Plasma cutting: transforming the world of manufacturing

May 26, 2014 8:39 am

“Our aim is to increase the awareness of plasma amongst end-users so that they can make the best decision on the technology that best suits their needs,” says Abhinav Sood, Sales Leader, Hypertherm India
 Hypertherm designs and manufactures advanced cutting products for use in various industries. In an exclusive interview with OEM Update, Abhinav Sood talks about the acceptance of plasma cutting technology in India, the challenges and road ahead. He also briefs on the company’s participation in Weld India expo.
Hypertherm is in the business of advanced plasma cutting systems. How do you see the acceptance of such products in the Indian market? At present, India is in transition from the traditional methods of cutting to adopting newer technologies. With an increase in demand for efficiency and speed, end-users are deviating from the use of conventional metal cutting systems and have started to adopt automated technologies. Over the years, the industry has seen a drastic increase in the expectations of end-users and in recent times, they have come to expect consistent quality, high productivity, efficiency, reliability, and lower cost of manufacturing.
Compared to traditional metal cutting systems, plasma cutting can meet most of the above-mentioned expectations and it offers users an optimised solution for metal cutting processes. Plasma cutting technology has advanced greatly; there are now solutions available to suit a wider range of materials and thickness, catering to a variety of industry segments. As more global manufacturers set up base in India, a growth in the demand for high-end technologies is expected. In fact, the plasma installed base has seen increased growth over the years, not only in India but across the globe. This can be attributed to the fact that more manufacturers are adopting plasma for their thermal cutting needs in replacement of less efficient cutting methods. The Indian market is on its way towards adoption of modern manufacturing technologies, and this area of growth is expected to continue in the coming years.
What kind of challenges are you witnessing in terms of placing new products in the market?When introducing new products and technologies to the market, there are generally two areas that can have an impact on the resultant responses – cost and awareness. In plasma cutting, for example, the initial investment cost is higher compared to traditional manufacturing systems, and this is the reason why many companies are not ready to adopt plasma technology. In addition, the lack of knowledge and exposure to the latest manufacturing techniques like plasma amongst end-users also poses a challenge when it comes to product marketing.
The challenge for us is to educate end-users on the intrinsic benefits of using plasma cutting systems. Through education, end-users can gain a better understanding of the plasma advantage. Our opportunity for growth arises when they become more receptive to adopting the technology. Our aim is to increase the awareness of plasma amongst end-users so that they can make the best decision on the technology that best suits their needs.
Which are the verticals that are driving your company’s overall business?As a leading global provider of metal cutting equipment, Hypertherm’s solutions are employed in a wide spectrum of industries, including key markets such as the construction, infrastructure, railway, pressure vessel, agriculture and general fabrication sectors. Hypertherm will continue to support its customers by developing technology upgrades and new product offerings to meet each industry’s cutting needs.

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