The automotive industry continues to evolve demanding companies to do more with less that can be achieved by taking steps to standardize inventory, implement good preventive maintenance techniques and select the right product. More than ever, companies require operational efficiencies to maintain process flow and avoid unscheduled downtime of automated equipment. The outcome is often a wide breadth of products to manage and, with fewer resources, an increased potential for costly errors and unscheduled downtime. Not surprisingly, in an industry that requires repeatable, high volume welds some up to 500 parts in a single shift; consistency is critical and any deviation in quality could result in downtime, scrap or rework. Pune based Faith Automation Systems & Tooling Pvt. Ltd., is a company that specializes in Automation of Car Body Welding Lines to achieve high volume, consistent production. The company masters the art of Process planning, Design and PLC & Robot programming related to Car Body Welding which is known as BIW (Body In White). The company supplies Turnkey Projects to Automotive OEMs and Tier-1's with focus on service to the customers in terms of High Quality Equipment, delivering in expected timelines and accommodating changes in the most efficient manner and cost. Based on the inputs and specifications received from the customer, it proposes the complete solution with multiple options. Starting from selection of Equipments(Robots, Weldguns,) Quantity of Jigs, Flow/Transfer of assemblies, Line Logistics for material feeding & outputs, Distribution of weld spots or weld seams in various Jigs to achieve Cycle time and Geometry of Vehicle, Clamp & Location Scheme for Jigs, are some of the activities that are covered under this service by the experienced team. "This phase decides the overall cost of the project. Proper planning in this phase can lead to cost reduction through optimization of high cost equipment which is our USP," informs Nilesh Pandhare.
A team of expert engineers at Faith Automation then uses the finalized Process Plan and CAD data to execute 3D designs which can be reviewed with the customer prior to release for manufacturing. Directly after the approval of 3D designs, there is the Robot Simulation to check Robot Reach and weld accessibility prior to manufacturing for process validation. "We have a team of competent engineers for Offline & Online Robot Teaching Pneumatic and Electrical Circuit Drawings and PLC Offline& Online programming. Optimization and Simplicity is what we bring out here thus reducing project cost, he says.
The Inception Story
A team of industry professionals who have extensive cumulated experience, in the form of share holders, in various functions/roles having worked for various MNC companies joined hands to create an indigenous entity that could compete with other global giants in the field of Body Welding. "We were working in this field with MNCs for more than 15 years. As the technical guys in the business, we were associated with the technical part and were responsible for the overall project lead in that role. This exposed us to the know hows of the industry where we sensed opportunities. Also, there were very few Indian companies available in this field. In light of the above we zeroed in upon creating Faith Automation Systems.
In the first year of its operations, team Faith Automation Systems took up small projects mainly to establish a presence in various OEM’s and Tier-1 companies with very less automation content. The values of most of these were under 1 crore. In the second and third year, they began executing small sub assembly lines like Dash, Cowl, A Pillar, B-Pillar, each with 5 to 10 Robots, turnkey supply of small lines with values in the range of 2 to 5 crore each. In the fourth year, they were able to carry out projects for medium size assemblies like Front Floor, Rear Floor, Quarter Panel, Front and Rear Rails etc, each with 15 to 25 Robots and each of these projects were in the range of 5 to 12 crore. “Today in our fifth year, we are doing a mix of medium and Big assemblies like Under body, Body Sides, Mainlines, Frame Lines etc, each involving around 25 to 70 Robots. These are in the range of 10 to 30 crore each. Our successful execution of over 185 projects, all duly closed to customer satisfaction, is proof of the progress we have made so far,” he asserts.
An array of Services
A Turnkey Solution provider for Automotive Weld Lines both Manual and Robotic for Spot or MIG Welding, Assembly Checking Fixtures and Material Handling, Faith Automation offers the complete range of services related to a Manual Weld Line starting from Designing or OperatorErgonomics, Manufacturing, Assembly,Certification, Tryout and Installation at customer site. It also provides lowcost Automation solutions for Manual lines using dedicated small PLCs along with Prototype Fixtures, Checking Fixtures and Piercing Fixtures.
Faith automation has successfully executed over 185 projects
A team of expert engineers at Faith Automation then uses the finalized Process Plan and CAD data to execute 3D designs which can be reviewed with the customer prior to release for manufacturing. Directly after the approval of 3D designs, there is the Robot Simulation to check Robot Reach and weld accessibility prior to manufacturing for process validation. "We have a team of competent engineers for Offline & Online Robot Teaching Pneumatic and Electrical Circuit Drawings and PLC Offline& Online programming. Optimization and Simplicity is what we bring out here thus reducing project cost, he says.
The Inception Story
A team of industry professionals who have extensive cumulated experience, in the form of share holders, in various functions/roles having worked for various MNC companies joined hands to create an indigenous entity that could compete with other global giants in the field of Body Welding. "We were working in this field with MNCs for more than 15 years. As the technical guys in the business, we were associated with the technical part and were responsible for the overall project lead in that role. This exposed us to the know hows of the industry where we sensed opportunities. Also, there were very few Indian companies available in this field. In light of the above we zeroed in upon creating Faith Automation Systems.
In the first year of its operations, team Faith Automation Systems took up small projects mainly to establish a presence in various OEM’s and Tier-1 companies with very less automation content. The values of most of these were under 1 crore. In the second and third year, they began executing small sub assembly lines like Dash, Cowl, A Pillar, B-Pillar, each with 5 to 10 Robots, turnkey supply of small lines with values in the range of 2 to 5 crore each. In the fourth year, they were able to carry out projects for medium size assemblies like Front Floor, Rear Floor, Quarter Panel, Front and Rear Rails etc, each with 15 to 25 Robots and each of these projects were in the range of 5 to 12 crore. “Today in our fifth year, we are doing a mix of medium and Big assemblies like Under body, Body Sides, Mainlines, Frame Lines etc, each involving around 25 to 70 Robots. These are in the range of 10 to 30 crore each. Our successful execution of over 185 projects, all duly closed to customer satisfaction, is proof of the progress we have made so far,” he asserts.
An array of Services
A Turnkey Solution provider for Automotive Weld Lines both Manual and Robotic for Spot or MIG Welding, Assembly Checking Fixtures and Material Handling, Faith Automation offers the complete range of services related to a Manual Weld Line starting from Designing or OperatorErgonomics, Manufacturing, Assembly,Certification, Tryout and Installation at customer site. It also provides lowcost Automation solutions for Manual lines using dedicated small PLCs along with Prototype Fixtures, Checking Fixtures and Piercing Fixtures.
Nilesh Pandhare, Managing Director, Rajshekhar Sattigeri, Director Sales & Projects, Ramdas Gopale, Director Operations, Kedar Joshi, Director Finance & Estimation
Rahul Kolhe, Director Project Management , Amit Shete, Director Project Management & Sachin Khadke, Director Design
In the coming years, the team firstly plans to breach the 100 crores annual revenue target by 2020-21 fiscal. “Our short term vision is to be present in additional 2 locations in India to increase our business opportunities pan India and the long term vision is to have a fully operational facility first in Europe and then in America,” he concludes.
Team Faith Automation Systems
Panel 1:
Key Management
Nilesh Pandhare, Managing Director
Nilesh has 26 years of experience in the Auto Industry. He started his career with Tata Motors in 1993 after graduating from MIT, Pune. He has extensive experience in BIW Process Planning, Estimation and Sales. He has developed a disciplined team of talented and motivated youngster’s that have become key members in this Industry today, providing Innovative solutions for better Quality at reduced Costs. At Faith Automation, he has always driven Sales & Project Execution through Innovative and Cost effective solutions.
Rajshekhar Sattigeri, Director Sales& Projects
Tool & Die Maker from NTTF with22 years of experience in the Auto Industry, Rajshekhar’s career in BIW started from Design & Specialized in BIW Process Planning, Project Planning & Sales. He has overseas exposure in this field from Italy & Shanghai. At Faith Automation, he has played a key role in setting up Projects & Sales Department. He is responsible for Faith Automation having a presence in almost all OEM’s & most Tier’1s across India in the last 5 years.
Kedar Joshi, Director Finance & Estimation
Kedar has over 24 years of experience in the Auto Industry. He started hisareer with Force Motors after graduating from Shivaji University, Kolhapur. He has extensive experience in BIW Tool Design, Technical Proposals & Estimation backed by an overseas exposure in this field from France & Italy. He has also handled Sales. At Faith Automation, he has played a crucial role in setting up Finance, HR & Administration Departments. He has also been instrumental in arranging Bank Funding to boost the business.
Rahul Kolhe, Director Project Management
Rahul has 14 years of experience in the Auto Industry. Graduated From Pune University Mechanical Engineering. He has extensive experience of Process Planning, Mechanical Design & Project Management. At Faith Automation, he has established the Projects Department and trained a team of young engineers to execute & monitor Spot Welding projects for Cost, Quality & Time.
Amit Shete, Director Project Management
Amit has graduated From Pune University in Mechanical Engineering& has 15 years of experience in the Auto Industry, in the field of Process Planning, Mechanical Design & Project management backed by overseas experience of Project and Process execution. At Faith Automation, he has established the Projects Department and trained a team of young engineers to execute & monitor Mig Welding projects for Cost, Quality & Time.
Sachin Khadke, Director Design
Sachin has 16 years of experience in the Auto Industry. He graduated from Pune University Mechanical Engineering. He has extensive experience of Process Planning, Mechanical Design, Robotic Simulation & Layout. At Faith Automation, he has established the Process Planning, Design & Robotic Simulation Department, that has grown from strength of 10 to 45 Engineers in 5 years. He plays a crucial role in defining Innovative solutions to reduce Time and Cost.
Panel 2:
Quick Facts
About Faith Automation
•The company has started its operations in July 2014, with its Plant and Headquarters in the Chakan MIDC, Pune
•The company has been founded by Competent Engineers who have been in this field/business for more than 20 years. Bringing together over 100 years of accumulated hands on experience
•Faith Automation provides Turnkey Solution for Automotive BIW Welding Lines both Robotic and Manual for Spot Welding & MIG Welding
Vision
Faith Automation will be the global leader in tooling and automation design and turnkey delivery solutions for full body weld assembly lines in automotive, railway and aerospace industries
Mission
Bringing together over 100 years of accumulated handson experience, Faith Automation provides superior design and delivery of body weld assembly lines for automotive companies,resulting in high quality automation solutions with predictable time to market
