Is it time for you to invest in robots for your manufacturing setup? Are they really worth the investment? Who must review this investment? To ask these questions, Akanksha Sondhi Gaur from EFY spoke to Epson’s Siva Kumar. Here’s what he had to say…
Q. Robotics: productivity tool or competitiveness driver?
A. High-precision manufacturing is now non-negotiable, with manual processes limiting efficiency and consistency. Automation has become essential for competitiveness, particularly in India, where initiatives such as Make in India are accelerating manufacturing growth.
The primary challenge is skills, as many manufacturers lack hands-on automation experience. Drawing on its precision-manufacturing expertise, Epson addresses this gap by educating customers—identifying repetitive tasks and demonstrating how these can be transformed into automated workflows using robots and enabling tools. This approach builds capability, positioning robotics as a long-term competitive advantage rather than merely a productivity boost.
Q. What is driving robotics: Labour and cost pressures?
A. Manufacturers across sectors, MSMEs and large enterprises alike, face labour shortages, rising costs, and the need for 24×7 operations. Epson responds with a tiered robotics and automation portfolio.
MSMEs benefit from ultra-low-cost, compact robots that are easy to integrate for simple, repetitive tasks. Larger manufacturers gain access to advanced robotic platforms, supported by system integrators for complex machines and full production lines. Epson also offers ready-to-deploy, application-specific systems, such as screw-tightening solutions, enabling a fast transition from demonstration to live production.
Q. Which manufacturing trends are driving robotics adoption across industries today?
A. Demand is strongest in high-volume, repetitive manufacturing, particularly across the 3C segments, computers, communications, and consumer electronics, including smartphones, PCB assembly, laptops, and white goods, where scale and consistency are critical.
Automotive remains a major driver, using both heavy-payload and low-payload robots for screw-tightening, dispensing, and precision welding, including EV battery assembly, soldering, and adhesive application. Beyond automotive, pharmaceuticals and packaging are rapidly adopting robotics due to strict repeatability and throughput requirements. Overall, any industry with repetitive, large-scale production is well suited to automation, supported by Epson’s robotics portfolio with payloads up to 20 kg for both MSMEs and large manufacturers.
Q. Which sectors are emerging as the next growth drivers for industrial robotics globally?
A. Beyond traditional electronics and automotive, the fastest growth is seen in electronics manufacturing, electric vehicles, and pharmaceuticals. Rapid scaling—particularly in India—is driving strong demand for precision automation.
In pharmaceuticals, automation supports quality, consistency, and throughput. Packaging is also emerging as a key growth area, spanning product packaging and logistics. These trends focus specifically on industrial robotics, excluding service robots.
Q. How do cost, skills, and factory maturity in India shape robot design and strategy?
A. Having the right skill set is critical to understanding customer requirements and progressing automation projects. Pre-sales engineers observe manual operations, document them, and create 3D simulations to demonstrate potential solutions. Once the simulation proves the concept, development moves forward with system integrators.
Ultimately, the integrator develops the machine, while Epson provides proof of concept and technical support to ensure the solution meets operational requirements.
Q. What non-technical barriers limit robotics adoption in India, and how are they addressed?
A. Two primary barriers are common among MSMEs. First, there is uncertainty about whether automation can be implemented successfully. Many manufacturers lack clarity on whether their processes are suitable for automation. To address this, 3D simulations demonstrate feasibility before deployment.
Second, concerns centre on return on investment. Manufacturers require clear evidence of how automation improves productivity, efficiency, and consistency compared with manual operations, where errors can reduce output. Detailed ROI calculations illustrate the benefits of 24/7 operation, higher efficiency, and reduced human error. Addressing both feasibility and ROI concerns helps overcome key adoption barriers.
Q. Are manufacturers prioritising precision over payload, and how does this shape robot design?
A. Manufacturers in this segment prioritise precision, speed, and compact footprint over high payload. Epson focuses on robots under 20 kg for high-accuracy tasks such as dynamic-path glue dispensing, where advanced motion control is essential.
The robots integrate sensor technologies, Gyroplus motion control, and SafeSense to enable safe, vibration-free operation in compact designs. With RC+ software, they are easy to programme and can be simulated in 3D, allowing customers to validate performance and flexibility before deployment.
Q. What makes India unique for robotics adoption, and how is this addressed?
A. India is strategically distinct due to initiatives such as Make in India, which encourage companies to establish local operations. With more than 40 years of automation experience, Epson transfers knowledge quickly when global companies extend or transform plants locally.
The collaborative approach includes pre-sales, customisation, and commissioning engineers across the APS and sales network, enabling faster and more seamless knowledge transfer. The company focuses on its core strengths, including SCARA and six-axis robots for precision, repetitive, and high-speed applications. Beyond products, it continues to build industry capability through engineering college programmes and regular system-integrator training on the latest RC+ software.
Q. Which Indian manufacturing sectors are ready for robotics, and which face hurdles?
A. The communications industry is moving fastest, with companies actively automating manual operations and converting repetitive tasks into automated solutions. Electric vehicle manufacturers are also expanding rapidly, with specialised applications such as battery welding requiring tailored automation.
Electronics manufacturing remains comparatively newer in India, with support focused on early application development. Across these fast-growing sectors, a collaborative approach, combining manufacturers, integrators, and technology providers, enables effective robotics adoption.
Q. How is localised manufacturing changing robot deployment, and how is it supported?
A. When global manufacturers redistribute production into markets such as India, transitions are often straightforward because their processes and automation architectures are already proven. The focus shifts from new development to rapid knowledge and technology transfer.
As a global company operating across multiple regions, Epson supports this by transferring application know-how and deployment experience from mature factories to new Indian facilities through close internal collaboration. This reduces implementation time compared with greenfield automation projects, which can take months to define and develop. Local skill alignment remains essential to replicate and adapt existing solutions, enabling faster, seamless manufacturing set-ups.
Q. How can robotic vendors stand out, and how is it done?
We differentiate through a broad portfolio of robots tailored to varied customer needs.
In the SCARA line-up, the T series offers ultra-low-cost solutions for MSME pick-and-place tasks, while our six-axis robots across three series address more complex electronics manufacturing requirements, from standard to high-end applications.
Beyond robots, we develop standalone machines for repetitive tasks such as screw tightening and glue dispensing, which we showcase at industrial exhibitions to demonstrate simple and affordable automation in practical settings.
To accelerate adoption in India, we invest in skills development by setting up robot laboratories in engineering colleges and providing hands-on training, including a recent 72-hour programme for 30 students. This combination of flexible products and workforce capability-building supports faster automation uptake across both MSMEs and large factories.
Q. Is the future of robotics focused on full-stack platforms or best-in-class specialised solutions, and why?
We believe the future requires a combination of both approaches.
For repetitive tasks common across industries, we develop standalone machine applications that can be deployed quickly. For more complex requirements, where processes, space, or line configurations vary, we provide customised solutions, as no single machine fits every application.
Even standalone systems often require small adaptations to match a customer’s footprint or workflow. For highly complex tasks, solutions must be developed from the ground up to meet specific operational needs.
Q. What broad trends are transforming robotics in India under the Make in India strategy?
A. We observe that India’s overall robot market remains relatively small compared with more developed countries, which limits immediate demand for local robot manufacturing.
Much of our production outside India is not yet running at full capacity, giving us headroom to supply additional robots as demand grows. Once the market reaches a meaningful scale, brands—including Epson—may evaluate local manufacturing. For now, the priority is to support automation adoption and application development rather than domestic production.
Q. How will robotics adoption in India evolve over the next five years, and what role can global leaders play in strengthening the Make in India ecosystem?
A. Over the next five years, we expect automation adoption in India to mature significantly. More companies will transition manual operations to automated systems, improving precision, speed, and efficiency.
With more than 40 years of experience in manufacturing solutions, we focus on compact robots that deliver high precision and fast operation, supported by our RC+ software. This platform enables users to programme, simulate in 3D, and control robots easily, making automation accessible even for teams with limited programming experience.
Global technology leaders can strengthen the ecosystem by sharing expertise, enabling knowledge transfer, and collaborating closely with Indian manufacturers to foster local innovation and scalable adoption of advanced robotics.
