Exclusive interview with D.M. Thaker, Managing Director, Schuler India Pvt. Ltd.
As the technological and global market leader in metal forming, the Schuler Group can trace its roots back to a locksmith shop founded in Göppingen, Germany, by Louis Schuler in 1839. The company has produced metal-working machines since 1852. Schuler supplies machines, production lines, dies, process know-how and services for the entire metal-working industry. Its clients include vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers, as well as companies in the forging, household equipment, packaging, energy and electrical industries.
We get an update on Schuler India’s plans in an exclusive interview with Mr. D.M. Thaker, Managing Director, Schuler India Pvt. Ltd.
Excerpts:
At the very outset, let me have a brief introduction to the 175-year-old Schuler journey.
First of all, let me thank you for this opportunity to talk to you. Schuler, founded in 1839, can trace its roots back to a locksmith shop founded by Louis Schuler. The company has produced metalworking machines since 1852. Schuler subsequently emerged as the international flagship company in the press manufacturing industry. It employs today over 5,500 persons and is represented by its own facilities and sales offices in 40 nations around the world. Today the Austrian Andritz Group holds a majority share in Schuler.
Among the various verticals, how big is the contribution of the Automotive Division to Schuler’s revenue?
The Automotive Division is one of the most distinct contributors indeed. This used to be even up to 70 per cent of our turnover. However, it has now been less than 50 per cent after the new segmentation and restructuring of business verticals in India.
India has already become a major commercial vehicle hub, and what is your company strategy to tap this growing market?
Well, we are aware of the significant development in this segment in India and are working closely with new projects.
In the field of automotive press technology, there are already several prominent players. What is the special significant role of Schuler in it?
You are right. There are several players in the field of automotive press technology. However, one of these players obtains the technology offered by the Schuler Group. For example, the Servo Direct Technology and the TwinServo Technology, our latest development, make Schuler the key manufacturer in the field.
This offers huge benefits to the customer. So, whenever there is a demand of high output, consistent high quality and lowest per piece cost requirement, the Schuler technology is the best.
Schuler has won several Awards in the field of manufacturing process equipments. Could you briefly outline the company’s recent achievements in India?
You are right, Schuler has won several awards in the field of manufacturing equipment. Such awards are receivable at the place where innovation activities take place. Therefore, they are not applicable to Schuler India.
What are the innovative methods adopted by Schuler for developing lightweight commercial vehicles?
Schuler is the only manufacturer which can supply technologies and automated press systems for all major forming processes used in lightweight manufacturing. These include processing of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics, cold forging of high-strength steels, press hardening, forming of aluminum and forming of high-strength profiles with the aid of the hydroforming process. With its new Dynamic Flow technology, Schuler has set a new standard in the field of laser blanking. The line can process a variety of materials, including high-strength steels and aluminum, and offers maximum flexibility and short set-up time. DFT technology allows highly economic production of even small volumes but large varieties.
Your company is planning to introduce the first retrofit press line by the end of the year. Please elaborate the benefits it offers for both the vehicle and component manufacturers?
Recently, Schuler has successfully implemented a completely new automation system, retrofitted for a customer in Chennai. Such retrofit automation system offers enormous advantages to the customer to increase the output substantially and improve efficiency of the line.
With the acquisition of the majority stake by Andritz last year, has Schuler’s overall business strategy undergone any big change?
Not at all. As a manufacturer of plant and machinery itself, Andritz understands the nature of our business. Schuler is a highly successful company and Andritz is targeting long-term growth with Schuler. The majority acquisition by Andritz is confirmation of our business strategy.
With Asia accounting for 31.1 per cent of total sales of Schuler, what is India’s overall contribution?
Since most of these sales are made in China, India’s contribution is not very large at the moment.
Your products basically help achieve automotive mass production. Could you cite a few cases in the Indian context?
Today’s automotive requirement in the Indian market has also significantly changed, considering the large production volumes. It was not the case a few years ago, a clear example being a high-speed line at the Mahindra’s Chakan plant. This state-of-the art press line is one of its kind in the country and could produce above 4 million strokes per annum, manufacturing large skin panels for vehicles.
When will you be setting up a full-fledged manufacturing facility in India to support the fastest growing automotive industry in the country?
Recently Schuler inaugurated a huge brand new facility covering approximately 16,000 sq. mts. of new manufacturing facilities in Dalian, north of China. The Indian manufacturing facility is under discussion.