Indians are investing in high-quality devices for the long-term: Harkiran Sandhu

By Niraj M Wanikar, Chief Editor, CNCTimes.com, 2016-11-25 15:03:00

FARO is a global technology company that develops and markets computer-aided coordinate measurement devices and software. Specializing in 3D measurement, imaging, and realization technology, FARO provides portable equipment that assists our customers in achieving high-precision 3D measurement and comparison of parts and compound structures within production and quality assurance processes. Our devices are useful for component and assembly inspection, production planning, and inventory documentation.

The company’s global headquarters (HQ) is located in Lake Mary, Florida, with a European head office in Stuttgart, Germany, and an Asia-Pacific head office in Singapore. FARO also has a new technology center and manufacturing facility located in Exton, Pennsylvania, dedicated to research and development (R&D) activities, manufacturing and service operations of its FARO Laser Tracker™ and FARO Cobalt Array Imager product lines.

FARO has branch locations worldwide including Japan, China, India, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, and The Netherlands. In India, FARO offices are based in New Delhi (Head Office) and Chennai. FARO’s presence here has enabled the company to provide better ground support to our customers in the region.

Mr. Harkiran Sandhu, Country Head, FARO India, shares his views about company’s journey in India, the market conditions and customer behaviour with Bhalchandra Chorghade, Editor, CNCTimes.com.

The Excerpts:

Please describe FARO’s journey in India.

FARO was founded in 1981, and by 2000, the company made its way into Asia. It was in Japan that FARO first established an office outside of the States, and in 2004, FARO ventured into the Indian market by establishing its India head office in New Delhi.

Since its foray into the India market, FARO has supported many local manufacturers from various vertical industries with its suite of advanced 3D metrology and scanning devices. As the Indian manufacturing industry grows in maturity, manufacturers develop higher standards and demands for precision and speed in quality checks. With manufacturers’ products and measurement needs growing in complexity, and their quality control and inspection tasks becoming more intricate, sophisticated measuring equipment like FARO’s are vital for a production facility.

This was a major push factor for FARO to expand its presence in India. In 2011, FARO opened a branch office in Chennai and another in Pune 3 years later, in 2014. The move was another way for FARO to increase on the ground support for its customers. To this day, India continues to be a key market for FARO, and we will spare no efforts to ensure adequate assistance for our customers.

What makes FARO unique?

As the world’s most trusted source for 3D measurement technology, FARO develops and markets advanced, high-precision and portable coordinate measuring machines and 3D imaging devices to solve targeted dimensional metrology problems. We are delighted that our measurement technologies have enabled companies worldwide to maximize efficiencies and improve processes.

It is no secret that we prioritize our strong relationships with our customers – we believe it is what sets us apart from others. Our customers share valuable feedback with us, and it allows us to better understand their needs. With this insight, FARO invests accordingly in research and development (R&D) activities to apply the latest advances in technology to improve and augment our portfolio of solutions. This modus operandi ensures that we meet market needs today and anticipate new ones tomorrow - securing FARO’s leading position in the measurement industry.

How is the Indian market performing with respect to the manufacturing sector?

According to India Brand Equity Foundation, India’s manufacturing industry is one of the country’s high growth sectors. By driving the ‘Make in India’ initiative, the Government of India has ambitious plans to accelerate the country’s economy, and for India to gain global recognition as a manufacturing hub.

Leading manufacturing giants like GE, Siemens, and Huawei have since invested in India. The Government is also pitching in to position India as an attractive manufacturing hub, and plans are already underway to develop the country’s existing infrastructure and policies.

With this positive forecast, FARO expects more advanced measurement and scanning requests from the manufacturing sector in India. At present, we have observed a paradigm shift in manufacturers’ preference towards quality equipment. Increasingly, companies are investing in high-quality devices for the long-term. FARO’s metrology devices, which are ISO-certified, allow customers to achieve various certifications in their respective industries, including ISO and API accreditations, to name a few.

What are the challenges being faced by the industry considering the global scenario? Do you think that Indian market can overcome these challenges? How?

Like most developing countries, some of the long-standing challenges faced by Indian manufacturers are the slow progress in infrastructure improvements (due to intermittent power supply) and the pool of low-skilled labor. The recent demonetization of the Indian currency may potentially cause a slowdown in consumer spending, adding to the list of challenges manufacturers face. However, I believe this will only be for the short-term.

India is the second most important manufacturing hub in the Asia Pacific region after China, and many multinational corporations (MNCs) have established manufacturing facilities here. Their presence in India allows them to vie for business from overseas customers and to cater to the large domestic market. The ‘Make in India’ campaign initiated by the current government was followed by a push to boost the manufacturing standards and quality, in order to attract more foreign businesses. Manufacturers now have to work harder to overcome these infrastructural and labor challenges.

FARO considers its customers as partners, and helping partners to achieve global quality standards is what we strive to do. FARO is committed to providing local support to all its customers, whether in terms of training and re-training, or in recommending the best solutions suited for their applications. Ultimately, our aim is to achieve good returns on investment for our customers, enabling them to achieve the desired quality based output. With a local service center in New Delhi, FARO ensures quick response and turn-around time, which is key for our customers to remain competitive in this global market. 

What are your company’s plans for the next three years?

FARO is committed to our business in Asia-Pacific and will constantly look towards expansion, with future growth and development in tandem with business needs. This is evident in our recent acquisitions of new companies and technologies – such as BuildIT Software & Solutions Ltd. and Laser Projection Technologies. Inc, as part of FARO’s continual efforts to increase and enhance our product solutions to our customers.

Over the years, our products have been well received by our customers, and we are heartened by the response that we have received. For instance, the Edge ScanArm HD’s matchless scanning capabilities and the Freestyle’s novel applications are some of the success stories that we are proud of, to name a few. This was made possible because of the close relationships that we hold with our customers. It was through this approach that FARO came up with disruptive launches like the FARO^® Laser Scanner Focus^3D X Series, and numerous notable ones this year, such as the FARO Design ScanArm, FARO Cobalt Array Imager, FARO Freestyle Objects, and the FARO Vector. Moving forward, we are confident of rolling out even more solutions that address industrial manufacturers’ real, felt needs.

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