Camozzi mastering Indian market

March 30, 2024 12:04 pm

Lalit Awasthi, Country Head at Camozzi India, emphasises that reliability is the key factor, especially when dealing with customers in sectors like transportation and aerospace. For a product to be trustworthy, it needs to be prepared for the industry’s future. Hence, the focus has to be on creating solutions that are reliable, easily accessible, maintainable, and industry-ready for operation.

What factors are contributing to the growth of the automation market in India?

In India, automation is currently at a nascent stage, experiencing organic growth primarily due to the low labour costs in the country. The market is just beginning to flourish, contrasting with Italy, a relatively smaller nation with a pneumatic automation market worth more than Rs. 5,000 crores. In comparison, India’s market is currently around Rs. 3,000 crores only being such a big country. The automation market is anticipated to witness explosive growth, driven by the increasing emphasis on better product quality. As demand for superior products rises, automation becomes a necessity. At least for now, we expect to grow comfortably at a CAGR of more than 10 percent, propelling the market to around Rs. 5,000 crores in the pneumatic automation field within the next five years.

How is Camozzi positioning itself for the evolving demands of the automation industry, particularly in pneumatic automation?

We deal mainly in pneumatic automation and some aspects of electric automation, focusing on the activation part of the process. As the industry needs to evolve towards high-tech and advanced solutions, Camozzi is actively preparing for Industry 4.0. The company has incorporated coil vision technology, a patented innovation, into its valves and actuators. This technology allows these products to keep track of the number of cycles they have operated, monitor their current health, and predict when they might fail. It provides insights into the reasons for failure, offering a comprehensive understanding of what is happening within the actuators or motors. The data collected is transmitted through dedicated Wi-Fi networks to Camozzi’s cloud servers, where it is interpreted and managed. This approach ensures that the products are Industry 4.0 compliant and also ready for advancements in Industry 5.0. Camozzi continues to make strides in technological advancements to stay at the forefront of the automation industry.

How is your company leveraging artificial intelligence to develop products, especially in the area of collaborative robots?

AI has been a long-discussed concept, aiming to create products or processes that mimic human perception and understanding. The goal is to eliminate the need for human intervention in production processes. We are developing products that can provide insights into their internal state and behaviour, particularly in collaborative robots. For example, our focus includes designing a gripper handling unit that functions like a human hand, applying the proper force to lift and transfer items securely, like a mobile phone. This involves incorporating sensors and technology to emulate human-like actions in robotic applications. The overarching objective is to create high-quality products without direct human involvement, aligning every parameter with human-like considerations. We are actively working towards this goal and anticipate being at the forefront of such advancements.

Please discuss parallel grippers’ self-centring solutions for assembling products of various sizes with precision and speed. 

The term ‘gripper’ refers to a device essential for handling various manufactured products. Each product may require a specific gripping application based on its characteristics. For instance, a circular product necessitates a self-centring mechanism, where the gripper’s fingers converge to centre the product before lifting or relocating it. This type of gripper is known as a self-centering gripper. The product range in our group is designed to accommodate diverse gripping needs, including self-centring grippers for circular objects. We also offer parallel grippers, where the fingers move in parallel while maintaining self-centering capability. These grippers come in configurations with 3 or 4 fingers. It is a standard requirement for products within the gripping range to have these features, and our product line encompasses various grippers to meet these diverse needs.

How has Camozzi experienced advantages from the implementation of Industry 5.0?

There are a few major players in the pneumatic market, with SMC being the dominant force in the mass market. Camozzi needed to have its own space to command a mass market. Rather than aiming for mass market dominance with a focus on cost-effectiveness, we identified a unique positioning for ourselves. Our strategy involves offering superior quality at a slightly good price, making it affordable for customers who prefer reliability over mass-market options. Our targeted customers include top-tier customers such as Mercedes, Saurer, and Eaton etc. and sectors like transportation, life science etc., applications like anaesthesia, ventilator, oxygen generators & concentrators etc.  Our focus on providing the utmost reliability in sectors where mass players may fall short sets us apart and differentiates us from others.

How does Camozzi Automation address the specific needs of application sectors such as automotive, aerospace, and textile transportation? 

In sectors like aerospace, transportation, and life science, where human lives are directly at stake, the quality of products becomes paramount. Whether it is ensuring the safety of individuals in buses, trains, or life science applications, substandard quality could pose enormous risks. Camozzi has always adhered to a quality philosophy to guarantee its products’ longevity and trouble-free operation. This commitment stems from the understanding that any compromise in quality could endanger lives. Throughout our more than 60-year history, we have steadfastly upheld the principles of quality and reliability. This focus on maintaining the highest standards has been a strength for the Camozzi Group, particularly in sectors where the well-being of individuals is under focus, such as transportation, aerospace, and life science.

How does Camozzi Automation manage fluid control solutions for both industrial and life science sectors?

In anaesthesia, a mixture of three gases – laughing gas, air, and oxygen – is carefully blended to maintain the patient’s well-being during surgery. Precise control of gas proportions is crucial to ensure the patient’s mood remains stable and within safe limits. This handling of gases is particularly vital, as any deviation could cause danger to the patient’s life. Camozzi has developed products, including open-frame designs, with closed-loop control systems for applications like anaesthesia in the life science field. These systems bring the utmost accuracy and precision in handling fluid quantities as required by the application. The expertise gained from designing for applications, such as anaesthesia, extends to other areas, making it easier for us to handle various applications with specific parameters. With a dedicated design centre in Italy and collaborations with institutions like the Italian Institute of Technology, we invest significantly in research and development. Unless you invest in R&D, you can’t do anything. So, you must invest in improving the quality and product for future needs.

Our commitment is evident through initiatives like the recently inaugurated CRC in presence of Italian Prime Minister. Such investments are essential to develop such kinds of technologies.

Could you provide insights into management considerations for reentry into the Indian market, given the changing perception?

Camozzi entered the Indian market in 2003 but initially faced challenges as there was a perception that India favoured low-end and cheap products. The management contemplated winding up operations in 2018 but was reconsidered after due diligence. After a detailed analysis, management changed, and I entered this organisation. We analysed it, and it became clear that mistakes were made in understanding the Indian market’s buying behaviour. Camozzi has not placed its products well in the Indian market. Corrective measures were implemented, targeting the right audience and proper product placement. Over the last four years, turnover has doubled, and the company has become profitable. With positive results, the management considers reentry into the Indian market, aligning with the changing scenario and prospects. Therefore, we are planning, and something will surely come in the time to come. It will come; it will happen very shortly.