Vijay Akot’s passion for innovation

On Feb 5, 2014

Automation is inevitable if you need consistent quality and productivity.
Mr. Vijay Akot, Managing Director, Integrated Automation & Robotics

Automation is the core business of Integrated Automation & Robotics (IAR for short). The company based in Aurangabad is a total solutions provider in the sphere of automation which is inevitable if you need to achieve productivity and consistent quality. The company was founded in 2005 by Vijay Akot, a veteran engineer who had been with Bajaj Auto for long 17 years as Senior Manager – Projects & Automation, before starting his own business.

Ms. Sangeeta Akot, Director, who bears the brunt of good governance at IAR

IAR has the ability to provide automation solutions or SPM solutions for the processes for which there is no solution available in the market. Today IAR offers the following systems and solutions:

Welding automation with or without robotics
Tube bending solutions
Coil binding solutions for the electrical industry
Materials handling solutions for various industries
Pick and place systems for machines
Custom-built automation
Surface treatment solutions

IAR also offers comprehensive solutions for pre-treatment surface coating viz. Plating plants of all types (Zinc, nickel chrome, copper, silver, gold, etc.), Pre-treatment plants (Phosphating), ED Coating, Autophoretic coating, Powder coating, Dip and spray painting and MIP coating. It has the distinction of having developed and supplied over a hundred pre-treatment plants in India. The company is well-known in conveyor automation too. These automation systems are PLC controlled.

Harnessing Robotics
Coming to robotics, these are mainly used in India for finishing, handling, pick & place and palletizing. IAR offers robotic solutions primarily for welding and pick & place. Vijay Akot believes in doing things differently. He recounts the efforts he has put in, in developing a Multi-axis tube bending machine which is servo controlled, but the co-ordinates can be used like in robotics.

The company has supplied over a dozen machines so far. The machine is unique in many ways. It does not have hydraulics for bending. It is used only for clamping in some cases. Also it uses LH-RH ball screws. This is unique. Symmetrical jobs can be very easily bent with this machine.

Dwelling on automation and its acceptance in India, Akot says, “The acceptance and the need for automation is increasing in the industry. The mindset is changing. Earlier people used to think of investment in automation in terms of payback period per man cost per day versus investment, interest, etc. Now-a-days people have changed the mindset! It has become the capital investment consideration at the project stage itself.”

A pre-treatment plant engineered for Chaphekar Engg, Pune. IAR has the distinction of being the largest manufacturer of transporters for surface treatment in India.

Core Strengths
IAR has a full-fledged manufacturing set-up in MIDC, Waluj, Aurangabad, manned by a dedicated workforce which has an uncanny eye for quality.
One can sum up the major strengths of the company as:

An young and dynamic team (average age is 28 years)
Ability to conceive an idea and implement it
Out of the box solutions
Where automation is a way of life
Ability to think from the customer’s point of view.

Akot recounts that the most memorable day in his professional life is the day when they tested the unique tube bending machine with servo controllers and with all features of robots, developed for Savera, Aurangabad.

In keeping with its impressive portfolio, IAR has an exhaustive list of satisfied customers. Some of them are: Endress & Hauser, Speedomax (Omax Group of Companies), Havell’s, Tata Toyo Radiators, Rucha Group, Yeshashree Group, Savera Group, Chaphekar Engg, Pune, Kailash Vahan Udyog, Ace Coatings India, R-Devis, Creative Systems, Marine Electricals, Wheels India, Plus Tech, etc.

Also an unique materials handling solution was implemented at Chaphekar Engineering for handling Truck load body. It’s a classic example of handling heavy components. Integrated is also the largest manufacturer of Transporter systems in India. It has almost 170 transporter systems in operation so far all over India.

Welding automation using robotics. IAR has the ability to provide automation solutions for the processes for which there is no solution available in the market.

Passion for Automation
Indeed ‘Automation’ is a passion for Vijay Akot, an Electronics & Telecom Engineer from JNEC, Aurangabad. He considers himself fortunate to have his spouse, Sangeeta Akot, a Master of Commerce, as his business partner, thus giving him a whale of time and the required peace of mind to concentrate on R & D and to come out with customized solutions which are path-breaking.

Akot feels that in today’s context, Automation is inevitable if you need productivity & consistent quality. Industry is realizing the benefits of automation : One doesn’t have to depend on manpower unduly, productivity is increasing, quality is improving, there is substantial space saving, smooth material flow helps in enhancing productivity… So with all this, the payback of automation system is faster. Akot has ambitious growth plans. He envisages that IAR will be a rupees hundred crore entity in the nearest future.

– P. K. Balasubramanian