We spoke with Mr. Manish Walia, Head Automation South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal) at Delta Electronics to understand how automation is helping Indian manufacturing deliver on the world stage.
We are witnessing a special moment as the Indian industry strides towards the stratosphere. The “Made in India” tag is gaining global trust and respectability, making it the fastest-growing economy in the world and a popular global investment and manufacturing hub. Automation is a key driver of this change.
Delta Electronics India, which recently completed 15 years in India, has achieved recognition in the Indian automation landscape. Delta Automation has consistently been at the forefront of innovation and excellence, offering cutting-edge solutions that have revolutionized manufacturing processes. Over the past 15 years, Delta’s industrial automation business in India has shown remarkable growth, solidifying trust among customers, suppliers, and channel partners alike. “The Indian industrial automation market is experiencing rapid growth, and we are strategically positioned to harness this momentum,” stated Mr. Manish Walia. “Our comprehensive range of products and solutions is tailored to meet our customers’ evolving needs, and we remain committed to delivering unparalleled support to them.”
Delta Electronics India offers a diverse automation product range and industry-wide applications for its complete Industrial & Building Automation solutions. He explains “Automation propels capability, competence, and productivity; it creates more reliability and improves precision, standardization, and quality, which are key to competing globally.”
India’s global impact has led to the IMF calling India one of the growth engines of the world. Buoyed by the “China Plus One” policy of several major manufacturers and government initiatives, Indian exports may reach USD 900 billion in 2023-24. Delta has also been a part of this success story, having invested heavily in India, creating jobs and being an important part of the “Make in India” initiative with global R&D Centre and three manufacturing units in the country. Most recently, Delta invested USD 500 million in its Krishnagiri manufacturing facility, which produces products not only for domestic consumption but also supports exports to several countries.
The Indian Government aims to increase manufacturing to reach 25% of economic output by 2025. Following this lead, India is inching towards the top as the largest producer in several sectors. In FY 2021-22, India attracted FDI of about USD 84.84 billion. Among the top sectors receiving FDI are Computer Hardware, Automotive, Pharmaceuticals, Metals, Infrastructure, Banking & Finance. Delta has a range of automation solutions catering to these sectors, customized according to industry requirements and specific to the unique needs of Indian manufacturers. In 2022 alone, Delta crossed 500 crores in revenue in the Industrial Automation segment. Manish Walia explains how Delta has grown in both market share and trust: “Our approach to catering to different industries and client needs has helped us be in this unique position of constantly growing our market and gaining entry to newer sectors.”
The Indian Manufacturing Sector is now adapting to smart factories, that harness the potential of robotics, IoT and advanced manufacturing processes. Today, AI and IIoT help assimilate factory decisions and insights with the rest of the supply chain and the business at large. Delta provides complete automation solutions for smart manufacturing. Manish Walia explains how the industry is changing: “The importance of IIoT and AI have helped us create a fabulous smart factory system that bolsters productivity. Our systems are well-equipped to handle data acquisitions, management with the cloud, and cyber safety.”
Cutting-edge technology is a core company strength, backed by Delta’s principles of contributing to society with practices that are responsible towards the planet. Delta has partnered with the Uttar Pradesh state government in the Jal Jeevan Mission, the largest drinking water project in the world. The project will have a massive social impact, and Delta is only too happy to contribute its expertise in creating sustainable solutions with renewable energy for this solar power-based project. This ties in with Delta’s commitment to sustainability, both in its own business practices of green-certified buildings and factories as well as championing renewable energy in its innovation and producing energy-efficient products to reduce emissions. Delta Electronics India believes in creating a smarter, greener, and stronger tomorrow, and with its automation solutions, the Indian industry is ready to embrace the same.
The interview was published in Business Today
