Schneider Electric, the diversified energy management and automation major, is upbeat on its smart factory, smart cities and automation solutions, and expects to see a number of Indian companies transform themselves with these solutions in the near term.
Showcasing one of its first Indian plants that has been retro-transformed into a smart factory, the euro 26-billion revenue major, that operates in India with 24 plants, explained how the market is now ready for its range of products and solutions, necessary to make factories globally competitive.
During a visit to the factory set up a little over a decade ago, where more than two-thirds of the employees, including those on the shop floor, are women, the company executives explained how it has been transformed into a smart factory. It would now provide an opportunity to its customers to visit and experience the factory.
Shrinivas Chebbi, President, Buildings Business, Schneider Electric India, said, “The company has launched Masterpact MTZ, a product that fits in with today’s energy management goals. The product made in Hyderabad will not only be sold in India, but globally.”
According to the company’s senior executives, about 50 per cent of the products, mostly electrical management related, are exported to other markets.
Mourad Tamoud, Executive Vice-President, Global Supply Chain, Schneider Electric, said the company has thus far transformed 60 of its over 200 factories into smart factories.
“Our vision is to transform more than 100 factories into smart factories by 2020, and also ensure that 80 per cent of the energy requirement is met through renewables by 2030.”
The company is also in the process of setting up of a Centre of Excellence for data sciences in Bengaluru.
Anil Chaudhry Managing Director & Zone President, Greater India, Schneider Electric India, said, “Schneider Electric has grown to more than 20,000 employees in India, with 24 manufacturing facilities. We had outlined an investment of about Euro 100 million in 2016 and are now in the five-year vision plan. As we complete this phase, we will look at the next phase of growth and expansion.”
“Having entered India in 1963, the growth in the past decade has been extremely rapid. We expect to sustain this growth momentum as we tap into new areas of business, including smart cities,” he said, citing the work the company has done for Naya Raipur (Atalnagar).
Anil Choudhry said the world is witness to a paradigm shift in energy production and management and this has paved the way for the fourth industrial revolution. Being a global leader, Schneider Electric is committed to investing and creating innovative, future-ready products that can meet the needs of industry 4.0.
Through various facilities that go into making a smart factory, the company management and employees demonstrated how each of the elements goes into making a factory a smart factory.