In an effort to expand its footprint, Siemens, in the emerging markets like India, is increasingly focusing on SMEs with its 'Smart' solutions

Siemens in India needs no introduction. The company's association with India goes back 150 years to the time when the first telegraphic link was between India and UK during the colonial era. Siemens also supplied a turbogenerator to Tata Steel in 1910, though production of its first motor in India commenced only during the mid 1960s. Siemens Ltd in India today comprises 13 legal entities, is a leading powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering with a business volume aggregating about Rs 12,000 crore. The company operates in the core business areas of industry, infrastructure and cities, energy and healthcare.

Well recognised the world over and touching the lives of almost every individual in some or the other, Siemens is focusing on emerging markets and SMEs in particular. With the operating conditions no less challenging, the focus of the company on SMEs stems from the fact that in countries like China, Brazil, and Malaysia, SMEs account for a significant percentage of the manufacturing output as well as the GDP. According to FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry), there are over 26 million SME units in India that employ around 59 million people. The Indian SME sector thus holds a lot of promise in manufacturing, precision engineering, design, food processing, pharma, textiles, agro and services. A key focus of the company, globally, is on Drive Technologies (DT). Last month, Siemens held the second DT Media Meet in Mumbai, having started the series last year, inviting a select group of technical media persons from across the country. Siemens DT is #1 for integrated drive train offerings worldwide, with a strong commitment to India. It is present in the entire value chain of DT: generation, regulation, control and software support. The DT Division an integral part of the Siemens Sector Industry - Industrial Automation, Drive Technologies, Customer Services and Metals Technologies. It seeks: Merging of product, system and solutions business; Customised offers for specific customer requirements; and Pooling of all industry expertise in one organization, through productivity, reliability and energy efficiency for the entire drive train.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Heiner Roehrl, CEO, Industry Sector, Siemens Ltd, said: "The current contribution of Indian SMEs to the GDP is definitely noteworthy. There is however a huge untapped potential that cannot be ignored. In order to sustain the high growth rate and to promote inclusive growth, it is imperative to improve the productivity of the SME sector and Siemens has the expertise and the understanding of the market to partner this sector."

Referring to the DT technology, Mr Ralf Michael Franke, CEO - Drive Technologies, Siemens AG, said: "We are the worldwide number one in drivetrain offerings, one of the market leaders for CNC systems and the leading company for standard electrical drive equipment. With our integrated product portfolio that not only caters to standard technology but also to special applications, and with our huge expertise in industry-software based integration we are capable of fulfilling all requirements from minute to large projects; from general to specialised ones. Saving time and costs."

Offering value to customers through four verticals - Large Drives, Motion Control, Mechanical Drives and Inside e-car - the Drive Technologies (DT) portfolio at Siemens prioritises productivity, reliability and energy efficiency. Drawing inspiration from the fact that the local railways network in Mumbai runs on Siemens motors, and every second car is built on an automation system that has Siemens components, one way or the other, the DT strategy revolves around industry business and auto business.

Echoing Dr Roehrl's sentiments by expressing that emerging markets are essential for the company's growth, Franke drew attention to SINUMERIK 808D (CNC control), which offers reliability and flexibility at a highly competitive prize. He further said that customer benefits of DT include increased productivity, enhanced reliability and higher energy efficiency.

Pointing at Siemens' strategy to offer 'SMART' solutions for the emerging markets, Mr Robert Wagner, Executive Vice President, Drive Technologies, Siemens Ltd, expressed: "Pioneering initiatives like the launch of IE2, IE3 compliant motors that have efficiency up to 10 per cent higher than the usual motors have proved to be beneficial in markets such as India. The recently launched products such as SINUMERIK 808D for entry level CNCs and SINAMICS V20 - an inverter for standard applications are innovations that are enabling Indian manufacturers to optimise the use of resources and ensure cost effective operations. Further, our integrated portfolio offerings have helped customers to substantially reduce their time to market, manufacture more efficiently and embrace sustainability throughout the entire production cycle."

The SINAMICS V20 is aimed at SMEs much like the SINUMERIK 808D CNC control. Designed and developed to meet complex challenges the Indian market has to offer, including different environmental, and therefore demanding operating conditions, SINAMICS V20 is part of V Series of drives from Siemens - the V Series completing the drive family along with the S and G Series.

Explaining the rationale for this India specific product, Mr Satish Godbole, Vice President, Motion Control Systems, Siemens Ltd, enumerated its many benefits: easy to use, easy to install, and offering phenomenal savings in energy, SINAMICS V20 is a variable frequency drive for basic applications. Calling for short commissioning times and offering user-friendly operation, SINAMICS V20 is available in four sizes to cover the performance range from 0.12 to 15 kW.

Capable of operating pumps, fans, compressors and conveyor systems apart from simple drive tasks in the processing and handling industry, SINAMICS V20 can be connected directly in line, or alternatively mounted as a push-through installation in addition to the conventional wall-mounting method. With an in-built interface display, also known as the Basic Operator Panel (BOP), this user-friendly inverter enables easy on-site commissioning and operations. Further, it has simple menu driven steps from power up till motor run.

The demand-driven regulation of the motor speed also results in high-energy savings. The SINAMICS V20 comes with an integrated energy savings function that substantially reduces energy consumption up to 60% depending on application and machine-type. The new inverter is equipped with an energy-optimised control mode (ECO Mode) for increased energy efficiency, which automatically adapts the magnetic flux in the motor to the prevailing operating point. Pre-built connection and application macros facilitate application-specific settings, which enable quick commissioning and maximum performance. Features such as wider voltage range, better cooling design and coated PCB increase the robustness of the inverter and ensure reliability even in harsh industrial environments. As summed up by Satish Godbole, "SMEs offer challenges that call for 'Smart' solutions. SINAMICS V20 is a product that will address the needs of SMEs."

The SMART here stands for: Simple and basic features; Maintenance Friendly; Affordable; Reliable and robust; and Time to market (minimum)