The growing competition among Indian packaging machine manufacturers to develop faster and more advanced machines is fueling the demand for automation in the industry, according to Sameer Gandhi, managing director of Omron Automation Private Limited India.
Speaking to Packaging South Asia during the Automation Expo 2023 in Mumbai, Gandhi said, “The most important factor driving the demand for automation in packaging machines is the competition among machine manufacturers to build faster and better machines. As machine manufacturers add more features to their machines, there is a growing demand for automation. And all this is happening because convertors now want faster and better machines.”
“The evolution from making simpler machines to more complex machines will continue to take place in the Indian packaging machine manufacturing space. And because of this, there is a lot more confidence in the Indian packaging machine manufacturing industry,” he added.
Omron Automation is a part of Japan-based Omron Automation and offers automation solutions for automotive, digital, infrastructure and packaging industries. Globally, Omron employs nearly 35,000 people and generates a revenue of about US$ 7 billion. The company supplies solutions such as sensors, vision inspection systems, PLCs, servos and robotics, among others.
Extensive presence at Automation Expo 2023
At the Automation Expo 2023 in Mumbai, Omron promoted its range of automation solutions, including its smart conveyor system, collaborative robots (cobots), and sealing solutions for the packaging industry.
One of Omron’s major highlights was its ‘i-Belt’ solution, a data-driven co-creation service that facilitates lean digital transformation. The i-BELT Data Services enable the collection and utilization of operational and process data to improve overall equipment effectiveness and make more informed decisions. By leveraging data insights, companies can address production challenges such as unplanned downtime, low quality, maintenance cost, and more, leading to enhanced efficiency and productivity.
A small demonstration of i-BELT had been on display at the ongoing Automation Expo 2023. It comprises an application showing how palletizer historical data and real-time data can be synergized into a dashboard to have better control and operation visibility. Apart from enhancing its focus on data-based services, the company continues to make its conventional product line stronger.
