Pioneers in Laser Tracking technology API Technical Services India Private Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of Automated Precision Inc. USA, completed its 12 years of operations in India. Recently API Metrology expanded its capabilities at its facility in Pune, Maharashtra. The state-of-the-art API India Tech Center facility offers a wide range of services which includes metrology equipment calibration, product sales, demonstration, training and repair of metrology equipment.
A legacy company in the field of advanced dimensional metrology equipment, API Metrology has developed customized products and solutions for leading companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Voith Hydro, GE and Ford. Machine Maker had an interaction with Vaibhav Shah, Managing Director of API Metrology in APAC,, shares the initial journey, and how API is planning to expand its market in India.
“It takes immense pride to have completed over 12 years in India and our new Pune facility adds better reach for customers in west and south”, said Vaibhav. Vaibhav is responsible for managing and developing business on the Indian subcontinent, ASEAN, UAE, for all of API’s Products and Services, management of API’s world-class Machine Tool Calibration (MTC) products.
India is a focused market for Automated Precision Inc, says Vaibhav. “Our CEO Dr Kam Lau is the inventor of the laser tracker and Laser Interferometer, Ballbar and many other innovative metrology products. With several patents and continuous innovation, API has grown over 4 decades in metrology. API believe India is the most growing economy especially with the boom in aerospace and defence manufacturing. India also has a lot of domestic consumption and increased need of energy which is boosting the energy company and their investment which is the primary sector where API has state of art metrology solution”, adds Vaibhav.
“Continuous innovation, and our tag line “nothing beyond measure” is the true spirit of the company. There is nothing we cannot measure in the 3D dimensional metrology world and that's the same message we wish to give to the Indian customers”, says Vaibhav. In India API is offering contract measurement services, Machine tool and Robot calibration services as well as a variety of training and equipment rentals which Vaibhav feels a very unorganized sector with small scale service providers.
“API is the only principal OEM operating in this metrology services space with plans of serious expansion and collaborating with API authorized service companies. API also plans to keep the manufacturing option open for India and can look for some hardware/ software development and new accessories to be made in India” informed Vaibhav.
With the expanded infrastructure and the new certified lab at Pune, API Metrology is now all set to serve the customers better in the west and southern part of India. Initially, API India began its operations based out of Noida, considering its proximity with the national capital. Vaibhav Shah adds, “Initially and now also the majority of our customer base is from the defence like DRDO labs like ANSP, RCI, ARDE, BDL and HAL.”
Vaibhav continues, “We began by introducing the Laser Tracker as a product in India, as we invented the technology. Later we added other products and also continued to develop on the Laser Tracker of different generations. The current Laser Tracker is of the fifth generation, under the all-new RADIAN Series.”
API India moved to Pune in 2017 realizing the majority of the company’s customer base is from west and south of India. Chennai and Pune is the hub for most of its automotive clients and with Hyderabad and Bangalore being the centre for the Defense and aerospace industry, the idea of opening the facility at Pune – a strategic location took shape.
Vaibhav says that the company gradually started with sales and marketing functions and then added the service and repair centre. The intent was to get API products serviced and calibrated here in India locally. “The investment of establishing the tech centre was done keeping our commitment to the Indian market. Sending the product to the US for service resulted in wastage of time, increased cost and huge effort. Not only we were able to build the tech centre, but also a full-fledged calibration lab and repairs. The facility in Pune was there for quite some time but now the LAB has full calibration function for all the products and services.”
API Metrology in its Pune facility is offering calibration for products of other brands too, covering all portable metrology product calibration. “API Metrology is adding its customer value addition by investing in our infrastructure, and expanding our offerings. The Pune metrology lab has an enhanced capability in terms of the range and the products of different brands API can calibrate. Now we can calibrate our 80-meter radius trackers in Pune facility, while at Noida the calibration was limited to 50-meter tracker.”
Vaibhav continues, “The machine tools calibration product segment was developed with calibration facility along with the repair and internal support system. These are used for performance and evaluation of CNC machines, Robots and fixed CMMs, more preciously for Laser calibration, all burn test and spindle analysis.” API India also introduced large fixed Coordinate Measuring Machines up to 25 meters recently, “We make large fixed CMMs up to 20 meters to 25 meters long and sell in the Indian market”, added Mr Shah.
In India, API Metrology has some of the major resellers like Machine Tools India selling products from machine tools and metrology categories. Pune based Big Zero Technology has engaged with us for the marketing of Laser Tracker product sales. Four years ago, the company also introduced API Arm in the market.
Radiant Metrology is working with API as a reseller on CMM and portable metrology products and calibration services. API India has also signed up with Accurate, one of the leading industrial metrology company in Pune for the sales of APIs smart factory Inspection systems, and non-contact scanner upgrades on fixed CMMs. “Accurate is also representing the turnkey solution products which are all automation and robotics-based scanning”, informed Vaibhav. API India also offers a product for complete automated scanning and probing for the automotive industry and Robotic drilling applications.
Speaking of the technology and strategic partnerships, Vaibhav emphasizes that resellers are one of the company’s major strength, and API in India grown in the last twelve years through several partners. “The common philosophy has been that irrespective of our direct presence in the entire market, we still respect our resellers, and we will continue doing that. In fact, that has been API's USP all over the world.”
“It is a very clear message that API in India is on the verge of take-off with the expansion of our operations and with more team members. We are hiring for different positions and also looking for more resellers across different regions in India, UAE and South-East Asia”, Vaibhav concludes. API India is looking to expand their market, product portfolio, sourcing quality suppliers locally, and setting up manufacturing facilities in the near future.