TAL to launch fully Indian-made robots

They have the required payload to join assembly lines

In a bid to end dependence on foreign robots, TAL Manufacturing Solutions, a 100 per cent subsidiary of auto major Tata Motors, is all set to launch its domestically developed robots for the Indian market, a top executive said.

Talking to Deccan Herald on the sidelines of IMTEX-2015 here on Wednesday, TAL Manufacturing Solutions Head, Machine Tool Division (Design, Standardisation, Lean Manufacturing, Applications) Kaustabh D Samak said, “TAL is now all set to launch its fully indigenously developed (Made in India) cost-effective articulated robot. It is really a proud moment for all of us.” Articulated robots are those with rotary joints.

“Robots are the need of the day. As of now, India imports all its robots from different parts of the world,” he said.

TAL displayed cost-effective robots ranging from 0.5-kg to 10-kg payload capacity with five and six axes at IMTEX-2105. The commercial launch of all robotic products will be kicked off in the coming financial year. “India has a huge market for robots in the automobile sector. MSMEs will be our target customers,” Samak added. The 0.5 kg to 10 kg segment has maximum demand in the Indian market.

About 80 per cent of the components in this segment are below the 10-kg payload where the robot can take up mass production functions like picking and placing, gluing, handling and assembling, welding, palletising, packaging, machine tending, and training. When asked about whether robots will cut down jobs, TAL Robotic
Engineer Swati Daphal said, “Robots will be very effective in hazardous fields.

Moreover, there is an acute shortage of skilled manpower in manufacturing. The intelligence standards of the human resource can be increased with help of robots.”

TAL is focusing on the domestic market for the first year. Based on demand, it will ramp up production. Samak said SAARC countries will be the first export destination for the robots.

When asked about competition and marketing strategy, the TAL team said, “We are ready for competition and will share the marketing strategy at the time of launch.”