Enabling 'Made by India' : A Journey so Far

It’s been a decade of fruitful efforts for Beckhoff Automation with many Indian machine builders and end users having warmed up to the concept of Open Automation technology using Industrial PC-based Control systems. Hence, to commemorate and celebrate its 10-year-old journey in the country, the company organized multi-city events for machine builders, users and system integrators from various industries from October 9-13, 2017 at Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bengaluru and Pune.

Marking milestones

For the last ten years, the Beckhoff team in India has remained committed in constantly guiding and supporting Indian manufacturers, machine builders, and solution providers to upgrade the control systems for building high-performance machines. The efforts have paid off in the form of success and recognition the company has gained. The active participation from the industry fraternity of the country at the events served as a testimony to the trust Beckhoff Automation has built over the years.

The occasion was just opportune for the company to express gratitude to its customers and support service providers for enabling its growth. The events, with machinery manufacturers, end users, and system integrators as experts in the panel, provided an ideal platform for discussing issues including creating industry awareness, technology percolation to MSME level, investing in IoT, engaging academics for R&D, new skill development, and training in-house human resource and reallocating them for long-term sustainability in the new era.

The keynote speakers at the events stressed upon the importance of technology and machine design to make Indian manufacturing most efficient and high quality for ‘Make in India’ program to be successful. The point that end-users must elevate their equipment standards for MSME vendors to comply was also highlighted.

Jitendrakumar Kataria, MD,Beckhoff Automation, said, “We strongly believe in helping Indian equipment manufacturers to produce world-class equipment using Beckhoff technology so that they can compete in the global market.”

Echoing the same sentiment, Kai Ristau, International Sales Head, Beckhoff Automation GmbH & Co KG, stated, “It is indeed satisfying and motivating looking back at the decisions taken to transfer the technology benefits to Indian Industry. Beckhoff India’s entire team is simply excellent and highly committed to enable ‘Made by India’ with PC-based Automation technology.”

(From L-R): Jitendrakumar Kataria, Managing Director, Beckhoff Automation Pvt Ltd; Marcel Meier – Area Sales Manager, Beckhoff Automation GmbH & Co KG; Murali Kantharaju, Managing Director, DesignPro; Andrew Hughes, Technical Head, Aditya Auto; and Rajesh Nath, Managing Director, VDMA India; during the lamp lighting ceremony in Bangalore.

India intent

Beckhoff Automation came into being in 2007 with a sole intent to enable the Indian manufacturing industry to implement advanced automation solutions in building innovative and high-performance machines using powerful industrial
computers and Ethernet fieldbus communication technology.

It believed that the Indian manufacturing industry was brimming over with engineering talent but lacked automation technology tools. Identifying this need, Beckhoff Automation GmbH & Co KG, the globally fastest growing automation technology company, decided to set up a subsidiary in the country to enable the industry to design and develop innovative and value-added machines ‘Made by India’.

With its ever-growing customer base and acceptance from the Indian industry, the company is all equipped to take on new challenges and position itself still higher in the coming decade. We wish the company best luck!

A panel discussion on how automation technologies manufactured in India can contribute to ‘Make in India’ program in progress.