Ador Welding Expands Global Reach and Pioneers AI Integration in Manufacturing

As we approach the dawn of a new year, the excitement surrounding the future is unmistakable, characterised by an in-depth examination of innovations and trends poised to influence the dynamics of 2024. This venture into uncharted territory suggests that the upcoming year will be a rich fabric interlaced with transformative concepts, expanding the limits of possibility and exploring new frontiers in the continuously advancing realm of progress. In this context, we draw insights from Sunando Kumar Palit, Head of Strategy & Customer Experience at Ador Welding Ltd.

What are the most notable emerging trends you anticipate for 2024?

Our approach to addressing the dynamic challenges in welding across diverse sectors revolves around innovation. To achieve this our Technological Development Centre plays a major role with its team of Engineers in multiple disciplines and state-of-the-art Design, Validation and Testing facilities as per The International Standards, focusing on continuous improvements to existing products and developing new innovations.

One notable recent advancement is the Rhino E Electric Welder. Rhino E represents a remarkable leap forward in welding technology, designed with a strong emphasis on reducing carbon emissions and noise levels. Notably, this marks the introduction of the first battery-powered electric welder in India.

In addition to these innovations, integrating digital welding technologies is crucial for minimising downtime and enhancing efficiency. These technologies offer real-time insights, control, monitoring and predictive maintenance. Through R&D initiatives, we remain at the forefront of technical progress. Hence, we are dedicated to innovation,

and the use of these cutting-edge technologies establishes us as a progressive leader in the field, able to satisfy the constantly changing needs of our clients,” explained Sunando Kumar Palit, Head – of Strategy & Customer Experience, Ador Welding Ltd.

Could you elaborate on the eco-friendly practices and technologies expected to gain prominence in 2024?

In our dedication to protecting the environment, all electronic components and parts utilised in the machines adhere to ROHS compliance standards. This ensures that hazardous materials such as Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, and other harmful elements, detrimental to health and challenging to dispose of, are entirely excluded. Such as our Rhino E Electric welder stands as a testament to our commitment to sustainability initiatives, designed with a strong emphasis on reducing carbon emissions and noise levels.

As part of our broader Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, we have successfully reduced our plastic consumption by 9.6 metric tons, reduced our water consumption by 50%, and planted over 2000 trees. Additionally, a dedicated team from R & D is working on reducing the number of PCBs and rationalising the discrete components and Integrated Circuit chips used in the PCBs. This, in turn, will result in a step reduction in the energy required for the fabrication of semiconductors and will reduce E-Waste after the lifetime of the semiconductor items.

Eliminating the use of wood for packing heavy machinery and replacing it with eco-friendly and recyclable corrugated sheets is another area ADOR is continuously working on. The use of EPS (Thermocol) material for packing our finished goods and the raw materials we received has been completely stopped. We are reducing plastic usage by eliminating plastic, particularly for packaging. We aim to halt plastic packaging use by the year 2030 completely. Additionally, we are integrating solar panel-based battery charging for our battery welders, which is in the pipeline of our development plan.

What is your outlook on the integration of AI and automation in 2024?

The manufacturing sector has long been at the forefront of automation. Integrating robotics and Al technologies has revolutionised production processes, increasing efficiency, accuracy, and productivity. ADOR has invested heavily in Automated Processing (for Consumables) and Assembly (for Equipment) lines, robotic arms, and autonomous guided storage and retrieval systems for components and subassembly vehicles to replace many manual tasks. This results in streamlined operations and cost savings for ADOR.

Robotics is crucial in automating repetitive and hazardous tasks in manufacturing. Robots equipped with Al capabilities can adapt to changing circumstances, perform complex tasks precisely, and seamlessly collaborate with human workers. The combination of robotics and Al enables predictive maintenance, quality control, and inventory management, optimising overall production processes. ADOR focuses on developing and incorporating robotic interface systems (with different communication protocols like ETHERNET, CANBUS, DEVICENET, etc.) in advanced multiprocess welding equipment. Also, facilities for storing and retrieving real-time critical parameter data, auto-correction of parameter deviations, and predictive failure prevention systems.

Can you discuss the expansion plans for 2024, including geographical, product/service growth, global trends, and any anticipated challenges?

The strategic plan for expansion in FY 2024-2025, as well as beyond 2030, is under finalisation. However, the immediate goal is to achieve a significant growth in revenue and an improvement in margins compared to the Financial Year 2023-24.

Geographic expansion is an ongoing process, and the ADOR International Division is exploring opportunities for business initiation outside the MENA countries, extending to North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and CIS.

Regarding the addition to the product portfolio, ADOR has entered into Technology Transfer agreements with several global companies to incorporate high-end technology products into the existing portfolio. The company has also increased the Maintenance and Repair Service business in the Middle East. Additionally, Distributor Service networks are being expanded to provide more immediate service to customers.

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