KUKA starts operations in India

KUKA Robots will now be available for automation needs of different industrial sectors, mainly automotive, automotive suppliers and general engineering, which includes foundry, welding, metal, plastics and logistics. Critical components of the Robotic systems will be shipped from Germany but will be customised in India as specified and required by Indian companies. Services will include consulting and development of robot applications, planning, design, and process technology robotic cells for welding, thermal spray, handling, machining, as well as comprehensive customer support services.

Mr Bruno Geiger, Managing Director for Asia, announcing the launch of the company's India operations, says: "According to recent estimates, the addressable automation and robotics market in India is enormous and growing rapidly. Indian companies are opening up to automation in a big way. Even small repair workshops are opting for the robots. This highlights the significant potential that the market has to offer to KUKA, which has been in the forefront of creating innovative products and solutions in industrial robotics. India was also the obvious choice for setting up the subsidiary by virtue of the technical expertise and skills available, which will enable us to service our existing clients.

Asian market expansion

Other priority markets for KUKA in Asia are China, Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan. Elaborating on KUKA's India plans, Mr Raj Singh Rathee, Managing Director for India, adds: "India is a key market for KUKA Robotics and we have significant plans to ramp-up our scale of services, technology and collaboration with Indian technological institutes and people by way of the subsidiary. We are confident that the KUKA Robotics will play an important role to help strengthen the automobile and manufacturing sector with the latest technologically superior robots."

India is a critical market for KUKA Robotics. With plans to become the number-one robot manufacturer in the region and a countrywide customer base, and to further strengthen its presence, KUKA has already started implementing plans to expand its sales and service operations across India by the end of 2007.

The KUKA training centre at Pune is described as the best facility the group has outside Germany. This state-of-the-art facility has the capacity to train around 300 people every year in different aspects of robotics. This facility also encompasses special documentation/training methodologies that make it easier for even non-technical people.