product range, and is there any plans to launch new products?
Our best-selling product line is the FaroArm®, which has enjoyed tremendous success with our customers. Its latest addition is the FARO® Edge ScanArm ES that boasts of Enhanced Scanning Technology (EST), which improves the ability to scan challenging surfaces that are dark or reflective. Capable of both contact and non-contact measurements, the ScanArm ES is portable and highly effective at the same time. Adept for performing tasks such as inspection of parts and reverse engineering, the device provides accurate and precise measurements for manufacturing and quality control easily. FARO is attuned to the industry’s trends and demands, and we continually invest efforts into developing new 3D measurement technology to cater to our customers’ needs. Our customers entrust us to develop quality products that will help in their measurement needs, and FARO will continue to launch new products into the market when our devices are ready.
Q. What is the vision of your company?
FARO’s vision is to be the world’s most trusted source for 3D measurement, imaging, and realization technology. By leveraging on our customers’ input and reinvesting in R&D, FARO strives to develop quality products and to work towards our corporate vision – being the best in our field.
About FARO
FARO is a global technology company that develops and markets computer-aided coordinate measurement devices and software. Portable equipment from FARO permits high-precision 3D measurement and comparison of parts and compound structures within production and quality assurance processes. The devices are used for inspecting components and assemblies, production planning, inventory documentation, as well as for investigation and reconstruction of accident sites or crime scenes. They are also employed to generate digital scans of historic sites.
With FARO, 3D measurement and documentation needs can be fulfilled confidently. As a pioneer and market leader in portable computer-aided measurement, FARO consistently applies the latest advances in technology to make its industry-leading product offerings more accurate, reliable, and easy to use. The focus is on simplifying workflow with tools that empower customers, thereby dramatically reducing the on-site measuring time and lowering overall costs. Worldwide, approximately 15,000 customers are operating more than 30,000 installations of FARO’s systems. The company’s global headquarters are located in Lake Mary, Florida, with its European head office in Stuttgart, Germany and its Asia-Pacific head office in Singapore. FARO has branch locations in Japan, China, India, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, and The Netherlands.
Web: www.faroasia.com/in
