The future of thermal cutting is adopting automation and digitalisation

By OEM Update Editorial May 2, 2023 1:52 pm IST

Messer India has a continuous product development process to meet any thermal cutting requirements. The industry has started using automation to increase productivity, and manage material movement, inventory, to save time and cost, says Ravichandran Duraisamy, Senior Product Manager, Messer Cutting Systems India.
“As a leader in thermal cutting, we see that the industry has grown due to sustained demand conditions.”
Despite global challenges in the supply chain, the manufacturing sector Index of Industrial Production (IIP) has grown from 2.8% (2015 – 16) to 21.2% (2021-22). According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the Indian economy has increased from 10th to 5th largest in the world in the past nine years. I also quote that the recent 2023-24 union budget has enormous opportunities for growth in industrial sectors, such as Infrastructure and Investment (Project Saptarishi) and Railways, with a capital outlay of 2.40 lakh crore. Moreover, we foresee a lot of opportunities in Infrastructure development and related sectors.
Evolution of Indian industry in the last decade
The industry has shifted from General engineering methods to process automation, digitalisation, robotics etc. We also see various technology-based startups across India catering to the above requirements.
Challenges in the current scenario
One of the major challenges any industry faces is the requirement for a skilled workforce and the associated costs. In the manufacturing sector, the labour cost for skilled manpower is rising and is catching up with the cost of the IT industry. To bridge this gap, digitalisation and automation are the key solutions to enhance productivity.
To promote technological advancements in the Indian manufacturing sector, the government has launched initiatives such as Industry 4.0 through SAMARTH (Smart Advanced Manufacturing and Rapid Transformation Hubs) and UDYOG Bharat 4.0. These initiatives aim to encourage the adoption of technological solutions.

The future of thermal cutting
Laser cutting has emerged as the technology of choice due to its superior performance and cost-effectiveness. Plasma-based processes such as bevelling and drilling have enabled users to reduce the need for multiple post-cutting operations.
The industry has embraced automation to improve productivity, streamline material movement and inventory management, and save time and costs. Just as India was a late starter in the mobile phone industry but is now one of the world’s largest consumers, automation is poised to become a ubiquitous force in every sector of the Indian industry. The lack of skilled manpower is expected further to fuel the adoption of process automation and digitalisation.
Partner of choice
With over 125 years of experience in the global market, we are pioneers in the thermal cutting industry. Our team has extensive collective experience and application knowledge, allowing us to offer innovative solutions to complex customer problems. We are proud to offer state-of-the-art products with cutting-edge technology, and our after-sales support infrastructure and personalised service support are second to none. We provide products that utilise all three energy sources – Oxyfuel, Plasma, and Laser, making us an ideal partner for all customers.
Our modular products are designed to meet the needs of various customers, including bevel units for weld edge preparation and OmniWin, a professional nesting tool. Additionally, we offer a range of automation products, such as Machine Insight (MI) for machine monitoring, Production Data Capture (PDC) for live data, ERP Connect to integrate with customers’ ERP, Auto Plate management, and integrated machines with software solutions.
At Messer India, we are committed to being a solution provider to our customers. We have a strong and established continuous product development process, allowing us to meet any requirements in the thermal cutting industry