In an interview with Machine Maker, Gaurav Bawa, Sr. Vice President of WIKA shares his future plans within India. As India is growing rapidly, WIKA’s strategy is to manufacture locally and reduce its carbon footprint. WIKA has been actively participating in sustainable movement and plans to extend its facilities to PAN India. With great customer understanding, Mr. Bawa has evidently made WIKA achieve new heights.
In the exclusive interview, Gaurav Bawa gave insights into the Indian manufacturing scene. WIKA recently completed 75 years globally and 25 years of operation in India. They have 4 operational plants across India, Pune being the largest one. WIKA is one of the top instrumental solutions providers with an extensive portfolio of products focusing mainly on temperature and pressure. WIKA caters to the fields of Flow Instrumentation, SF6 Gas handling products, Electrical temperature measurement, Load & Vibration measurement, etc. With continuous innovation and active services, WIKA is growing rapidly globally.
WIKA is now dedicated to localizing its production within India, “The focus is on the ‘Make in India’ “, says Mr. Bawa. WIKA’s investment in India is continuously increasing, they have successfully exported many types of machinery from India. WIKA’s most products are entirely ‘Made in India’ across their locations. WIKA is exporting 80% of the products from its Faridabad plant. WIKA is about providing economic benefits to its clients and certain products are made only in India.
With a strategic approach to their business, Mr. Bawa has successfully turned India into one of the most efficient locations for WIKA. By limiting the manufacturing of certain products to its area, they have successfully created a supply chain encouraging the ‘Made in India’ campaign. WIKA is now heavily focused on developing its processes to be more eco-friendly. From making sustainable packaging to recycling wastewater, they are trying their best to reduce their carbon footprint. WIKA is recognized by VDMA and has received sustainability awards. “We are finding new opportunities to be sustainable and do our best to apply it”, comments Mr. Bawa. WIKA’s strategy to reduce transport and save fuel allows them to be more sustainable. Their newest addition to sustainability is making their facilities completely solar. With an investment of more than 5 crores, WIKA has proved its path towards sustainability.
Being a mechanical engineer himself Mr. Bawa has seen a lot of change during his service. “The products and solutions, the line between different streams are blurring out”, says Mr. Bawa. With IIoT and connective technology, each product is now a part of the solution. The focus is on integrating different parts and providing a service or solution, rather than the product being standalone. The skillset needs to vary to different fields rather than one; today’s manufacturing is done by combining a few sectors into one product.
As an engineer one needs to know all fields to make it as a sales manager. “The customers would be more than happy if someone provided them a current solution”, comments Mr. Bawa. They need to understand the use case and application of the product to use it efficiently. WIKA is determined to provide customers with better solutions and they have a dedicated team to look after the specialized area where they can integrate different solutions.
It is still lagging a bit in comparison with the global market, but with the pace with which India is growing, it is bound to enter the top three economies. “The lagging period is getting shorter”, comments Mr. Bawa giving insight into the Indian economy and its customer base.
Indian manufacturing is making a lot of difference in India. WIKA already has a plant of expansion and focuses on localization. They are bringing new technologies and introducing new product lines which will be indigenously made in India.
