Indo-US : Exchanging Each Other's Best

With the same set of economic goals to attain, India and the US are sparing no effort to further enhance their trade relationship that has witnessed a significant surge in the last couple of years. An insight into the exchange happening in the machine tools sector in the vast scheme of things between the two nations…

India and the US share closer economic ties, with their goals in perfect alignment with each other. The relation between the two countries has evolved over time, owing their bilateral trade which has more than doubled in the last decade.

The trade, according to the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF), reached $140 billion in 2017. Currently, India is working towards its goal of increasing the annual trade to $500 billion, which in Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s words is not a ‘distant dream’.

India, US’ vital export partner in machine tools

According to Douglas Woods, President, The Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT), US exports for machine tools to India grew in 2017 compared to 2016, totalling $78 million in 2017 vs. $62 million in 2016. “India has grown to become one of the top 10 US machine tool export partners, and every major automotive and off-road/construction equipment company, along with their supply chain partners, now has a presence in India,” he adds.

AMT is a trade association that is responsible for representing and promoting US-based manufacturing technology and its members.

“India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. AMT has encouraged its members to expand their businesses into India through our Chennai Tech Center, a place where members can start their in-country business operations, develop relationships with key customers and explore market opportunities,” he notes.

Yolking American expertise with Indian talent

With its fast-growing economy and a government-led focus on expanding its manufacturing industry, India is a significant market for US manufacturing technology providers. “It is important for US companies to offer technology that is suited to the Indian market, and for businesses from both countries to work together to help manufacturing continue to grow in India in support
of a strong global industry,” opines Wood.

“Technologies for automation are particularly in demand in India, as well as those for key industries like automotive, off-road/construction equipment, aerospace, and electronics. The automotive industry in India continues to grow, with analysts predicting that India will consume more than 11 million cars per year by 2030,” he adds.

There are benefits for US companies beyond just market expansion. “India graduates an estimated 1.5 million engineers every year through its education system, an important source of talent for the manufacturing industry. US companies can be confident in expanding in-country operations in India with a sufficient pool of skilled workers,” states Woods.

Smart manufacturing technologies

There is a considerable focus on modern manufacturing including advanced materials, advanced robotics and 3D printing, among others. And the US is best suited to provide that to India.

According to Woods, the US market is ripe with many software and control solutions for automation: data collection, connectivity, data storage, analytics, and utilization. A key application for this kind of automation is computing on the edge. “This is the next step beyond cloud computing, as it allows the processing power to become more localized rather than existing in the cloud. It reduces the amount of bandwidth needed to perform analytics and lessens security risks by keeping data local vs. sending it out to the cloud. Edge computing has become a significant technology enabler because of its ability to channel data to locations where computational power and timing make the most sense, and because of its capability to collect data from devices at the edge of the network – such as the sensors on machinery,” he explains.

“Other more traditional technologies are being deployed in a more non-traditional way. One example is metrology and inspection technologies. While such technologies have typically been used last in the manufacturing process, there are US companies that are developing and integrating those technologies further upstream in the manufacturing process. This better enables first part correctness and real-time statistical process control. With machine learning becoming more commonplace in manufacturing, these data points are crucial to improving and providing a more consistent manufacturing process,“ adds Woods.

IMTS 2018 and what India should expect of it

AMT is the show sponsor for International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS). The event is held every even-numbered year in Chicago
and attracts buyers and sellers
from 117 countries. IMTS 2018 is the 32^nd edition of the
premier manufacturing technology show in North America, and is going to be held from September 10-15, 2018.

“IMTS is shaping up to be the dynamic, must-see event that the manufacturing industry has come to expect. Of particular interest in 2018 will be an expanded Additive Manufacturing pavilion showcasing the latest additive technologies on the market. The show will also feature for the first time two Emerging Technology Centers, demonstrating the latest applications for advanced manufacturing technologies,” informs Woods.

Beyond additive, IMTS will feature advanced technologies for enhancing productivity and innovation in every key manufacturing industry – automotive, aerospace, medical, machine shops, and power generation. The show is expected to see more than 100,000 visitors this year and will also feature several co-located industrial shows organized by Hannover Messe, as well as the Smartforce Student Summit to educate students on careers in advanced manufacturing. “Visitors from India or anywhere around the world can expect to find solutions for their manufacturing challenges, and to learn about the latest applications and technologies,” he adds.

HIGHLIGHT : India has grown to become one of the top 10 US machine tool export partners. US exports for machine tools to India grew in 2017 compared to 2016, totalling $78 million in 2017 vs. $62 million in 2016.

Poonam Pednekar
Chief Copy Editor
Magic Wand Media Inc

poonam.pednekar@magicwandmedia.in