Robotic revolution: Indian company gets Japanese patent

Japan straddles the forefront of industrial robotics and boasts the highest concentration of such robots being manufactured, used and exported.  Besides this, the Japanese patent office is one of the toughest to break through as it is flooded with robotic patent applications.  When the Pune-based Plazma Technology Pvt. Ltd. filed its patent application for enhancing the reach of a robot used in a diverse range of applications in cutting and welding, the application was challenged with many prior Japanese patents. Plazma had to refute each one by clarifying the uniqueness of their submission. This was for a combination of hardware and versatile software that enhances the reach of a robot.Technical excellence finally won the Japanese robotic-patent awarded to a home grown Indian company.

Boston Consulting Report

The significance of this patent is better understood in the context of the current global, industrial-robotic space accurately described in the Boston Consulting Group’s noteworthy report titled: “The Robotic Revolution –the Next Great Leap of Manufacturing.” Excerpts:
“The real robotics revolution is ready to begin. Many industries are reaching an inflection point at which, for the first time, an attractive return on investment is possible by replacing manual labor with machines on a wider scale. In some industries, robots will do more than 40 per cent of the manufacturing tasks. This development will power positive gains in productivity in many industries around the world and catalyze defined shifts in competitiveness among manufacturing economies that have already reaped significant benefits.

“A confluence of forces will power the ‘robotics takeoff’.  For one, the prices of hardware and their enabling software are projected to drop by more than 20 percent over the next decade. At the same time, the performance of robotics systems will improve by around 5 percent each year. As robots become more affordable and easier to program, a greater number of small manufacturers will be able to deploy them and integrate them into industrial supply chains.  “Advances in vision sensors, gripping systems, and information technology, are in the meanwhile, making robots smarter, highly networked, and immensely more useful for a wider range of applications. All of these trends are occurring at a time when developed and developing nations alike, are under mounting pressure to improve productivity in the face of rising labor costs and aging workforces.”

From the Boston Consulting report, it is clear that industrial robotics is all set to experience a significant boom as it is already on the way to boosting more efficient production all over the world. Therefore, it is exceptional that this Indian company is at the forefront of robotic innovation and certified by a Japanese patent – ‘the holy grail of robotics.‘

Innovator Throughout

Founded in 1991, Plazma Technologies is not just another company supplying robotic solutions in India and to the world. Its unique DNA is proven by 15 Patents granted by the U.S.A, Middle East, South Africa and Japan.This Indian company caters to present and future requirements for the metalworking industry worldwide. For three decades, Plazma has designed, developed and manufactured machinery for steel fabrication and plate processing related industries. It has already catered to over 1,000 customers comprising  Multinationals, Giant Indian Corporates, large Public Sector Units and Small & Medium Enterprises across India, Africa, Kuwait, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, South Africa and other countries.

ROBOPLAZMA Systems

Plazma’s dedicated team is imbued with a mission to transform fabrication by boosting robotic efficacies. This ingenious ‘Smarter Fabrication with Robotics’ mantra rewrites the very rules of any production line.The RoboPlazma range of robotic systems has the capability to cut all types of 3D jobs like dish end, pressure vessels, nozzle opening on boilers, Auger blade, Autocomponents fabricated assemblies, etc. RoboPlazma structural steel processing system can cut all profiles like i-beams, channels angles, square tubes , pipes and plates thus replacing  7 different machines. The Plazma in-house software powering these systems is called RoboSwift™: an artificial intelligence based proprietary software with intelligent shape recognition capabilities: This eliminates the need for human intervention or any requirement of skilled operators.The company’s patented software and Hardware turnkey solution enables a new 3D or 2D job to be cut every time. Complicated weld edge preparation, circular contour bevelling, single or double ‘V’ with root are all processed automatically.

Capital- efficient business model innovations

For Robotics to truly succeed, ‘RoboPlazma solutions’ has to have a guaranteed Return on Investment. With this in mind,  the Plazma team has created business-model innovations to make their Robotic solutions  affordable  for every  budget. In addition to a range of models catering to varying price ranges, Plazma provides ‘Expert System Operation Services’. These include trained operators and seasoned experts to advise new customers. This enables new customers to bridge the initial learning curve and run RoboPlazma at optimum efficiency to meet project deadlines. For ‘out of spec’ special 2D or 3D cutting  project requirements, Plazma’s experts develop software and hardware solutions ‘on the go‘ thus doing its utmost to ensure RoboPlazma delivers productivity with quality as part of Plazma’s unwavering commitment.

Plazma technologies provides a variety of Capital-efficient solutions like:

• Roboplazma Rented systems for a project or on a yearly basis.
• Expert cutting services Job-shop equipped with CNC 2D RoboPlazma system for 2D & 3D cutting for its customers to outsource cutting work.

Technology Center for Training and Development

Plazma has set up a state-of-the-art Technology Center in Pune & Dubai. This Tech Center has over 35 different projects under development specifically to answer customers’ needs for new applications; dedicated software/hardware engineers work two shifts a day. They are engaged in Research and Development of ‘state- of- the – art’ robotic solutions.
Plazma is also addressing the gap between educational institutes and the industry by linking theoretical education with practical application training. This is to create a strong talent pool for industry. Plazma’s managing director  Arundhati is  actively involved with Business Schools and engineering institutes to structure training courses on practical aspects such as Innovation Engineering, Social Engineering, and  Leadership Training.

Inspired Team

In his PUNE INSPIRE address (you tube: Hughen Pune Inspire), Plazma’s founder Hughen talks about his operating philosophy:  ‘Technology through Flow’.  It is difficult to believe that this ingenious Technocrat is a college dropout. His obsession with plasma goes back to his school days. His award winning and patented plazma torch technology inspired him to integrate the ionized power of ‘plasma’ with high performance, robotic-system innovations. Numerous Patents already granted and still being filed in many countries are a testimony to the constant technology upgradation by Plazma technologies Pvt. Ltd.

To quote Hughen:   “The case for robotics in India is not easy or straightforward. For the fabrication industry,   Robotic solutions have to be technologically superior  and economically viable.  It is not feasible to offer any unaffordable  technology. This necessitates ‘technological and business model innovations’ to make Roboplazma an attractive option. There is also the socio-economic impact of robotics on the perceived displacement of the labour force. We at Plazma educate the workforce through ‘training service packages’ thus ensuring  that robotics enhances their quality of life.”

Indeed, Hughen, Arundhati and their inspired team at Plazma constantly reinvent the technological, economic and social aspects of Robotics for their customers.

– P.K. Balasubbramaniian