‘Smart Assist’ One Stop Kiosk for COVID19 Precautions

There is a bunch of things every individual has achieved or lost during this pandemic, with continuing changes in how the industries operate, many manufacturers have come up with innovations that made the battle easy, they took the bigger effort and generated ideas which are now products we use. Since the COVID outbreak in India the market has behaved in a digitally inclined manner, technically smart assisting machinery has evolved to be the new necessity. AB Plastomech in partnership with Avadhoot automation has come up with a unique multifunctional kiosk ‘Smart Assist’ as an aid for Covid-19 precautions.

The kiosk works in 3 to 4 simple steps, it ensures the presence of various prerequisites. It starts with mask-wearing monitoring, complete body thermal scanning, a data recording system with facial images and if the above things are approved, it ends with automatic sanitizer dispensing. Therefore, the kiosk is one complete contact-free solution for all the necessary processes required to ensure safety. To further know about the product and various other trends the Machine Maker interviewed Boopathi Badran, Managing Director of AB Plastomech where he shared his journey with the product along with some problems he faced.

Thought behind innovation

The country saw an unexpectedly long lockdown, with everyone worried about their stagnant business. Boopathi studied the market, realizing that Indian manufacturers are highly dependent on China-made machinery for COVID equipment and aids. “But we have the capacity and capability to make machines, so based on my experience I started working on mask making machines. When I was searching there were not many people to supply, mostly China’s machines were in use,” said Boopathi.

Realizing the need for certain products during the pandemic and high dependency on China, we started with designing mask making machines, sooner enquiries poured in for various other equipment such as thermal body scanner etc.

Boopathi Badran

 Managing Director, AB Plastomech

The challenges thrown by COVID19 made Boopathi Badran join hands with Girish Ayya of Avadhoot Automation to come up with one single machine to serve all the needs – ‘Smart Assist’. Smart Assist not only makes his innovation unique but is a great step in making India a self-dependent country.

Industrial to the consumer shift

It is not easy for any innovation to penetrate the market; people lack confidence and its credibility is often questioned. AB Plastomech faced a change in its target customers, with its core profile in industrial automation that is to make industrial factories start using AI. Their usual customers are industries that are well versed with technology and show confidence but for Smart Assist they served consumers directly, need a demo, and are looking out to invest before they see the product in place. Therefore, despite the market being overwhelmingly welcoming the duo is facing major challenges in gaining confidence for mass prodution. 

Boom in automation

The global outbreak has forced industries to cut on manpower and to maintain similarly or achieve higher outputs manufacturers are adapting automation machinery to facilitate production. That is machines to replace men. Therefore, Boopathi informed that the future will be beneficial as well as crucial for the automation sector with inquiries already flooding, he is optimistic that within a few months similar operation can be achieved by the industries. The next year will be more digitalized for the manufacturing sector and people will have fewer jobs and more business ventures. 

Plan for business continuity

Boopathi and Girish plan to further take their innovation as the demand might be temporary but will stay for at least another 6 to 7 months, and for automation, they wish to convert their enquires into orders. Although a few months it will be in discussion sooner it will convert into orders. Therefore, their plan of action is to stick individually to both the services and serve the demand in time.

This innovation is a bigger step towards development and in no time will see a huge market demand. While its appreciation is not only limited to India, inquiries came in from counties like Canada and Malaysia. The Smart Assist and Smart Assist Lite are an introduction to the changing times, it shows us the bigger picture of a machine-dependent life, and creations like these become motivation for various other innovators and developers. 

For more details visit, http://www.abplastomech.com/