Schmersal India : Pioneering the machine safety technology
The Indian Machine safety Industry is becoming more matured and is learning very fast to come in line with the global levels. When the Indian machine designer’s have inputs from their global counterparts or from machine safety training’s in India they are quick to adapt these safety systems in the Control system. We receive a lot of requests to understand particular standards pertaining to specific machine (C standards).
Q. SCHMERSAL INDIA has gain credible market share in machine safety sensor business, how did SCHMERSAL INDIA manage this significant growth?
Machine Designers and operator needs to be thoroughly informed about the latest solutions available for industrial machine safety .Once they understand and see that the solutions will not only make their workplace safer but also increase the productivity, they commit themselves to use Safety solutions on the machines. Schmersal India has dedicated team of Application Experts ,Certified Safety Consultant in addition to the engineers who are continuously trained on usage of safety components and their appropriate implementation in a control system of the machine. Since they closely work with users and designers, the market share of Schmersal India has gained a significant growth.
Q. Can you brief us about SCHMERSAL Group’s global & domestic network & activities?
The Schmersal Group is a world leader in electrical and electronic safety switchgear and systems for the protection of man and machine. The group is represented worldwide, with 4 manufacturing plants in Germany and one each in Brazil China and India and affiliated offices in 23 countries. Schmersal India has 22 engineers at different locations. Further all areas are also covered by network of system integrators and distributors. Besides this there is a service centre in Mumbai.
Q. How about SCHMERSAL INDIA’s initiatives in machine safety technology space? Which are your focus areas?
Schmersal India places a lot of initiative on safety basic concept training and also on the latest standards on designing SRP/CS(Safety Related Path Control System). In fact many of the software tools for calculation of Safety Performance Levels and Safety Distance calculators are available free of cost on the web. Safety Engineers just need to be trained on its usage and we take a lot of initiative for this training. Also major Industry bodies like the CII, and the Approving Agencies conduct a lot of programs on safety and in such workshops we take care of the safety aspects section.
Since Safety is applicable wherever man and machine work together, we are present in all industries. Major industries where implementation of safety is already at a good level are Automobile, Alternate Energy, FMCG, Packaging, Bulk Material Handling, Pharma & Textile are also the focus areas for us.
Q. What are the market opportunities for SCHMERSAL INDIA products in India? How do you plan to position these products?
In the first phase we plan to manufacture basic safety position switches, door switches and Emergency stops devices for the machinery manufacturer’s/users’s and for manufacturer of Lift’s and Escalators. Currently most of the industry uses solutions which are non safe. But with growing awareness amongst the users there is a increasing need for these safety solution and hence we see a good growth of the market and opportunity for our solutions.
Q. What is your marketing strategy for Indian market?
To ensure faster supplies and to be closer to our customer, we started a manufacturing plant which is now fully operational at Pune. Here we manufacture entire range of Safety Position Switches and Door switches in first phase and reduce the delivery time considerably from few weeks to few days. With growing awareness among manufacturer’s now they need correct and complete technical solutions in Safety. Hence we have an Application Team which supports Sales Engineers to build a complete solution for a particular hazard. Also now with local manufacturing , we can supply manufacturers with modification in products they need, with faster deliveries.
Besides we intend to continue strongly with training workshops on Safety Basic Standards which enhance engineer’s knowledge with respect to Safety.
Q. Brief us about the quality policy for the business?
Since we supply safety solutions we have to place utmost importance on quality of the products. All the products manufactured in India are going through a 100% inspection check currently. Also the necessary certification for UL and CSA has been done and hence the products manufactured in India also carry all the necessary global approvals. Further we will be going in for ISO certification of our plant in October.
Q. Can you brief us more about SCHMERSAL INDIA’s top line product range?
Schmersal is pioneer in RFID based solutions for non- contact coded magnetic sensors. Many of its solutions are based on PULSE ECHO Technology, a patent of Schmersal, which ensures the devices have high repeat accuracy of switching points, possibility of actuation even when misaligned and with early warning when operating near the limit of sensor hysteresis range. Control devices for food and pharma machines are certified by ECOLAB. Solutions are also offered for IP69K application and also in SS for clean room process.
Q. What do you think are the strengths of machine safety technology industry & How it is positioning itself against the global market?
The Indian Machine Safety Industry is becoming more matured and is learning very fast to come in line with the global levels. When the Indian machine designer’s have inputs from their global counterparts or from machine safety training’s in India they are quick to adapt these safety systems in the Control system. We receive a lot of requests to understand particular standards pertaining to specific machine (C standards).Also recently we have receive some request from Designers to comply their machine to NR12 standards for export to Brazil, which will be mandatory from 2014. Hence we see that our industry in going ahead to make their machines compliant to the necessary global standards. They just need necessary information and faster solutions .
Q. What are the key technological trends that are driving machine safety technology industry?
Users of safety now demand the safety solution to have more tolerance to misalignment, individual coding to avoid bypassing of the switches by the operator, LED indication on the devices so that the operator is able to identify locally which switch has stopped the machine, series connection of sensors on various doors and serial diagnostics. Further many industry have specific demand such as SS housing for the clean room applications and IP69K protection for areas where there is high ingress possibilities. Also many of these devices are installed in Hazardous Zones and there is a big demand to make them ATEX compliant to Zone 1 and 2.
Q. According to you what is the forecast for the automation industry?
The Automation industry will continue to grow as users need machines to be more Fast, Reliable and Safe. Once they see the investment going into automation is helping them achieve the above three objectives, in a responsible payback time, they go ahead to invest.
Q. What are the issues you need to address that are related to machine safety technology industry?
According to Directorate of Industrial Safety & Health, majority of the accidents occur with operators who feel they know the machine very well as they have been working on it for years. Accidents can occur once in many years, but if the operator loses his finger or hand then it is irrevocable injury. This “I know all” attitude is the biggest challenge. Furthermore there is always a general mindset that implementing safety will hamper the production. Also majority of accidents do not occur during the normal running of a machine. They occur during set up or maintenance mode. There are solutions which ensure safe working conditions even during these two modes.
