Indian market is becoming application-oriented: Subhash Patwardhan
In 1994, Artech Engineering started manufacturing capacitor discharge projection welding machines - a much-needed low power alternative to the conventional options. Foresight and focused development paid off. Today, Artech boasts of having placed more than 1,500 machines in myriad walks of life ranging from sensitive to everyday. Artech’s machines find applications in projection nut and bolt welding, oil filters, shock absorbers, automobile sheet metal components, auto electrical, fabricated impellers, stainless steel kitchen ware etc.
The Artech projection welding machines work on the principle of capacitor discharge. The main advantages of these machines being phenomenally low power requirements, no water cooling, minimum heating, blackening and deformation of component, one stroke multiple projections welding, etc. In the year 2004, Artech started manufacturing stud-welding machines. Today, it is the largest stud welding machine manufacturing company in India having customers is variety of industries ranging from automobile, control panels, transformers, boilers, pollution control equipments, construction to name a few.
In the year 2009, Artech started manufacturing Medium Frequency (MFDC) spot and projection welding machines. Since then Artech has sold many machines for variety of applications in Automobile, Aerospace and sheet metal industry. This machine is excellent for spot welding of metals like aluminium, galvanized sheets, electro galvanized sheet, stainless steel and low carbon steel.
“We have installed more than 3,000 machines across India till now and the number is growing with each passing day. We develop all the machines indigenously through our manpower strength of 65 people spread across Pune, Delhi, Raipur, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Coimbatore and Chennai. We also have our own design and development set up,” the Director of Artech Welders, Mr. Subhash Patwardhan said while talking to Bhalchandra Chorghade, Editor of CNCTimes.com.
As regards current market situation, Mr. Patwardhan said the manufacturing industry is taking off in India after a lull of three years. “It is high time to expand capacities as that was not happening earlier. The people here are investing for next jump since everybody has an instinct to grow since the market is witnessing an upward swing. It has become more realistic and has been very positive since past three months,” Mr. Patwardhan said.
“In some segment, the market is price sensitive. But, if we offer complete solution then one can command price. There is no scope for much negotiation then. Customer will go for the price if he sees and derives long term benefit out of your product. The market has become more application-oriented than the price-oriented which is a good sign,” Mr. Patwardhan added.
About the future of Artech Welders, he said the company is looking at customised solutions and will lay more thrust on SPM building and automation. “However, training to the existing as well as future staff is very important as it will make them ready to face the global competition in the market,” Mr. Patwardhan concluded.